Auburn University honors five with Provost Advising Awards

Article body

Auburn University recognized five professionals for their outstanding work at the eighth annual Provost Advising Awards luncheon on Feb. 19.

The awards were given to nominees that exemplify qualities such as interpersonal and human relations skills, professional practices, documented success and documented advisor development.

“The annual Provost Advising Awards is an opportunity for the university to celebrate the academic advisors who go above and beyond to provide our students with the guidance they need to achieve their academic goals,” said Norman Godwin, associate provost for academic effectiveness.

Linda Bruner, student services coordinator in the College of Human Sciences, received the Outstanding New Advisor Award. The award honors an advisor who has been advising for less than three years by the nomination deadline and more than 50 percent of their duties are academic advising.

Bruner advises all pre-health students in the college, serves as the peer tutoring program coordinator, advises roughly one-third of all human sciences students and advises the Kappa Omicron Nu honor society.

“This award is a testament to Linda’s dedication to academic advising and student development at Auburn,” said Susan Hubbard, dean of the College of Human Sciences. “The students in our college have a better academic experience because of Linda and her coworkers enjoy a positive work environment because of her can-do attitude. She is a tremendous asset to the academic affairs office and the greater college.”

Molly Hulsey, academic advisor in the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, received the Outstanding Professional Advisor Award. The award is given to an advisor with three or more years of advising experience with more than 50 percent of their duties are academic advising.

Since Hulsey joined the Harbert advising staff in 2013, she has served as the primary advisor for six majors, including accounting which involves approximately 600 students each semester. She also serves as the college’s Advise Assist specialist and a course instructor.

“Molly consistently exhibits a passion for her students’ overall well-being and academic success,” said Beth Ann Mabrey, director of student services in the Harbert College of Business. “Students have described her as a life-changing advisor who has a genuine care for them.”

Sushil Bhavnani, the Henry M. Burt Jr. Endowed Professor and associate department chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, received the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, which is awarded to an advisor that has less than 50 percent of their duties in academic advising.

In addition to teaching and research, Bhavnani is responsible for advising the largest number of students in the college—mechanical engineering majors. He has been on the Auburn engineering faculty for 33 years.

“Students trust his knowledge and are encouraged by his compassion and understanding,” said Janet Moore, director of advising in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. “Dr. Bhavnani is always willing to help students. His singular focus on being the best and providing the best for students in clearly evident in his unwavering commitment to our students.”

Charles Israel, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts, received the Outstanding Advising Administrator Award. The award recognizes an administrator with responsibility for an advising unit who has served for a minimum of three years.

Israel joined the Auburn faculty in 2005 and became an associate dean in 2013. He is an associate professor of history and served as chair of the Department of History from 2008-13.

“Dr. Israel has not only been instrumental within the College of Liberal Arts, he has made significant contributions to advising across our campus,” said Melissa Adams, director of student services in the college. “A true champion for advising, Dr. Israel is a humble and collaborative leader who consistently demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for advising.”

Jeff Amey, associate registrar in the Office of the Registrar, received the award for Outstanding Student Support Representative. The award recognizes a professional serving in a non-advising role whose work and collaboration positively impacts advising across campus.

Amey is responsible for a wide variety of functions in the office, including assisting with athletic compliance, graduation, residency and transfer evaluations. A first-generation college graduate, Amey has been at Auburn for five years.

“Jeff has a willingness to share his breadth of knowledge about the registrar’s office to co-workers, advisors and faculty,” said University Registrar Karen Battye. “This dedication to customer service and his ability to make everyone feel important provides outstanding customer service to our students, our staff and our institution. I am fortunate to have Jeff lend his expertise to me and to Auburn.”

Related Media

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.