Destiny Kudelko
Lead First Year Success Navigator
Destiny (Des) Kudelko serves as Lead First-Year Success Navigator and Peer Mentorship Program Developer at The University of Olivet. In this role, she supports students through their transition into college life, helping them build the skills, confidence and community necessary for academic and personal success. Destiny also leads the design and coordination of Olivet’s Peer Mentorship Program, which fosters student leadership, connection, and belonging through intentional, relationship-based learning experiences.
Destiny earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she developed her passion for Student Affairs and mentoring through leadership, event coordination, and student support initiatives. She pursued graduate studies in Higher Education and Student Affairs, concentrating on first-year student success, peer-to-peer mentorship development, and trauma-informed support practices. In 2024, Destiny presented at the NASPA Annual Conference with another member of her graduate cohort on “Navigating Higher Education in a Fat Body,” sharing research on sense of belonging and offering practical strategies for making campus spaces and supports more inclusive of diverse bodies and abilities.
Her professional background includes extensive experience in student engagement, large-scale event planning, and program development – all grounded in a deep commitment to inclusive education and the transformative power of community. Destiny’s work centers on creating spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow into their full potential. Her professional interests include mentorship training and development, student retention and persistence, and the implementation of belonging-centered frameworks that enhance the first-year student experience.
