Mary Beth Overby’s leading role as a manager of advising
BY: FARAHNAZ NAZARY
Staff
Beyond the day-to-day work of course approvals, the role of a manager of advising is to build a foundation for student success. This is a task that Mary Beth Overby has mastered, transforming a transactional process into a developmental one. Overby’s educational background, combined with her three decades of life in St. Louis, has made her a cornerstone of the advising department.
Overby explained her professional background. “I started at STLCC in 2015 as a Student Support Specialist at our South County Center. I was in that role from 2015 to 2021. From 2021 to 2023 I worked part time for the district ACT Advising office. In 2023 I started at the Forest Park campus as a Student Success Advisor. I started my position of Manager, Student Success at the Meramec campus in August 2025.”
In Overby’s opinion an important key to helping students is listening to the questions and concerns they bring to their advisor. Each student brings their own set of needs, and it is important as an advisor to meet the students where they are and help them reach their goals.
Overby notes that there are lots of fantastic free resources on campus and online to help students succeed. Advisors can assist in career and major exploration and offer tools available to assist students wherever they are on their career path.
Overby adds that they work closely with all their partners in Student Affairs and Academic Affairs to plug students in to the resources they need inside and outside of the classroom. They always encourage students to reach out to their advisor if they don’t know where to go, so it always helps students to choose the right direction.
Ultimately, with a clear vision for the future, Overby’s commitment to learning and connection is not simply a plan but a guiding philosophy. It promises to build a more dynamic, knowledgeable and integrated advising team that will continue to elevate the campus experience for years to come.
“My favorite part of my job is supporting my team as we help students reach their goals. I love problem-solving, and each day brings new challenges we solve together,” Overby said.
