Utah State Recognizes Outstanding Advisors and National Honors Follow

Utah State University Advising Center presented the 2006 New Professional Advisor Award to Megan Ralphs and the New Faculty Advisor Award to Keri L. Ryan. Following the USU awards, they received national awards from the National Academic Advising Association. Ralphs received a 2007 NACADA Outstanding New Advisor Award in the Primary Role category, and Ryan received a 2007 NACADA Outstanding New Advisor Certificate of Merit in the Faculty Advising category.

The national awards will be presented at an awards ceremony and reception at the annual NACADA conference, to be held in Baltimore in October.

 

Ralphs, an advisor in the university advising center, and Ryan, an assistant professor in the civil and environmental engineering department, were nominated by students and colleagues for the award.

 

“They both have strong interpersonal skills, and caring and helpful attitudes toward students, faculty and staff,” said Stephanie Hamblin, associate director of university advising.

 

“This was a nice surprise, but I think all the advisors here at Utah State deserve this award,” said Ralphs. “We all work hard, care about students and put them first.”

 

This is the fourth year USU has awarded the New Advisor and Faculty Award. The award is given to individuals who have had less than three years experience.

 

“We were looking for ways to recognize new advisors and show how important they are to the university,” said Hamblin. “These awards exhibit Utah State’s commitment to student care and attention.”

 

USU has received 35 NACADA outstanding awards or certificates of merit in the past 11 years. The university with the next highest amount of awards received 10 awards.

 

“This comparison says a lot about our faculty,” said Hamblin. “We’ve got some great people and we’re very pro-active with our nominations on campus.”

 

Hamblin said advising and transfer services are organizing a workshop in August to help advisors with their portfolios and achieve success in their field.

 

Contact: Stephanie Hamblin, (435) 797-3373, stephanie.hamblin@usu.edu