Excellence is a goal of all students at Eckerd.
The John M. Bevan Center for Academic Excellence (BCAE) offers students the resources and opportunities to achieve academic excellence in the classroom and after graduation.
Additional academic support is provided by our Rahall Communication Center and our Writing Center.
Peer mentoring
Peer mentors help incoming students transition to Eckerd College. A peer mentor is assigned to each section of Autumn Term, and the peer mentors work closely with the Bevan Center staff and faculty to help incoming students develop the academic skills they need to be successful and to find their niches among the Eckerd community.
Peer tutoring is available in many subjects, including Behavioral Sciences, Communication, Computer Science, World Language, Natural Sciences and Quantitative Sciences/Mathematics.
Academic Coaching and Skills Workshops
Academic coaches can help you set and meet your academic goals while maintaining a healthy school-life balance. In addition to working one-on-one with students, the academic coaches offer several workshops including implementing effective study strategies, surviving midterm and final exams, and developing good time management.
Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants
Eckerd has a distinguished history of NOAA Hollings Scholars, Fulbright award winners, and Rhodes Scholars. In fact, Eckerd leads the nation for Hollings Scholarship winners all-time.
We help students to learn more about award opportunities that align with their interests and program major, monitor award deadlines, and peruse tips designed to ensure a successful application. A scholarship advisor is available to work with students interested in these opportunities.
Fulbright, Goldwater, Hollings, NSF, Rhodes, STAR, Udall and more—our students win these and other prestigious fellowships and scholarships each year. Check out our winners listing.
Peace Corps Prep
Eckerd’s Peace Corps Prep program provides preparation and certification to students seeking to develop the competencies critical to the intercultural fieldwork of its volunteers. Students can meet with trained faculty and staff advisors to apply for the program.
From its inception in 1958, Eckerd has emphasized global responsibility and citizenship as part of its liberal arts curriculum. As a result, more than 160 of our graduates have been inspired to serve in the Peace Corps or other international development organizations.
Accessibility
The Office of Accessibility, located in the BCAE, works to ensure access at Eckerd College to students with disabilities through reasonable accommodations.
We help students learn to manage their academic accommodations and also work with students who need dietary accommodations, housing accommodations, and/or have emotional support or service animals.
Meet the Staff
Marjorie Sanfilippo, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Brown Hall 101
sanfilmd@eckerd.edu
727.864.7562
Make an appointment with Dean Sanfilippo
Margie received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Mary Washington and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami. After many years as a member of the psychology faculty at Eckerd, she has turned her attention to issues affecting the broader College community. As the associate dean of faculty, she oversees all student academic issues, and as the executive director of the Bevan Center, she oversees the Peer Mentoring Program, the Academic Coaching Program and the Office of Accessibility.
Amy Mullarkey, M.Ed.
Director, Office of Accessibility
Brown Hall 101
mullaral@eckerd.edu
727.864.7724
Make an appointment with Amy
Amy earned her B.A. in Literary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas and holds an M.Ed. in Special Education. Prior to coming to Eckerd, Amy was the associate director of the Academic Resource Center at Georgetown University and, before that, was the disability resources manager at St. Petersburg College. Outside of work, Amy enjoys a good Netflix binge, but she can also be found on long walks/runs with her husband and their dogs, Victor and Lulu Mae. Amy also is an avid photographer and enjoys photographing families with their pets.
Kat Robinson (Robinson-Malone), Ph.D.
Asst. Dean of Faculty, Fellowship and Scholarship Advisor
Brown Hall 101
robinskk@eckerd.edu
727.864.8646
Make an appointment with Kat
Kathleen “Kat” Robinson received her Ph.D. in Literature from the University of South Florida after completing her Master’s and Bachelor’s in Literature. She came to Eckerd College in 2008. She leads various fellowship and scholarship initiatives as an advisor. Her research interests as an undergraduate research advisor focus on access, process, and collaboration, and as literature instructor include the study of trauma and narrative in modern American and British Literature and the presentation and representation of war in narrative. She has published and presented on gender bias in letters of recommendations, collaboration with high impact practices and undergraduate research, Ernest Hemingway, on treasure and treasure-hunting in Florida, and on the effect of trauma on the narrative structure. She is involved with the local sailing community. She enjoys traveling and sailing (especially when the two coalesce) with her husband and her daughter.
Kaity Hamill ’18, B.A.
Preferred Pronouns: she/her(s)
Accessibility Coordinator
Brown Hall 101
hamillke@eckerd.edu
727.865.7134
Make an appointment with Kaity
Kaity graduated from Eckerd (Class of 18) with a B.A. in International Studies and Interdisciplinary Arts. She studied abroad in Costa Rica, London, and Japan during her time at Eckerd. After graduation, Kaity worked in Eckerd’s Office of Service-Learning for a year (through AmeriCorps), then she taught English in Niigata, Japan for three years (through the JET Program). In addition to this position, Kaity’s studying Interdisciplinary Disability Studies at UMaine’s online graduate school. In her free time you can find her playing TTRPGs, or spoiling her two cats (Saki & Arisa). Kaity’s ESA, Saki (pictured above), also graduated from Eckerd (2018)!
Margret Skaftadottir, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean; Assistant Professor of Education; Academic Coaching and Scholarship Advising
Brown Hall 101
skaftami@eckerd.edu
727.864.8363
Make an appointment with Margret
Margret received her Master’s and Ph.D. in Education from Emory University after having completed her Bachelor’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Iceland. She came to Eckerd College in 1993 as a member of the Education program faculty, and she oversaw the Program for Experienced Learners for many years before joining the Bevan Center for Academic Excellence. As assistant dean, Margret provides both academic coaching and scholarship/fellowship advising.
Mackenzie Strobing, B.A.
Academic Success Coach
Brown Hall 101
strobingmj@eckerd.edu
727.864.8188
Make an appointment with Mackenzie
Mackenzie received her B.A. in Psychology and studied Education as a minor at the University of Tampa in 2022. Before joining the Bevan Center for Academic Excellence she worked as Lead Academic Coach at The University of Tampa. Originally, Kenzie is from New York and in her free time can be found outside enjoying the Florida sun and doing yoga.
Tonya Williams, Ed.D.
Assistant Director, Office of Accessibility
Brown Hall 101
williamstj@eckerd.edu
727.864.8841
Make an appointment with Tonya
Tonya Williams received her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Argosy University in Sarasota after receiving both her Master’s of Education and Bachelor’s in Human Services from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. Prior to employment with Eckerd College, Tonya was the accessibility coordinator at St. Petersburg College, Downtown/Midtown campuses. Tonya has worked in the field of Exceptional Student Education for the last 16 years after retiring from 22 years of active military service in the United States Air Force. In her down time, Tonya enjoys reading, lots of sunshine, and hours of fun with her three grandchildren.
