About Us
The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) is a support hub for Lawrence Tech students and faculty. LTU students come to the AAC for tutoring in a variety of subjects, to compare notes with classmates, to meet with study groups, or to seek that spark of needed motivation. For many, the AAC is simply a friendly place to be with others. AAC services are FREE to all Lawrence Tech students, staff and faculty. The AAC is located on the lowest level of the A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center in C201.
Academic Achievement Center Staff Bios and Contact Info
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Gladys Aviles, gaviles@ltu.edu 
Dr. Avilés is the director of the Academic Achievement Center. In addition to coordinating the academic support, tutoring services, and testing services of our students, she oversees the Early Feedback and Midterm Grade processes for first-year students. Dr. Avilés grew up in Puerto Rico and obtained her bachelor degree in chemistry from the Universidad de Puerto Rico-Río Piedras. She obtained her Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Michigan State University. Dr. Avilés was a senior research chemist for BASF Corporation and an adjunct faculty member in chemistry before becoming the First Year Experience coordinator in 2005. In 2008, she co-chaired the Foundations of Excellence in the First Year self-study that led to a number of recommendations implemented during the 2009-10 academic year. She enjoys working with students and wants to help them succeed. During her free time she plays indoor soccer and volunteers in her community. |
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Sterling Russell, srussell@ltu.edu |
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Christine Sass 
Christine Sass is a senior in the Architecture program. This is her last semester here. She has been tutoring off and on for the past year and a half, has taught the Structures 1 and 2 precourses, and is a TA for Structures 4. She enjoys spending time at her home in Royal Oak with her husband, two kitties, and four chickens. |
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Shasta Gibbs 
Shasta is from Petoskey, Michigan and attended North Central Michigan College. She is a senior at LTU working on a dual major in Architecture and Civil Engineering. Shasta studied in Florence, Italy for the fall of 2010 and hopes to graduate May of 2012. Shasta plans to continue her education after graduation to get her Masters in Structural Engineering. Shasta enjoys playing soccer, running and dancing. Shasta joined the AAC staff in fall 2008, and became a math tutor in the summer of 2009. Shasta won the “2009 Calculus Student of the Year” award. |
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Deanna (Dee) Hewitt 
Dee is a junior majoring in Architecture. Dee joined the AAC staff in August 2009 as an architecture tutor and front desk staff. Dee tutors Revit, AutoCad, Photoshop, Illustrator, and other software programs used in the College of Architecture. Dee is involved with Lawrence Tech's SPAM (Students Planning Events Monthly). In her free time, Dee likes to go shopping and hang out with friends, or play sports such as softball, racquetball, and tennis. |
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Jessica Gauthier 
Jessie joined the AAC front desk staff in February 2010. Jessie is an imaging major with a concentration in graphic design. She started working on campus with the disability services office and now also works in the AAC as a high school tutor and an administrative assistant. Currently on campus she is involved with the student activity group SPAM and is the Events Chair for the executive board for the 2010-2011 event year. She plays many musical instruments and enjoys drawing. |
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Arthur Sellers 
Arthur is a senior majoring in Computer Engineering. He chose to pursue this career field because of his passion for technology and the many ways it can be used to help people. In his quest to become a professional engineer, he has been interning at DTE Energy since June 2010 and has gained an enormous amount of knowledge and experience while working there. He is also an active member of the LTU Scholars Program located on campus. His hobbies include listening to music, drawing, spending time with family, going to concerts and watching movies. |
Professor Russell earned her BA in English and MA in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Michigan. She also holds an Education Specialist degree from Wayne State University. She began teaching in 1971 at Huron High School in Ann Arbor and taught there for 4 years. Ms. Russell left there to teach English and math for a year in Mwanza, Tanzania, East Africa. Upon return to the states, she became the director of Guidance and Counseling at St. Martin De Porres High School in Detroit. In 1989, Ms. Russell became the assistant principal of Birney Middle School in Southfield. In 2004, she became that school's principal, retiring in 2007 after 18 years with the district. Professor Russell owns an editing and proofreading company called Maranza Consulting and works on various editing projects through it. Professor Russell has been married to her husband, Ira, an engineer, for 33 years. They have 2 children, both of whom are engineers. Ms. Russell is a Southfield resident.
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aac@ltu.edu or 248-204-4120