Michele Patestides

Michele Patestides serves as a Learning Specialist and Academic Advisor at Beacon College, a role she has held since 1996. She is also an Instructor who co-developed and taught foundational courses including Learning Essentials and Self-Discovery, and co-advises the Beacon Community Mindfulness Club while teaching mindfulness meditation classes.

Her academic credentials include:

• M.S. in Varying Exceptionalities from Nova Southeastern University
• B.A. in Program in the Arts from Barnard College

A passionate advocate for neurodiverse students, Patestides focuses on academic mentoring strategies, neurodiversity integration in higher education, and mindfulness-based interventions. Her work emphasizes personalized support systems for students with learning differences, exemplified by the Peer Tutoring and TA Program she founded to foster academic resilience.

Her research centers on mentoring as a critical framework for post-secondary success among students with learning disabilities, highlighting structured support mechanisms in her 2017 publication.

Recognition includes:

• Beacon College President’s Award (2013) for Program Development: Peer Tutoring and TA

Through weekly one-on-one advising sessions, Patestides delivers tailored academic guidance while expanding campus-wide support through the Peer Tutoring Program and Mindfulness Club, demonstrating sustained commitment to inclusive educational practices.