Stratton C. Lee III is director of University Advising in Michigan State University’s Office of Undergraduate Education. He is a two-time MSU graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in animal science and a Master of Arts in counseling. Lee previously served two terms as president of the Black Faculty, Staff and Administrators Association and was an executive board member of CoREM, the Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Minorities.
“MSU is the best.”
That one statement launched my college journey as a high school junior and equestrian. While facing the challenge of a new jumping course, I was distracted by the pressure of choosing a major, a career and a university. I struggled during practice, but my trainer’s comforting words gave me the focus I needed — for the competition and for my next steps in life. I wanted the best.
As a teenager, I often felt like I lived in the shadows of giants. Many in my family were the first — sometimes the only — and were generally known as the best. I felt different. I had potential but lacked persistence. I was a quick study but also a procrastinator. I rarely needed to review; I just understood the assignment. Still, I didn’t feel ready for the next steps in my life.
What should I do? Where should I go? Who did I want to be? What did I want to do?
I was on a journey with no guardrails. My first major decision was to pursue Michigan State University. I wanted to step out of the shadows and begin building autonomy and self-determination. I wanted to be my best — to choose what was right for me.
During my first year, I learned how to navigate both cross-country travel and campus life on my own. I worked to overcome my shy, quiet nature and made a conscious effort to be more social. As an out-of-state student, I wanted — and more importantly, needed — to form new friendships.
My sophomore year brought new challenges as I struggled to balance academics and work. In my junior year, after consulting with my advisor, I made the decision to stay the course and complete my degree without changing majors. By senior year, another advisor helped me envision a new path, guiding me from animal science toward a future in counseling.
My graduate school faculty helped me discover how to build a career in education. A graduate school friend, Lauren, introduced me to the field of academic advising. Although I didn’t — and still don’t — know exactly where my journey will lead, I’ve continued to benefit from the guides, signs and resources at Michigan State University. MSU is the best.
As director of university advising, I now lead a team of exploratory advisors who support students in the Exploratory Preference and Exploring Business Preference majors, as well as any student exploring their academic options. Students who choose the exploratory path often value challenging the status quo — resisting the pressure to choose a direction without first examining their full range of interests.
Exploratory students investigate their passions across four Academic Interest Areas, or AIAs:
- Business and Innovation
- Health Sciences
- PACES (Public Services, Arts and Culture, Communication, Education, Social Science)
- STEM, Agriculture and Environment
We understand the psychological stress of choice and decision fatigue, and we specialize in helping students find their paths to success. Our primary focus is on supporting students with 0 to 55 credits, though we are equipped to assist any undergraduate exploring their academic options.
University Advising was established in 2022 through the University Advising Initiative within the Office of Undergraduate Education, I saw it as both a new beginning and a continuation of something deeply rooted in MSU’s history. Many campus partners are familiar with MSU’s long-standing tradition of exploratory advising, which dates back to the 1970s with the Undergraduate University Division and continued into the mid-2000s with the Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative. I’m proud to be part of this legacy, now reimagined to meet the needs of today’s students.
Visit University Advising to learn more.
