2026 Advising Award Winners
Outstanding Administrator Award
Marlena McGlothlin Lester
College of Engineering
“My role extends beyond merely sharing information, I empower students to become proactive in their academic and professional journeys; I aim to cultivate a sense of agency and responsibility in students. I serve as a mentor—someone outside their immediate University circle who genuinely cares, maintains institutional knowledge, and provides compassionate, informed guidance. I take pride in creating advising interactions that help students feel not just academically supported, but personally valued and empowered."
Outstanding New Advisor Award
Nicole Ebreo
College of Science
“A financial lesson I learned early on is that ‘the first check goes to the mortgage, and the second check goes to the insurance’. I have a theory that academic advisors are insurance for higher education. People may not always find the value in us if they don’t “need” us at that moment, but when they find themselves in trouble, we’re there to help fix the problem and guide recovery. We can’t prevent every problem that our students face, but we help prepare and minimize risks and navigate any academic setbacks.”
University Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising
Ruoxi Jia
College of Engineering
“I believe the essence of advising lies in empowerment. My role is not to mold students into a predetermined shape, but to help them discover a version of themselves they never realized was possible. When a student enters my office uncertain of their abilities and leaves years later as an accomplished researcher mentoring undergraduates to publish at top AI conferences, something profound has happened. It is not because I gave them the answers. It is because I helped them find questions worth asking and the courage to pursue them.”
University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising
Julie Burger
College of Natural Resources and Environment
“My journey to academic advising reflects a lifelong commitment to service, growth, and empowerment. Every role I’ve held has shaped my advising philosophy, one that is grounded in care, inclusivity, and strengths-based principles. I strive to build authentic relationships, foster confidence, and create space for students to discover and leverage their unique talents.”
Award for Excellence in Career Advising
Alyssa Rametta
College of Engineering
“I serve in Mechanical Engineering as the Career Advisor & Industry Relations Manager where I develop employer partnerships and offer career advising at the individual and small group level. Being housed within Mechanical Engineering allows me to personalize both sides of the critical relationship: industry partners & students' career readiness. Every semester, I have the honor of hosting dozens of employers across various industries to create authentical, informal networking opportunities for Mechanical Engineering students and often cross-promote to other engineering disciplines.”
2026 Certificate of Merit Recipients
Certificate of Merit: Outstanding New Advisor Award
Heather Hollandsworth
College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Certificate of Merit: University Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising
Shima Shahab
College of Engineering
Certificate of Merit: University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising
Rachel Hall
Pamplin College of Business