Adrienne White
Adrienne White
Instructor
Transfer students, sense of belonging, student success, retention, first-year experience, and college student development
Dr. Adrienne White serves as the Dean of Students at Mount St. Mary’s University, where she leads the Student Life division and oversees campus life policies that promote student well-being, belonging, and holistic development. In her role, she develops strategic retention initiatives that align with the university’s mission of academic excellence and personal formation. A trusted campus leader and external consultant, Dr. White shares her expertise widely on student success, coaching models, and improving graduation outcomes.
Dr. White is also an Affiliate Faculty member in the Higher Education Program at George Mason University and served as a reviewer for the Journal of College Student Development from 2017 to 2025. Her scholarship and practice center on student development, first-year experience initiatives, sense of belonging, transfer student success, and retention. Since 2018, she has presented her work at national conferences and is a frequent guest lecturer in graduate programs.
Prior to joining Mount St. Mary’s, Dr. White was the Director of Student Success Coaching at George Mason University. In this role, she led the development and expansion of coaching initiatives that empowered students to set meaningful goals, access personalized support, and achieve academic and personal success. Her professional experience spans residence life, co-curricular learning, living-learning communities, off-campus services, advising, and strategic planning.
A recognized leader in the field, Dr. White co-founded the NASPA Success Coaching Knowledge Community, creating a national network of professionals committed to developing coaching standards and advancing the role of coaching in higher education. She also co-authored the widely adopted definition of success coaching used across higher education, helping to establish a shared framework for supporting student achievement through coaching.
Dr. White’s greatest passion lies in creating meaningful, inclusive, and empowering experiences for students throughout their college journey. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Audiology from the University of Tennessee, a Master of Science in Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University, and a Doctorate in Education with a focus on Higher Education from George Mason University.
Mount St. Mary's University Email: ad.white@msmary.edu
Selected Publications
Correa, K. & White, A. (2024). Success coaching in higher education: An emerging practice. NASPA Knowledge Community Journal (pp. 43-45). NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education https://www.naspa.org/files/dmfile/2024-NASPA-Knowledge-Community-Publication.pdf
White, A., Gaston, W., Hodges, M., Schott, S. (2021). Reimagining holistic support through student success coaching. Orientation, Transition, and Retention Knowledge Community Blog.
Thompson, A. D. & Dubert, E. (2017). Intervention strategies for at-risk off-campus students. E-Source for College Transitions. 14(2), 11 – 13.
Grants and Fellowships
Mason Grant Submission Team (2024). Access to Excellence Outreach Initiative. State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Pell Initiative.
Holmes, K., Thompson, A.D., Agbeshie-Noye, I. (2018). Perceptions of sense of belonging in transfer students. Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education. 2018 – 2019 Catalyst Grant Recipients
Courses Taught
George Mason University, Higher Education 685: Practicum
The practicum course provided Masters students enrolled in the Higher Education Program with a supervised on-the-job experience in an approved college or university setting or public agency involved in higher education, while having the opportunity to develop skills applicable to postsecondary research, teaching, administration, or policy.
George Mason University, University 421: Senior Transition – College to Grad School
Topics covered include preparation for graduate school, meaning the components of an application (essay, resume, interview) as well as identifying programs and financing continued education. Self-exploration and occupational research to help students decide if a graduate degree is right for them and fits into their career plan.
George Mason University, University 100: Introduction to Mason (Off-Campus Student and Out-of-State Student Sections)
Topics covered include academic success, stress management, leadership, financial management, adjusting to college, communication skills, diversity awareness, campus involvement, major and career exploration.
Virginia Commonwealth University, Returning Resident Assistant Seminar
Indiana University, U450: Foundations for Leadership
Guest Lectures
Higher Education 644: Management and Administration of Student Services, Topics covered: developing partnerships between academic and student affairs
Higher Education 702: Organization and Administration in Higher Education, Topics covered: navigating institutional change
Higher Education Capstone, Topics covered: transfer student success, career development
Higher Education 644: Management and Administration of Student Services, Topics covered: success coaching in higher education, student success strategies
Recent Presentations
White, A., Ward. M., Hediger, S., Wickham, F. (2024, March). Creating and implementing strategic plans: A departmental perspective. NASPA Annual Conference. Seattle, WA.
*Easton, D., Morel, H., Collins, K., White, A., Correa, K. (2023, October). Student success coaching panel: Building and implementing success coaching programs in higher education. NASPA Success Coaching Knowledge Community Panel. Virtual.
White, A., Pegg, A., Cosby, G. (2023, June). Rethinking supervision in 2023. University Life Student Success Symposium. Fairfax, VA.
Machuga, C., Lorentson, S., White, A., Bunting, A. (2023, April). The care network – Blending human and technological ecosystems for dynamic student support. NASPA Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD.
White, A., Dubert, E., Schott, S., Cozzolino-Artiga, S. (2022, March). Coaching contemporary students for success. NASPA Annual Conference. Baltimore, MD.
*White, A., Gaston, W., Hodges, M., Schott, S. (2021, September). Reimagining holistic support through student success coaching. Orientation, Transition, and Retention Knowledge Community Webinar. NASPA. Virtual.
*White, A. (2021, May). Developing, engaging, and motivating your team now and in the future panel. University Life Student Success Symposium. Virtual.
*White, A. (2021, March). Tau Sigma Keynote Address. Tau Sigma Induction Ceremony. Virtual.
*White, A. (2021, March). Finding your resilient-self in college. United Social Justice Workshop. Virtual.
Thompson White, A. & Campbell, S. (2021, March). Lessons learned: Instituting a campus wide training program for success coaching. NASPA Annual Conference. Virtual.
Berry, I., Harris, T.N., Bullard, D., Thompson White, A. (2021, March). It takes a village: Institutional collaborations to support student success. NASPA Annual Conference. Virtual.
Clifton, S., Dilley, T., Thompson White, A. (2021, March). The golden circle of success coaching: Reimagining holistic student support. NASPA Annual Conference. Virtual.
Thompson White, A., Lorentson, S. S., & Berry, I. (2020, October) Collaborating in change management to support student success through coaching and advising. NACADA Annual Conference. Virtual.
*Thompson White, A.D. & Dubert, E. (2020, September). Supporting transfer students during the era of COVID-19. NODA Webinar.
Thompson, A.D. & Agbeshie-Noye, I. (2019, October). Sense of belonging in transfer students. NODA Annual Conference. Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education. Houston, TX
*Grites, T., Thompson, A.D., Radwanski, J., Fries, J. (2019, February). Practitioner panel: Transfer transition programs. National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students National Conference. Association for the Study of Transfer Students. Atlanta, GA.
*indicates invited presentation or panelist