Staff of the Month: October — Allison Couturier

If you’ve visited our Lansing centers, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Relationship Manager Allison Couturier moving between tables, checking in with students, and offering a mix of practical help and genuine encouragement. Allison manages a growing caseload of 52 students—tracking attendance during activities, problem-solving day to day challenges, and, just as importantly, making time to listen. “If you take the time to listen, students are more willing to express themselves,” she says. That simple, steady approach has made her a trusted adult for many learners who need both structure and a safe place to be heard.

Allison joined Success in January 2024 and, in less than two years, has become a go-to for questions big and small. As her role has evolved, she’s leaned into learning the ins and outs of our systems so she can answer “almost all of the questions that anyone has.” That willingness to keep learning—right alongside students—is part of what sets her apart.

Ask Allison what she’s most proud of and she doesn’t list a project or a metric. She talks about trust. Building trust with students, she says, is the accomplishment that matters most. It shows up in small moments: a student circling back to share good news, another asking for advice, a third staying a few extra minutes to finish what they started. Those moments add up to progress. They’re also why, when colleagues nominated her for Staff of the Month, Allison was genuinely surprised. “There are a lot of staff members who are worthy of this,” she says. “I’m very grateful to be chosen.”

Outside of work, Allison keeps a full, fun slate: you’ll find her on the volleyball court, getting in a workout, with a good book in hand, or out hunting when the season’s right. And here’s a bit of personality her coworkers may not know—she’s a champion napper who can “fall asleep whenever, wherever.” Consider it an elite superpower for someone who gives so much energy to others all day.

For new team members, Allison’s advice is refreshingly straightforward: be yourself. Students can tell when adults are authentic, and that honesty creates the space for them to be themselves too. It’s a reminder that great student support doesn’t require a script; it requires consistency, care, and real relationships.

Allison, thank you for the way you show up—for listening first, for earning trust, and for helping students take the next right step. Your steadiness makes a difference every day, and we’re proud to celebrate you as our October Staff of the Month.