Undergraduate Advising Services

You’re never on your own at the David Eccles School of Business. As an undergraduate business student, you’ll have unlimited access to professional and academic advisors to help guide your educational experience. In fact, we feel so strongly about the value of advising, that we created a dedicated team of business advisors in addition to the University of Utah’s campus-wide undergraduate advising network. What this means for you is that there’s a whole team of knowledgeable, friendly professionals ready to help you with anything from questions about your major concentration to concerns about your career choice.

Beyond the Academic Advising office, you’ll also have access to informal resources like accessible professors, experienced upperclassmen and engaged alumni—all of whom are not just willing, but eager to help enrich your experience at the School of Business.

Have specific questions? Contact the Undergraduate Advising Services office by calling 801-581-7853 or emailing advising@business.utah.edu

Meet the Team

Dr. Cole Holmes

Director of Academic Advising

Dr. Cole Holmes serves as the Director of Academic Advising and teaches business communication for the Department of Management. Prior to joining the staff and faculty of the Eccles School of Business, Holmes served as the Director of Undergraduate Advising for the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas Austin for ten years and a faculty member in the Department of Management at McCombs for two years. He has devoted more than 20 years to teaching and advising college students.

At UT Austin, Holmes coordinated the academic advising division in the Undergraduate Program Office, providing advising and retention services to more than 4,000 undergraduates. He also directed the Freshman Interest Group program for business majors, and coordinated all orientation activities for incoming first-year and transfer students. He conceived and facilitated the Comprehensive Advising, Retention, and Enrichment (CARE) program, a comprehensive initiative targeting students at risk of academic probation and dismissal. Holmes has won numerous national and regional awards for advising and advising leadership.

As a lecturer in business communication, Holmes was twice named to the McCombs Faculty Honor Role - an award given to ten faculty members each semester who earn the highest marks from their students on the Course and Instructor Evaluation.

He holds a BS in Education (English and Speech Communication) from UT-Austin, an MA in Counseling from St. Edwards University and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from UT-Austin.

Holmes is also a writer and part-owner of a local restaurant.

Anna Adams, M.Ed. Academic Advising Coordinator

Anna earned both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Policy) from the University of Utah. She has been an Advisor for 2 years in a professional setting and served for 2 years as a Fine Arts Career Counselor during graduate school.  Anna was born in Oklahoma and has enjoyed living in 8 different states throughout her childhood, due to her father's military position; she now considers Utah her home and enjoys being in a location with mountains. In her time outside the office Anna enjoys swimming, hiking, cooking, trying new exercise classes and dancing. She studied ballet for 16 years and is always anxious to attend local performances and take courses herself.

Jason Barkemeyer, M.Ed. Academic Advising Coordinator

Jason has been advising students in higher education since 2003. He started with student-athletes at Texas State University and then moved to Utah in 2006. Since then he has been with the David Eccles School of Business and the University of Utah.

He is an active member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), having attended conferences since 2006. His 2010 presentation on distance advising for students was awarded the Best in Region award for presentations given at the NACADA Region X Annual Conference and was invited to present at the national conference later that year. His advising interests lie in the realm of using technology to supplement academic advising.

He lives with his wife Charlotte and son Jeff in Eagle Mountain.

Kari Dockendorff, M.Ed. Academic Advising Coordinator

Kari has been an advisor with the School of Business since 2010. Before that she was working as an Assistant Residential Education Coordinator in housing at the U. While working in housing Kari earned her Master’s of Education in Education, Leadership, and Policy. Kari is originally from Wisconsin and grew up on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River. She attended the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. Kari is an avid Green Bay Packers fan and loves to attend games at Lambeau. She enjoys running, being outside, and taking her dog on hikes and walks around Salt Lake.

Kari is a member of NASPA, the national organization for student affairs administrators in higher education, and has an interest in working with retention programs for new and continuing students.

Lauren Gehrke, M.Ed. Student Involvement Coordinator

Tara Haridson, MS Academic Advising Coordinator

Ben Repak, MBA Academic Advising Coordinator

Nicole Rintamaki, MSW Academic Advising Coordinator 

Jessica Taverna, M.Ed. Academic Advising Coordinator

Jess has been advising undergraduate students at the University of Utah since 2002. She earned M.A. and M.Phil degrees from the Department of Political Science at the U, and a B.A. in History and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College. She has worked with prospective and current students in political science and now the School of Business, and is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). In addition to working directly with students, Jess has an interest in curriculum development and academic program design.

Jess and her husband moved to Utah from the east coast in 2002 and have been in love with the mountains and desert ever since. She spends most of her free time traveling all over Utah and the mountain west, rock and ice climbing, running, and skiing.

Peer Advisors

• Adam Driggs
• Adam Mathis
• Mary Ta
• Eliza Rasmussen
• Justin Stevens
• Jess Turcasso