Excellence in Advising Awards celebrated

The All-Campus Advising Association has chosen Mark Carey, associate dean of the Robert D. Clark Honors College and associate professor of history, to receive the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award and Katie Heidt of Student Support Services in the Teaching and Learning Center to receive the Outstanding Professional Advisor Award.

The recipients were recognized during a May 28 reception and breakfast. The awards were a collaboration between the All-Campus Advising Association and the Division of Undergraduate Studies.  More than 200 nominations and 54 applications were received, demonstrating the commitment to high quality undergraduate advising and mentoring across campus.

Carey works with students as a professor, thesis advisor and administrator. His mentoring is evident through the Glacier Lab, which he designed to train students in research skills and give them professional experience disseminating research results. Carey directly mentors undergraduate student through their thesis work and routinely advises students, oversees the Clark Honors Introductory Program, and teaches a professional development series to Clark Honors College students.

In 2009, Heidt joined the UO as an advisor for Student Support Services, which serves non-traditional students, including those from low-income, first generation backgrounds.

One nominee commented that, “What sets Katie apart from many advisors I have met is her heart and passion for her career. She goes above and beyond what is expected of an advisor by providing insightful advice and strong words of encouragement.”  

In March, UO students, faculty and staff had the opportunity to nominate a favorite advisor for the annual Excellence in Advising Awards, which include the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award and the Outstanding Professional Advisor Award, with $2,000 going to each winner. After the nominations were received, nominees were required to apply.

Advisors are one of the greatest resources available to students struggling with personal or academic challenges, whether it is selecting classes for next term, finding a career path or dealing with a frustrating professor.

— By Nathaniel Brown, Public Affairs Communications intern