By Jatavian Walker
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Jackson State University (JSU) is pleased to announce that David Atkins, college success advisor for the College of Health Sciences (COHS), was selected to participate in the 2026 Advising Success Network (ASN) Holistic Advising Fellows & Ambassadors Program. Atkins joins a national cohort of advising and student success professionals geared towards advancing equity-centered, holistic advising across higher education.
“Being selected for the 2026 Advising Success Network Holistic Advising Fellows & Ambassador Program is both an honor and a privilege,” said Atkins. “I am excited to collaborate with an international network of professionals dedicated to advancing holistic advising and empowering meaningful student success.”
Atkins is an academic advising and education professional of over 25 years and has a strong foundation in technology education and data analytics. He credits that as part of his success as an advisor for COHS. The Jackson, MS native holds a bachelor’s in computer science and master’s in technology education.
Formed in 2018, ASN is a network of academic-focused organizations with the goal of advancing educational change and supporting students in improving their futures. Their mission is to build cultures of care that support students in achieving their personal, academic and career goals by bringing them together with faculty, advisors and other student staff.
Atkins views the ambassador program as an opportunity to continue developing more inclusive, technology-focused and proactive advising practices at JSU by learning new ways to assist scholars.
“Through this program, I hope to gain deeper insight into innovative and holistic advising practices that meet JSU students at their current levels while empowering them to progress toward higher levels of academic, personal and professional success,” he said.
Between February and June 2026, Atkins and members of the advising fellows and ambassadors program will meet monthly to engage in extensive coaching and work on collaborative capstone projects that address emerging challenges in advising and student success.
To find out more about ASN, please visit