Email: Fayetj@rpi.edu
Phone: 518-276-6864
Janelle has worked with first-year students for nearly 20 years, making this her passion and specialty. She currently serves as the Director of Retention & Student Transitions at Rensselaer. In this role, she and her team support all first-year, sophomore, and transfer students as they transition into RPI, while also helping to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. Their goal is to ensure every new student transitions successfully, both socially and academically into the Rensselaer community.
Janelle started her own academic journey pursuing nutrition and quickly realized that was not going to be her forever path. As a first-generation college student Janelle worked her way through her education figuring out what she liked and did not like resulting in a bachelor’s and master's degree from SUNY Albany. Janelle's journey for her degrees gives her passion toward helping others find their path. When not at work, you can find Janelle with her family and the family dog “Bella” doing anything outdoors; hiking, skiing, playing pickleball or hockey.
Email: krawej3@rpi.edu
Phone: 518-276-6864
Jess came to RPI in January 2026. With a love of learning for the sake of learning, she obtained bachelor's degrees in Mathematics and Asian Studies, and a master's degree in Folk Studies. Born and raised in upstate NY, Jess has always been passionate about supporting students and helping them build the skills they need to be successful. Before taking on roles within higher education she taught math and English to middle school and high school students, led STEM enrichment programs for middle schoolers, and also worked abroad for a time in a rural school in East Africa. Here at RPI she is very happy to be combining her experiences in teaching and STEM to run the I-PERSIST mentoring program. In her spare time she enjoys listening to folk metal, spending time with her cat, Aristotle, and going through several months of being extremely excited and interested about a new hobby only to drop it and forget all about it in order to move on to the next new hobby.
Areas of Responsibility: Student Success & Access
- Access & Neurodiverse Student Success
- Graduate Student Experience
- Inclusive Excellence
- International Student & Scholar Services/Education Abroad
- Retention & Student Transitions
- Student Success Center
- Transfer Experience
Vision
The Student Success portfolio engages all students in authoring their unique definition of success. Through advocacy, instruction, support, and mentoring, Student Success intentionally empowers students to achieve their academic and personal goals.
Mission
The Student Success portfolio works with students to develop plans to achieve their personal, academic, and leadership goals. The portfolio provides capacity building activities which promote success for all students and preparation for global leadership.
