Profile: Ana Fraden

Ana Fraden is an associate director in academic advising. She advises students from all majors and programs, but her primary caseload consists of international students.

Since Fraden’s advisees are enrolled in a variety of academic programs, she needs to know a little bit about all of the programs. She stays updated on major/minor program changes as well as College policies through the undergraduate catalog. Additionally, she often hears about program changes directly from the academic departments.

Fraden supervises the advising services coordinator, Loreta Andoni, and supports her in managing front desk operations, which includes student employee coverage and administrative tasks for the Academic Advising Center.

Besides advising students on course requirements and College policies, Fraden works closely with several on-campus partners. She collaborates most often with the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA), since most of her advisees are international students. Reasons for student referrals to OISA include visa-related issues and documentation needed to maintain their SEVIS status.

She refers students to the Lacerte Family Writing and Academic Resource Center (WARC) for academic support with peer tutoring and academic success strategies. If they need assistance with resume writing or internships for credit, she refers them to the Career Development Center. If they want to participate in study abroad or domestic programs, she refers them to the Education Abroad and Domestic Programs Office. 

Fraden has been at Emerson for seven years. Previously, she worked in academic advising at Northern Essex Community College. She said that she really loves working at Emerson because the students are so creative, brilliant, and driven. She finds it satisfying and exciting to be a part of their journey throughout their time at Emerson. She also credits her colleagues, saying, “The team of advisors I work with are the best. They make it easier to come to work every day.”

Fraden grew up in Connecticut and dreamed of pursuing an undergraduate degree in Boston. That didn’t work out, so she stayed close to home and obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Connecticut. Happily, she made it to Boston to pursue a master’s degree in college student development and counseling from Northeastern University.

Outside of the office, Fraden cherishes spending her time with family and friends. When she goes on vacation, she is usually at a Disney park. Or wishing she were at a Disney park. She loves the nostalgia of Disney and the opportunity it offers to escape into a magical world without the challenges of reality. Winnie-the-Pooh is her favorite character, and if she had to choose a favorite park, it would be Epcot, because it allows her to be a world traveler for the day by visiting all the landmark showcases.

Nancy Howell (Communications and Marketing)