Academic Advising Council (AAC) Recognizes 2024 Academic Advising Award Winners

The Academic Advising Council will present seven campus advisers with awards for excellence during the spring 2025 Academic Advising Connections and Celebrations on March 14, including two from Bumpers College.

Abbie Tanner is receiving the National Academic Advising Association Outstanding New Adviser Primary Role award while Derico Setyabrata is receiving the NACADA Outstanding New Faculty Adviser.

Each year, the AAC recognizes academic advisers and faculty advisers for outstanding academic advising practices. Applicants are nominated by their department and or colleagues. Final selections are made by the Academic Advising Council from the pool of nominees. The committee looks for candidates who have overwhelming evidence of qualities and practices that include availability to students, interpersonal skills, mastery of institutional policies and procedures, appropriate referrals to campus resources, monitoring of academic progress and ongoing partnership and collaboration with colleagues and students.

Winners of the 2024 Academic Advising Awards are:

Abbie Tanner, NACADA Outstanding New Adviser Primary Role

Carmen Perry Gardner, NACADA Outstanding Adviser Primary Role

Derico Setyabrata, NACADA Outstanding New Faculty Adviser

Health Walker, NACADA Outstanding Faculty Adviser

Meghan Miller, Innovative Advising Award

Greg Stine, Leading with Brilliance Award

Chloe Witt, Silo-Busting Award

Tanner advises for animal science; poultry science; crop science; environmental, soil and water science; horticulture, landscape and turf science; and agricultural education, communication and technology.

“Please try and take as many opportunities as possible,” Tanner suggests to students. “Having the courage to be honest with yourself is far greater than not trying.”

As for the student services team, “the Waldrip Student Center (AGRI 205) is always available for general advising questions, academic concerns and even personal concerns. Our office is always here to help you.” Setyabrata is assistant professor of meat science and muscle biology in the Department of Animal Science.

His research interest includes utilizing a multi-omics approach to identify unique post-harvest strategies and novel technology applications to add value and increase the sustainability and nutrition of meat products.