Alison Schmidt Recognized for Accomplishments in Academic Advising
WOOSTER, Ohio – Associate professor of education Alison Schmidt, who served as associate dean of academic advising at The College of Wooster from 2011-2015, has received the Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Academic Advising Administrator from NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) earlier this month in Atlanta.
This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students or outstanding academic advising administration, and is presented annually to an individual during the annual conference held each fall. Schmidt was the only person in this category representing an institution of Wooster’s size; other award winners were from large state universities who employ full-time professional advisors. Winners receive a complimentary basic registration for the annual conference, a recognition plaque, and a one-year membership in NACADA.
In nominating her for the award, Wooster’s provost Carolyn Newton explained, “Alison quickly became a key member of the APEX (Advising, Planning and Experiential Learning Center) team, helping the group understand the importance of student advising, with an emphasis on advising that integrated academic, personal, and professional mentoring. She brought her deeply held concern for the whole student and helped keep this concern central in the group discussions as the concept of APEX came to fruition. Her contributions were instrumental to the creation of a program that encourages students to become passionately engaged in their education and that empowers them to make informed and intentional choices, from the beginning of their Wooster career to their post-graduate lives.”
Henry Kreuzman, dean for curriculum and academic engagement at Wooster added, “A tribute to the excellent relationship Alison has with her students, involving them in demonstrating advising conversations does not just come across as authentic, it is authentic, and thus, highly relatable. That she has been able to make such significant contributions to the work of advising on our campus while still teaching half time and maintaining her departmental advising load is nothing short of astounding.”
NACADA recognizes effective academic advising is at the core of student success, and aspires to be the premier global association for the development and dissemination of innovative theory, research, and practice of academic advising in higher education. It promotes student success by advancing the field of academic advising globally and provides opportunities for professional development, networking, and leadership for its diverse membership.
Posted in News on October 27, 2016.
