McMicken Sweeps UC Advising Awards

The Sarah Grant Barber Outstanding Advising Award, given annually by the University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Academic Advising Association (UCUAADA) in memory of late DAAP academic advisor Sarah Barber, recognizes individuals who believe in advocacy for all students, support for fellow advisors, and creativity and optimism for the job. This year, all three winners are advisors in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences.

Doug Kennedy - Professional Advisor Category

Assistant Academic Director, Center for Exploratory Studies

Kennedy has “an extraordinary passion for student success and retention that is truly unsurpassed,” a colleague wrote in his nomination letter. “His sincere interest in each of his individual student’s success is evident.” The nominator also praised Kennedy’s ability to manage multiple projects successfully, noting that he receives consistently high ratings and evaluations in all of his efforts, from teaching the “Discovering UC” course and advising exploratory students to organizing A&S orientation sessions and presenting at national conferences. Students also recognized Kennedy’s commitment to advising. “His sincere concern for me inspired me to stay motivated,” wrote one student nominator. “When I felt isolated and hopeless because of all the red tape at the university, he was the single most important faculty member in helping me feel accepted and valued.” Another student shared, “Over the past two years of working with Doug, I have talked so highly of him around my family, that when my brother comes to UC in the fall, he has requested Doug as his advisor too!”

Carol Tonge Mack - Advising Program Administrator Category

Director of Student Retention Initiatives, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences

Tonge Mack’s interest in increasing graduation rates of African-American students led her to develop two successful mentoring programs: PR1ZE (Putting Retention 1st in the Zest for Excellence) and S.T.E.E.R (Striving to Transform, Enrich, Empower and Reward). She also created a Cultural Competence Training Series for the academic advising staff in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences. A faculty member who collaborates frequently with Tonge Mack explained that the mentoring programs she coordinates are so successful because she is “dedicated to student success” and has “strong interpersonal skills to facilitate positive student outcomes.” A student nominator shared that Tonge Mack’s mentoring “became a strong force behind my success...It is through emulating some of her leadership styles, positive attitude and professionalism that I became well-rounded in my own endeavors and recently became a recipient of a Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence.”

Lisa Newman - Faculty Advisor Category

Field Service Professor and Undergraduate & Intern Director, Department of Communication

Newman has been coordinating and championing advising for her department since the days of using poster boards to announce advisors’ office hours during priority registration. “Our methods have become more sophisticated, thanks to Lisa’s efforts to stay on top of new systems,” a colleague wrote in her nomination letter, “but the message has consistently been sent that we take our student advising in the Department of Communication very seriously.” The nominator also shared that, “Lisa is the most sought after advisor...Even when the students have graduated, they continue to contact Lisa to update her on their achievements.”  A student nominator explained that Newman was both an advisor and a teacher: “She has taught me what it means to go out into the real world, show everyone what you have to offer, and she has taught me what it means to be the best person you can.”