M.Ed., ACC
Higher Education Trainer
Meghan “MJ” Jaird (she/her) serves as a Life and ADHD Coach at VT ADHD Coaching through which she is advancing her holistic and student-centered coaching with one-on-one clientele. MJ most recently served as the Director of Student Services in the College of Education and Social Services’ Student Services Office at the University of Vermont. In this role, MJ: provided co-oversight for the development, implementation, and assessment of the Office of Student Services’ unit and priorities, including the CESS FTFY Student Holistic Advising Model; provided co-leadership and collaborative guidance for CESS enrollment management efforts, Undeclared Advising, Care/Case Management, new Retention Initiatives, student academic progression planning and interventions, student enrichment and success resources; and utilized appreciative inquiry and motivational interviewing frameworks to support students and supervise staff members.
Throughout over 12 years in enrollment management, student and academic affairs roles, MJ became increasingly interested in research and best practices serving neurodiverse college aged students. This growing interest and work with neurodiverse students compelled her to complete the JST ADHD Coaching Training (completed in September 2021), and is currently in pursuit of the International Coaching Federation’s ACC coaching credential. MJ completed her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, at the University of Vermont, and successfully defended her thesis in November 2021, earning outstanding honors for her research. Her thesis, titled “Mapping Out Student Support: An Exploration of Student Disability Support Programs and Practices at Selective Higher Education Institutions,” explored the ways in which ten highly selective public higher education institutions’ Disability Services Office provide services and programs, framed by the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) 2020 Domains, Program Standards, and Performance Indicators. The purpose of this study was to respond to the current research knowledge gaps by examining the existing programmatic landscape. Her findings resulted in a working typology organizing the range of disability support for undergraduate students.
MJ’s professional arc has centered on pillars of diversity, social justice, and educational access; a commitment to innovative program development; and student-centered recruitment, retention and holistic advising and coaching practices–all of which serves as the foundation of her ever-evolving coaching philosophy and approach.
In her spare time, MJ volunteers as a restorative justice panel member in her local community, trains for half marathon running races, and teaches kickboxing and TRX (suspension-band strength) classes.