About Us

Sheila Goethe is a Coordinator of Advising in Undergraduate Studies on the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. She is a member of The National Association for Academic Advisors and a USF alum. She has worked in higher education since 1987 and at USF for over 25 years. During her tenure at USF, she has worked on various committees including the Academic Regulations Committee, the Council for Academic Advisors, the Undergraduate Council, and the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Marketa has more than 15 years of administrative experience with the university and is passionate about supporting students’ success. Her areas of expertise include admissions counseling and advising, recruitment, and enrollment services for undergraduate and graduate students. Marketa has been a committee member for the Chancellor’s Council for Issues of Diversity and Inclusivity since 2009. She is a Saint Petersburg native and a USF alum for her undergraduate and graduate education. Marketa has worked for USF for nearly 20 years.

Emily Jakubisin is the Student Success Advocate serving first and second year cohorts for the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. She comes to USF St. Petersburg by way of USF Tampa’s Office of Academic Advocacy where she served as the Intake Facilitator. As the First and Second Year Student Success Advocate, Emily collaborates with academic departments, colleges, and university personnel to support first and second year students experiencing barriers to their academic success.  

Emily is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She currently serves as Cohort Representative on the Master of Social Work Committee. Emily brings five years of teaching experience rated Highly Effective in Orange County and Hillsborough County Public Schools. She is passionate about the intersection of education and students' mental health and overall wellbeing.

Emily earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a Minor in French Language from the Florida State University and anticipates completion of her Master of Social Work from the University of South Florida in Spring 2024.  

Marty Gillenwater serves the College of Public Health’s population in St. Petersburg by advising students in the Health Sciences major.  He joined this campus in Spring 2023 after advising for the major in Tampa for five years.

Prior to coming to USF, Marty served as Program Manager in Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business, his alma mater where he earned his MBA and MS in Human Resource Management.  Prior taking up the advising mantle, Marty spent a year at South Central Regional Jail in West Virginia as Human Resources Manager.

Marty brings a career-centric approach to his students, working from a place of long-term goals, and how his students can work to achieve them through the Health Sciences major.

James Walker comes to USF St. Petersburg from Saint Leo University where he served as an Undergraduate Student Advisor and a Graduate Student Advisor. In his previous roles he led committees on re-entry student retention as well as the training committee. Prior to Saint Leo University he was a staff member at Hillsborough Community College serving in the Registrar’s Office as well as in admissions/advising for the Ybor City campus.

In the role of Academic Advisor II, James is responsible for all programs in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences which includes Criminology and Forensic Studies & Justice (not accepting new students). The responsibilities of this role include program advising, graduation certification, orientation presentations, assigned student initiatives, and data/metrics analysis and collection.

James earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations from Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, FL), a Master’s Degree in Political Science from USF (Tampa Campus), and a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity from Saint Leo University (Tampa, FL).