Welcome to the 2024 ACADAOS End of the Year Banquet! We are honored to highlight the incredible work that advisors and advising administrators are doing across all campuses. We will be using the ACADAOS website to highlight all those nominated for our three advising awards:

Outstanding New Advisor

Keenan Hamilton

• Keenan joined Ohio State as an advisor in the Fisher College of Business in Autumn 2021 after previously working as assistant director of student leadership & engagement at Muskingum University. Since starting as an advisor, Keenan has been quick to take on new responsibilities to support his advising team, making him an essential part of Fisher’s advising community. Multiple nominators spoke about Keenan’s willingness to take on the processing of Grade Forgiveness petitions for Fisher and to support the onboarding of new advisors in his office. Keenan even stepped in to help refine the onboarding process for new advisors, working with other team members to ensure each new advisor can attend training sessions that accommodate varied experience levels. Keenan has taken an essential role in welcoming new advisors and helping them get acclimated to a new working environment. Keenan’s nominators praised his ability to quickly connect with students, making them feel heard and valued. One nominator shared that they view Keenan as a “leader who operates entirely from the perspective of asking what is best for students.” Keenan creates an encouraging and supportive environment for students and has an “innate ability to defuse difficult scenarios and have students leave a meeting with him feeling that not only where their needs addressed, but that they were truly heard and cared for.”

Drake Hankins

• Drake joined the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences as a pre-major advisor in January 2023. Prior to joining The Ohio State University, Drake was a College Planning Advisor working with high school students looking to continue onto post-secondary education. One of his colleagues stated, “Drake has left an indelible mark in HRS and Ohio State over the past year. His dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment has contributed significantly to the overall academic and personal development of students within the school. Drake’s proactive efforts to address students’ unique needs and challenges have enhanced students’ experiences and promoted their success. His collaborative spirit and willingness to go above and beyond his role as an academic advisor have earned him the respect and admiration of students and colleagues. In his short time, Drake works on several projects within HRS including but not limited to university orientation liaison, end of term lead, teaching survey, and many more. One of his students mentioned, “Drake has made my Ohio State experience extremely worthwhile. In a huge campus setting, it can be difficult to navigate difficult decision-making processes. Drake always comes to appointments with a smile and is always willing to help. He explains the best courses to take that will help me in my future career and is able to communicate it in a way that is comprehensive and comprehendible.”

Jessica Luttrell

• Jessica has been an academic advisor at the Mansfield campus of Ohio State since the summer of 2022. One of Jessica’s nominating colleagues wrote “Jessica has mastered the art of both challenging and supporting students as they progress through our program, communicating high expectations and respecting diverse learning talents.” Another co-worker wrote “Her unwavering commitment to guiding OSU Academy (dual enrollment) students through their educational journey – from pre-admission through OSU enrollment, is remarkable. She consistently goes beyond the call of duty, demonstrating a genuine passion for helping students navigate the complexities of higher education.” Another said “what is most characteristic of Jessica that sets her apart from others is her capacity to form meaningful, strength-based relationships with her students. Jessica clearly cares about her students’ well-being, and it is this quality that sets her apart from other advisors. I am in weekly advising meetings with Jessica and her questions and comments related to the students she advises always showcase her care and concern for her students. Any student who is assigned to Jessica is lucky to be working with her.” A nominating student wrote “Jessica really cares about the well-being of all her students and is willing to listen to what we say or need. She provides a safe place for students to go when we need help or someone to have hard conversations with. This says a lot about how much she really cares about her students.”

Liz McCullough

• Liz joined Ohio State as an advisor and program coordinator for the Linguistics department in Autumn 2022. As the sole advisor in Linguistics, Liz has quickly become a core part of the department. Multiple nominators praised Liz’s ability to adapt department offerings to match student needs. Upon realizing that students desired more career-focused support from the Linguistics department, Liz successfully applied for a grant from the Center for Career and Professional Success to set up a career workshop tailored to linguistics students. Liz also spearheaded a peer mentor program, matching students who need additional support in linguistics courses with peers who have been successful in those classes. Nominators highlighted Liz’s ability to easily connect with students, ensuring they get the support they need to be successful at OSU inside and outside of the classroom. One nominator shared that “the initiative that Dr. McCullough takes to make sure that each undergraduate student receives support and advice that is appropriate to their individual circumstances is remarkable and reflects her highly personal approach to advising.” One student nominator shared that “Every time I’ve met with Liz, I’ve always walked out of the meeting feeling excited about my future in and outside of OSU.” Liz has even become known in her department for keeping a jar of “emergency dinosaurs” to encourage students when they’re having a bad day and to congratulate students when they apply for graduation. As another student shared, “I feel like I have someone to rely on thanks to her kindness and thoroughness.”

Marie Southerland

• Marie has been with Ohio State since June 2022 advising the students in our Biochemistry major, among her other duties as Academic Program Specialist for the department. With her advisees, Marie uses her own experiences and knowledge of Biochemistry to recommend the most beneficial coursework for each student’s goals while encouraging them to also pursue lesser-known experiential learning opportunities to build their confidence and resumes. She also jumped in to assist the department with revising their website, curriculum sheets, and recruiting materials to bring accurate information to interested parties during her first year in the role. Marie has brought new insights to her department and her colleagues praise her teamwork mindset stating, “She is always willing to collaborate or add thoughts to projects” and “She is hands-on and asks a lot of questions to learn about the Department and makes suggestions for changes as she sees fit.” Her colleague also mentioned, “Marie has the personality, expertise, knowledge, and passion to help others that makes her an excellent member of the advising community and the students are better served by having her as a resource.” Several of her students eagerly sung her praises, “She has an ability to keep you calm even during stressful times, which is usually when I meet with her”, “Dr. Southerland has helped me with every step of my journey so far… She truly is such a pillar to my success”, “She cares about how I am doing not only in my classes, but in my social life, which feels awesome as a student… she always supports my successes.”

Marissa Stewart

• Marissa began at Ohio State in August 2022 and advises the students in the Department of Art. Her contributions to the department have been highly praised with noted significant impacts on her advisees and a dedication to the success of her students and colleagues. With determination to share valid information, Marissa assisted her department with revisions to their degree audit, and she also advocates for students when curriculum changes are made to the program and ensures that the impact to them is considered by faculty. She uses her own MFA from Ohio University to mentor and guide the rising artists she advises. Her colleague mentions, “She meets with students daily to ensure that their needs are met but Marissa does it with ease and as a practicing artist she can mentor them in their undergraduate career and prepare them for their future endeavors… Marissa always approaches any potential issues in a problem solving, but student-focused, way.” One of her students stated, “There is a wide known stereotype that college advisors are not helpful however, when it comes to Marissa this is the farthest thing from the truth. She really takes the time to thoroughly explain the GE requirements and go over degree audits to make sure every student knows what they need to complete. She also takes the time to get to know each student… She is just a genuinely kind person who cares for their students which I feel now is kind of rare with advisors.”

Jamie Stima

• Jamie joined the Mansfield campus advising team in the summer of 2022. However, she first began working at Ohio State three years earlier as an instructor for a music education course that she continues to teach. In Jamie’s role as advisor, she works with nearly 200 students from 29 majors and 7 colleges. One of her co-workers wrote, “in just a year and a half, Jamie has already exhibited remarkable abilities and is making significant contributions to the campus. Her impact has extended from her students and her unit to the entire campus and even to Ohio State University overall.” Another colleague wrote “’energy’ is the first word that comes to mind when thinking of Jamie’s approach to advising. She brings such enthusiasm and eagerness to her meetings with students and students truly love having her as an academic advisor.” One of Jamie’s nominating students wrote “She is honestly the reason I have stayed at Mansfield campus for so long. She has composed me a schedule that is accommodating to not only my academic needs but also my emotional needs. She has a welcoming and relatable environment in her office that sometimes I just pop-in to say hey and chat with her. I also have full faith that she has set me up on a path for success for when I transfer down to Columbus.”

Colton Weiss

• Colton began his career at OSU as an undergraduate student, graduating in 2015. He returned to OSU as a lecturer for the Department of Theatre in 2019 and joined the College of Arts and Sciences as an Academic Advisor in the summer of 2022. He began his advising career at OSU advising Computer Information Science (CIS) students. In their nomination letter his nominator stated, “Despite being new to advising, [Colton] was more than willing to jump into orientation sessions that summer and learned the major in record time.” Additionally, they stated that “His service to Arts and Sciences and Denney Hall has gone above and beyond what is expected of an advisor who is new to the advising profession.” Within his first year of advising, he was tapped to additionally advise the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) major. The department in their nomination letter stated that “He has been a welcome addition and invaluable asset to our department in ensuring academic success of GIS students and integrating seamless transition of major changers to GIS from CIS and CSE pathways.” Colton has also had a great impact on the students he advises. In their nomination, one student stated “I don’t think I would have been able to put myself in the position I am in right now without the help of Colton. He always went above and beyond to make sure my academic needs were tended to.” They later went on to state, “There may be other qualified candidates for this award, but reflection on the people who have helped me in my life, Colton sits on top of that list. I can’t think of a better candidate than Colton.”

Samantha Zimmerman

• Samantha has served as an advisor at OSU for 2.5 years. She completed her M.Ed in Teacher Leadership with a Concentration in Intervention Specialist at the University of Dayton. She currently serves as an Academic Advisor 2 in the Honors Program for the College of Arts and Sciences. In her role, she advises “one of the largest caseloads in the ASC Honors Programs” with degree plans, serves as the Honors Program Pre-Law Advisor, and coordinates the Honors Survey course. Despite her large caseload, her colleague notes that “she knows every one of her students by name is the true embodiment or having an open-door policy.” They also note that Samantha’s experience with teaching at the high school level has had a positive impact on their office, particularly in regard to their survey course. “Samantha took the bones of our previous survey curriculum and revitalized it to be more accessible, up to date with technological advances, and relevant to the student experience.” Samantha’s students comment that she works “hard to make sure all her students and others feel welcome and comfortable so that they know she’s there to help.” They mention that she always gives students “her full attention and energy” and that she “genuinely takes the time to figure out what classes and professors work best for her students.” Her supervisor says that this ability to build rapport with her students “is what makes her an excellent advisor.”

Mary Bailey Advising Award

Ericka Gunn

• Ericka has been with The Ohio State University as an Academic Advisor since 2011. Ericka is currently a Senior Academic Advisor in University Exploration with an emphasis on working with campus change and transfer students. Ericka previously comes from the field of Social Work prior to working in their roles in academic advising. One of Ericka’s colleague’s states, “whenever a student requires compassionate advising, Ericka is among the first names that come to mind. I trust her implicitly to offer thorough and empathetic guidance to students facing diverse challenges. Her depth of knowledge about majors and careers allows her to assist students across various areas of interest.” Ericka is also a great resource to her peers where she is always willing to help, sharing information on new policies, covering appointments, or even taking last-minute appointments. Beyond Ericka’s advising role, she represents the university at recruitment events nationally which shows her dedication to promoting Exploration. One of Ericka’s students stated. “Personally, I can say that she is the best academic advisor I’ve ever had the chance to work with. Helpful, thorough, caring, exceeding, patient is some of the many words that come to mind when thinking about Miss Ericka. I couldn’t have asked for a better advisor, coming into my first year out of the country.”

Jessica Hall-Ciccone

• Jessica has been an advisor in the Fisher College of Business for eleven years and is well respected within the academic advising team. Her colleagues consistently turn to her as a resource for advice on challenging student situations, or as a friend to help process through a difficult day. In her work with students, Jess has made an indelible mark in Fisher through the passion she demonstrates for providing guidance for campus change students, in particular. Not only does she help them through the campus change process, but once at Columbus she serves as their primary academic advisor and teaches a special seminar section for them. In a letter of support, a Newark campus advisor stated that Jessica “speaks regional,” which meant that she was an important ally who not only understood, but valued the uniqueness of the regional campus experience. A campus change student said of Jessica, “I learned that someone is there for you. When you transfer from a small campus to Columbus it’s hard. She allowed me to see there are people who care and can help me when I need it.” Jessica transcends the transactional role of advising with her students.

Christie Lukegord

• Christie became an academic advisor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in 2013, where she now serves as a Program Manager. In this role, Christie balances co-advising 600 students in the Health Sciences program and pre-major along with department responsibilities, such as developing and teaching “Introduction to Healthcare Professions” as an online course for upper-class students. Christie also recently completed a second master’s degree in public administration and leadership, and her ability to balance responsibilities has not gone unnoticed by her peers. As one nominator wrote, “Christie’s organizational skills and attention to detail are exemplary”, including that she “also still manages to consistently seek out opportunities for professional development, staying abreast of evolving trends and best practices in higher education advising and being an active and engaged team member”. Another nominator highlighted that Christie fiercely advocates for her students, both in her own advising philosophy and by serving on the HRS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Christie keeps her colleagues informed of relevant legislature and media trends and “allows us to rethink how we approach advising appointments and […] how day-to-day life can be affecting [students]”. Finally, one of Christie’s current students shares that “Christie is an excellent advisor and works hard to help students succeed. I couldn’t have asked for a better advisor during my time here at The Ohio State University”.

Liz Riter

• Liz has been an advisor in the College of Engineering for 13 years, first as an academic advisor and Program Manager for the Green Engineering Scholars Program, and then as Senior Academic Advisor for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Liz’s nominator states that she “elevates the performance of everyone she encounters and that there has never been a task she hasn’t offered to help with, or that she has considered to be outside of the scope of her responsibilities.” Another nominator writes “What sets Liz apart as an advisor, is her unwavering dedication to students’ success. She approaches each interaction with students with empathy, patience, and a genuine desire to assist.” Her student nominator agreed stating, “After four years as an OSU student I am confident that I have reached my academic goals because of Liz and her guidance and dedication.” Whether it is hosting welcome events for students, managing the scholarship process for her department, onboarding and mentoring new advisors, or being there for colleagues during challenging times, Liz’s supervisor writes that “Ohio State is exponentially better for having her as a staff member and alumnus, and the advising community is incredibly fortunate to call her one of our own.”

Trisha Ritter

• Trisha has served as an advisor at OSU for 7 years. She completed her M.S. in Student Affairs and Higher Education at Wright State University and currently serves as a Senior Academic Advisor in the College of Public Health. When she transitioned into her advising role in Public Health, she was the unit’s only advisor. She assumed a wide array of responsibilities, including, but not limited to, advising all students (including Honors students) in the college, teaching survey, serving as an OnCourse ambassador, and more. Her supervisor notes that Trisha managed to perform all of these duties “at the highest level” in spite of the heavy workload. Once the department hired a second advisor, she took on the added role of mentor and friend to the new advisor. She has also contributed to the efficiency of the advising unit by working with her colleagues to streamline certain administrative tasks. One of her students commented that Trisha “is kind, caring, and makes a real effort to get to know her students” and that “she never made me feel like I was asking too many questions.” Another student says that she is an excellent communicator who responds to “emails and requests super quickly.” Her supervisor highlights the fact that “it comes naturally for her to be kind, compassionate, and an innate leader.”

Shannon Romey

• Shannon has served as an advisor at OSU for 5 years. She completed her M.Ed in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Ohio University and currently serves as a Senior Academic Advisor in the College of Education and Human Ecology. In her role, Shannon advises a diverse student population of 550 undergraduate students pursuing teacher-licensure programs and other minors in College of Education. Shannon also processes graduation applications for all graduating seniors in her college, which is a role that her colleagues say she handles “with grace [and] professionalism”. Her supervisor recognized her incredible ability to “[build] rapport with students despite the sometimes-transactional nature of advising.” One of her advisees confirms this ability in their nomination: “It has always been clear that she was very dedicated to helping me succeed at OSU as a student and person.” A professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology remarked that Shannon “is the advisor you want your child to come into contact with at Ohio State.” Although one of her nominators says that she “is not one to draw attention to herself”, they insist that “she is the model of student support and raises the bar for academic advising excellence.”

Ashley Sweaney

• Ashley has been involved in higher education for the past 14 years. Before joining the Department of Psychology at The Ohio State University as a Senior Academic Advisor in 2018, Ashley held many positions within Career Services at Columbus State Community College including Interim Director as well as a supervisor. Their colleagues stated, “Ashley consistently provides excellent service that extends beyond just academic advisement. Her unwavering guidance and encouragement come from a genuine interest and desire to see each student succeed and thrive. Her commitment is evident in the countless hours she spends addressing concerns, providing mentorship, and fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.” Ashley makes a large impact on her students with her willingness to go above and beyond to make sure that they feel informed and equipped with the information needed for their future career path. Ashley also volunteers for things outside of her initial duties including but not limited to hiring committees and teaching the department’s survey course. Ashley’s colleagues state “Ashley’s sense of humor is one of her best attributes and our favorite; she has a knack for creating smiles in anyone. Her ability to diffuse a situation with humor is always greatly appreciated, especially during stressful times or frustrating situations. Many things Ashley says have become catch phrases in the office, which just shows how fun and approachable she is as a person.”

David Zach

• David joined Ohio State in 2019 and quickly established himself as an invaluable asset to the Department of Astronomy and Department of Physics. As a Senior Academic Advisor, David provides guidance to hundreds of students across multiple majors, minors, the Planetary Science certificate, and is described by a student nominator as “the lighthouse with which I and many of my peers have navigated college”. This includes that David “fights to remove barriers and to make our program equitable” and students consistently report in senior exit surveys that they would not have been successful without David’s expertise. By supporting students on both an academic and personal level, David also helps students succeed on the national stage, such as being selected for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, Astronaut Scholarship, Brooke Owens Fellowship, and research experiences through the National Science Foundation. David also facilitates the Department of Astronomy’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program, which has grown substantially during David’s tenure. His colleagues also recognize the hard work that happens behind the scenes, such as tracking course enrollment data, serving on department committees, and pre-emptively addressing student concerns, such as incoming credit during NFYS orientation. One nominator even wrote that “this letter is a difficult one to write, and not because it is hard to speak about David’s accomplishments, but rather because there are far too many accomplishments to speak of”.

Melinda McDonald Advising Administrator Award

Brenda Dinan

• Brenda started her career at Ohio State just over two decades ago when she received her Master’s degree in Anthropology in 2001. She began advising in The College of Arts and Sciences in 2006 and went on to become an Advising Manager in 2009. As an advising manager, she has many responsibilities including supervising advisors, helping manage two advising clusters, coordinating pre-health advising, coordinating orientation, and bringing a wealth of advising knowledge to the College of Arts and Sciences. Brenda can be relied on to be a source of information and answers from her colleagues across the college. In their nomination letter her nominator states that “Brenda has been an outstanding role model for dealing with different staff personalities with both grace and humor. She is willing to let me talk through concerns and offers advice and assistance as necessary, but can also just serve as an empathetic ear.” Her supervisees in their letter stated, “Whether it is a complicated student scenario, an issue of logistics with orientation, questions about professional next steps in our advising career, or just needing to vent to a trusted person, she is always there to help in whatever way possible.” They go on to state that “She goes above and beyond what an Advising Manager is expected to do, and we are all better off both as academic advisors and as employees of The Ohio State University for having been supervised and supported by her.”

Want to showcase another advisor doing excellent work? You can nominate them for one of these awards next year or submit a nomination for our Advisor of the Month here.

ACADAOS Elections & 2024-2025 Committees

To all current ACADAOS members – Don’t forget to vote in the elections for next year’s ACADAOS Executive Board!

The ballot will be open until 11:59pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, and can be found here: go.osu.edu/ACADAOSelection

Also, if you’d like to be part of an ACADAOS committee next year, you can volunteer here: go.osu.edu/ACADAOScommittees

Now, enjoy the banquet!!

Welcome to the 2023 ACADAOS End of the Year Banquet! We are honored to highlight the incredible work that advisors and advising adminstrations are doing across all campuses. This year, we will be using the ACADAOS website to highlight all those nominated for our three advising awards:

Outstanding New Advisor

Emilia Louy

• Emilia has been an academic advisor with the Office of Military and Veterans Services for just over two years, where she is a secondary advisor to over 2,000 military-connected students. These students are in both undergraduate and graduate programs, and they come from all six Ohio State campuses. Emilia’s nominators emphasized the broad range of different tasks she performs as part of her job, from managing the veteran Peer-to-Peer Sponsors and military student tutoring programs; to performing data analysis for the OMVS office to report within and outside of Ohio State; to helping students navigate the financial implications of the GI Bill. The list of other university offices that Emilia collaborates with regularly is extensive, including University Exploration, the Transfer Credit Center, Undergraduate Education, Student Life Disability Services, and the Center for the Study of Student Life. One student nominator said, “Emilia has consistently demonstrated a kind and compassionate approach in her interactions with students. She takes the time to get to know her advisees on a personal level and creates a supportive environment that fosters open communication and trust. Whenever I faced challenges or setbacks, Emilia was there to offer a listening ear and provide practical solutions to help me overcome obstacles.” Another said, “I needed assistance in preparing my taxes, setting up legal matters, learning the area, and options for my children. Emilia…set me up with contacts to help in every single situation.” 

Ciana Roush

• Ciana has been an academic advisor for Newark Campus Advising for almost two years, advising students in the Business and Education Cluster, but her first work with the office was in the Summer of 2020 as a graduate student intern for Orientation. Her nominators lauded the notable impact Ciana has had on the Newark orientation process, both as a graduate intern and now as a full-time staff member. “The research [Ciana] collected [in 2020] included the pros and cons of [grouping orientation students by majors], the best approach to organize majors, and…included avenues for flexibility to handle those times when students change their major upon arrival.” Multiple colleagues commented on Ciana’s problem-solving skills and ability to see the bigger picture. One colleague said, “I really appreciate how she’s consistently been able to anticipate questions or concerns that I might have about the proposals and allay them with practiced ease.” Beyond orientation, Ciana has helped the office to improve College Credit Plus (CCP) registrations and adapt a course clustering program from the Fisher College of Business. One nominator summed up Ciana’s impact as follows: “She is excellent at planning ahead, but also pivoting in the moment when necessary. I appreciate her level-headed approach and believe it serves her students and colleagues well…She also has tremendous vision and seeks opportunities to creatively connect students with the information and support they need.” 

Rebecca Sallade

• Rebecca joined Ohio State as an advisor for the Arts and Sciences College Office in Autumn 2021 before moving to ASC Honors later that fall and quickly established herself as a vital member of the honors advising team. Within just two weeks of starting in ASC Honors, Rebecca had already prepared to teach multiple sections of Survey, while learning several undergraduate majors and post-graduation pathways in healthcare, including medical, dental, and veterinary school. However, Rebecca was also praised by multiple nominators for supporting students’ mental health, including the creation of a Mental Health Tool Kit and associated Survey class presentation. One student nominator shared that “Rebecca does a great job of showing how balance is important; she stresses how school and personal well-being are important, and taking care of yourself is crucial – by talking to Rebecca I have found how to have balance and have felt that I have improved my well-being and wellness overall.” By utilizing her certifications in mental health, health education, and diversity, intercultural, and community engagement, Rebecca has created a safe environment for all her students that promotes longevity, wellness, and care. Another nominator shared that “she has gone out of her way a multitude of times to ensure that my identity is being respective, to listen and guide me through tougher emotional times, and reached out time and time again to ensure I’m caring for myself. I can say with confidence that her impact will go on to shape the lives of all of those that she serves”. 

Dr. Marie Southerland

• Dr. Marie Southerland joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as an Academic Program Specialist in June 2022. In this role, Dr. Southerland advises biochemistry majors & teaches foundational chemistry courses among other responsibilities and has already made a tremendous contribution to her students and department. Some examples include helping coordinate a multi-campus effort to create a new GE Themes course in drug development and policy as well as revising and updating curriculum sheets, recruitment materials, and the department website. Dr. Southerland has already been actively involved in table fairs and recruitment events where a prospective parent commented on how excited she was to answer a question. Even in her initial interview, a faculty nominator shared that “she had the demeanor and personality to work with students and enable them to achieve success in the classroom and beyond.” As an advisor, she uses her own background in chemistry and biochemistry to quickly grasp intricate details of the curriculum and approaches conversations in a professional yet supportive way to instill confidence in her students to handle the challenges of their degree and achieve success in their future career. A student nominator wrote that “she truly went above and beyond to ensure I had a plan in which I was both excited and confident. Dr. Southerland came into the department at a transitional period and made the change seamlessly. I have yet to meet a kinder, more emphatic staff member genuinely invested and interested in my success here at Ohio State!” 

Mary Bailey Advising Award

Alison Baker

• Alison Baker has been involved with Higher Education throughout Central Ohio since 2004. During her career, she has served as an Academic Advisor at Franklin University, Adjunct Faculty at Columbus State, and 4-H Extension Educator for Ohio State in Marietta.  She now serves as a Senior Academic Advisor in the Psychology Department where she advises over 400 students including all the department’s visa holding students. She also teaches the department internship course. One of her nominating colleagues says, “she is able to put herself in her students’ shoes to consider the most effective support, impactful intervention, or meaningful advocacy that truly sets her apart.” Highlighting her collaborative teamwork, her nominators shared that, “Alison has developed strong, cooperative relationships with regional campus advisors who work with psychology majors…A regional advisor has to deal with a distance, both literally and figuratively, and Alison has never made me feel as if I am “distanced” from the psych department…” Finally, one of her current students had this to share, “Alison is such a genuinely cordial person to work with and is so accessible and helpful in so many ways. I could not recommend her enough. She really helped me to discover my passion and so many opportunities that allowed me to really be successful in my dream field.” 

Heather Kerr

• Heather has been involved in advising and supporting students since 2006. She completed her MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs here at OSU and currently serves as a Senior Academic Advisor in Extended Education. In her role, she assists non-degree and visiting students, as well as advising pre-health students and providing community workforce support with other Central Ohio educational partners. One of Heather’s nominating students wrote “Heather was ALWAYS willing to meet with me to discuss anything I had questions or anxieties about. Even through my multiple crises of what I want to do with my life, a number of inquiries about adding a minor, and many last minute requests to add or drop a class, Heather has been there.” One of her colleagues wrote, “[Heather] believes that quality academic advising is inextricably linked to caring for the whole student and throughout her time in advising she has been a tireless advocate for the unique needs of first generation, Appalachian, LGBTQIA+, and other student groups with minoritized identities…” Lastly, another nominator shared this specific experience about Heather, “Heather went above and beyond for one of her students that had limited access to technology and was struggling to complete her courses using just her phone. Heather not only connected the student with the appropriate resources to get access to technology, she worked with the college faculty to help make the public health courses more accessible for the student to complete while awaiting the technology she needed.” 

George Marshall Jr.

• George began his career at the Newark campus as a transfer admissions counselor in March 2018 and then transitioned to the Columbus campus in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in 2019 where he is currently a senior academic advisor. As an advisor he has strong communication with varying audiences- faculty, prospective and current students, parents, and colleagues and for each he focuses on relationship building and builds lasting partnerships whenever he can. George created the HTHRHSC 3000 course which targets health sciences majors as they enter the major and the course embraces evidence-based teaching strategies with outstanding resources and content. A colleague of George states, “George is unerringly positive while attentive to the needs of those around him and is a strong advocate for each student advises” Another colleague stated, “As a peer, I can attest that George carries himself with a level of integrity, compassion and assuredness that sets only the best examples for advisors, students, faculty and staff alike.” And lastly one of George’s students said, “George is a great people person and is constantly reassuring me of all my school-related anxieties, he answers all my questions with energy, and an open heart. His meticulous care for my education and path to graduation has undoubtedly aided in my undergraduate success”  

Lindsay McGory

• Lindsay McGory has been at Ohio State since 2010 and has been with academic advising in the Fisher College of Business since August 2012 and currently serves as a Senior Academic Advisor. In addition to advising over 500 students, she is responsible for the training and supervision of Fisher’s peer advisor program which is an integral part of the survey course that all students must complete. She also developed BUSADM 1200, a seminar course designed for major changers. She also serves on the Staff Advisory Committee for the college and frequently serves on other departmental and university committees and organizations to help better not only the Fisher College of Business, but Ohio State as a whole. Her nominators wrote “Her warm and welcoming demeanor creates an inclusive environment that puts her students at ease. Whether it’s in a classroom or in a one-on-one appointment, Lindsay makes each student feel welcomed and supported, a feat that was particularly challenging during the peak of the pandemic.” A fellow advisor in their nomination letter wrote “Finally, I want to briefly mention that Lindsay has not only been a phenomenal advisor to students, but also an influential mentor to me and all of the advisors in Fisher’s Undergraduate programs. She has shown time and time again that her knowledge, humor, kindness, and commitment to academic advising is truly unmatched here at Ohio State.” 

Pete Rex

• Pete Rex began his time here at Ohio State as an undergraduate student where he received his bachelor’s degree in HDFS in 2010. After several years in Florida as an academic advisor, he decided to come back home and start his OSU career in EHE as an academic advisor in June 2015. Since 2015, Pete has climbed the advising ranks in EHE and is currently the Human Sciences Advising Manager where he directly manages the human sciences majors, works with faculty on curriculum changes, develops and onboards new staff and has a roster of students. As his colleague wrote, “Pete’s ideas consistently enhance the student experience by making programs more accessible, and ultimately allowing students to save time to their degree.” That same colleague stated, “Pete created a food pantry to assist students experiencing food insecurity and even during the height of the pandemic, Pete still took time to come to campus to clear out expired items and make them available outside of the advising office.” Another colleague states, “Pete has always made it a point to be there as a leader and a listening ear for the current staff to ensure we all felt as though we were supported through these unknown times of staff vacancies.” His nominator stated, “Pete deserves recognition because recognizing himself in the workplace is not on his priority list.” And lastly, one of his current advisees stated, “Pete is just amazing, he has helped me so much with course planning, navigating college during Covid, and eases my stress; I am just very thankful to have Mr. Rex as my advisor.”  

Mohamad Saab

• Mohamad began his career at Ohio State in January 2017 as an academic advisor within the Fisher College of Business. Since 2017, he has climbed the advising ranks and is currently a senior academic advisor within his unit. Mohamad is also a new member of the Honors advising team and has worked diligently to learn the particulars of the Honors curriculum and has made himself an even more invaluable resource to the advising team, to the honors students and to the residents of the Business Honors Learning Community. Mohamad nominators stated, Mohamad has been a champion for diversity efforts in our office and the greater Ohio State community; and diversity and inclusion are infused in everything that Mohamad takes on through his role as an academic advisor.” Another colleague stated, “Mr. Saab’s commitment to creating unique, dynamic, experiential learning experiences for undergraduates is highly commendable and a true asset to student educational experiences here at Ohio State.” And lastly one of his student nominators stated, “I am very grateful to have Mr. Saab as my advisor, he’s a great listener, answers all my questions, and I was able to experience going on a trip with him to NYC as a business scholar and we had a wonderful experience, he is nothing but helpful, hardworking and encouraging.”  

Cheryl Walter

• Cheryl Walter has been at Ohio State since 2009 and has worked in advising since 2016, most recently in the School of Environment and Natural Resources as a Senior Academic Advisor since October 2022. In addition to advising her students, she coordinates the undergraduate petition process, serves as the department transfer credit coordinator, and serves as a departmental liaison to many other departments on campus. She also serves as the education abroad coordinator and assists students in figuring how they can incorporate studying abroad into their academic pathway. In their nomination letter, her nominator writes that “Her understanding of academic advising, university policies as well as the complexities within our curriculum have made her the go-to resource for other advisors and staff as well as faculty.” A student writes “She was the first advisor to help me map out my college career, even with the messy course listings I had after switching majors so many times. When I decided to declare Environmental Science as my only major, she supported me fully and made me aware of all the classes and potential obstacles before making it official. Since then, Cheryl has been a rock for me.” Another student writes “Cheryl is extremely genuine, cares about her students, and is incredible at her job. She makes students feel heard and understood and eases our anxiety when we need it most. Whenever her name comes up in a group of students, I am confident in saying I have only ever heard positive things. Cheryl really is everyone’s favorite advisor and it is not lost on me that most of my non-SENR friends do not have that relationship with their advisor.” 

Melinda McDonald Advising Adminstrator Award

Cory Matyas

• Cory has worked in the Department of Biomedical Engineering for the past 15 years and serves currently as the Advising Manager for the department, supervising the academic advisors. In addition to her supervision work, she coordinates curriculum for the department, oversees enrollment in courses, assesses the ABET documentation for the department, certifies candidates for graduation, and serves as a liaison to other departments and offices at the university, among many other tasks. She began in the department when the undergraduate Biomedical Engineering major was created and has played a key role in establishing and growing the major and department at the undergraduate level. In their nomination letter, one nominator wrote “Cory is a key member and leader within our undergraduate academic services team; she is incredibly knowledgeable, hard-working, dependable, efficient, and an all-around dream to work with (for myself, our team, and the 300+ students she advises!)” Graduating students from the Biomedical Engineering major wrote “Her caring and positive demeaner immediately left an impression on me. Cory goes above and beyond to help her students. I don’t know anyone who responds to emails so quickly. It’s a general consensus with all BMEs that if you need help Cory has your back.” Another student wrote “I feel so lucky to have had Cory as an advisor. She is essential to every BME student having a successful and enjoyable undergraduate experience at OSU.” 

Corrina Owens

• Corrina has worked in the Office of Distance Education for the past 15 years and has served as the Director since 2010, managing a staff of 7 individuals. Many of her colleagues in their letters spoke of her management in the office and how she has always focused on what is best for her office and the students they serve. She worked to change how Program 60 participants get enrolled in courses using Buckeyelink so that they can officially enroll in the course instead of just letting instructors know if they had a Program 60 participant in their class. She also helped those participants navigate the process. She consistently works to make processes better and implements changes as-needed to keep things running smoothly. In addition, she has helped the office navigate changes in staffing and helped them through the implementation of the Career Roadmap smoothly and her staff feel that they are supported and heard. One nominator writes “One of the greatest things I appreciate about Ms. Owens is how she works. She is positive and enjoyable to be around and someone who lifts everyone connected to the work. I’m extremely proud of and appreciative of Ms. Owens, and I trust her leadership and work.” Another writes “With Corinna’s leadership we have continued to provide the best possible student support and service as well as continue to be better and more efficient every year.” 

Want to showcase another advisor doing excellent work? You can nominate them for one of these awards next year or submit a nomination for our Advisor of the Month here.

ACADAOS Elections

And lastly, to all current ACADAOS members – Don’t forget to vote in the elections for next year’s ACADAOS Executive Board!

The ballot will be open until Wednesday, May 3, 2023, and can be found here: go.osu.edu/ACADAOSselection

Now, enjoy the banquet!!

The Academic Advising Association of Ohio State (ACADAOS) annually nominates at least one Advisor and one Advisor Administrator for the Excellence in Advising Awards at both the regional and national level. The nominees are the previous year’s ACADAOS Outstanding Advisor and Outstanding Advising Adminstrator Award winners.

The Excellence in Advising Awards annually recognize individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students or outstanding academic advising administration.

All recipients of national awards are honored at the Awards Ceremony held during the Annual Conference. They also receive a complimentary basic registration for the Annual Conference, a recognition plaque and a one-year membership in NACADA.

All recipients of regional awards are recognized at the Region V Annual Conference during a luncheon. They also receive funding for their conference registration and a recognition plaque.

More about the NACADA Region V Awards

More about the NACADA National Awards

NACADA Award Recipients

2017 NACADA CIGD Service Award- Sarah Howard

2016 Excellence in Advising- Advising Administrator Award for NACADA (Region V)- Melinda McDonald

2015 Excellence in Advising- Primary Role Award for NACADA (Region V)- Peter Spreitzer

2015 Excellence in Advising- Advising Administrator Award for NACADA (Region V)- Suzanne Dantuono

2015 Outstanding Advising Award (National)- Danielle Whitaker

It is with great pleasure to announce that Peter Spreitzer (Academic Counselor, University Exploration) and Suzanne Dantuono (Director of Advising, College of Engineering) were both awarded Excellence in Advising awards on January 8^th for the NACADA Great Lakes Region V.

As co-winners of the 2014-2015 ACADAOS Outstanding Advisor of the Year Award (along with Shannon Peltier, School of Health and Rehab Sciences), Peter was nominated for the Advising Primary Role Award and Suzanne was nominated for the Advising Administrator Award. OSU was the only institution in Region V with two winners…way to go Peter and Suzanne!

Both Peter and Suzanne will be recognized at the Region V Conference in Toronto.

Peter and Suzanne are tremendous assets to the OSU advising community and the profession at large. As noted by one of Peter’s advisees, “Peter is an outstanding advisor. I’m really happy that he was assigned to me. I’m 100% sure that my experience at OSU would be completely different, if I didn’t have him to lean on.”

And similarly with Suzanne, some of her staff noted that she is “encouraging, supportive, and accessible, as well as reliable, diligent, and driven. Suzanne is a true leader in our office and college, willing to take on any challenge.”

ACADAOS would like to thank Peter and Suzanne for their great work and contributions to student success and the quality of the advising experience at OSU. Keep up the great work!

Brad Fittes and Melissa Basford

Awards and Recognition Committee, ACADAOS