The Advising Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to recognize the hard work of individuals of the Advising Community who have demonstrated qualities with outstanding service in support of student success.

The Advising Excellence Awards meet NACADA: The Global Community of Academic Advising’s goals in recognizing advising individuals. Winners have the opportunity to submit their application for regional or global recognition through NACADA. Winners will collaborate with the Office of Undergraduate Education Advising Unit in submitting their application to NACADA.

The Outstanding New Member of the Academic Advising Community award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising community practices and demonstrates a commitment to contributing to an inclusive environment. Nominees must have served as a member of the Academic Advising Community for a period of three (3) or fewer years calculated from the deadline of submission.

Outstanding New Member Rubric

Outstanding Experienced Member of the Academic Advising Community

The Outstanding Member of the Academic Advising Community award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising community practices and demonstrates a commitment to building an inclusive environment. Nominees must have at least three (3) calendar years of primary role academic advising duties calculated from the deadline of submission.

Outstanding Experienced Member Rubric

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion award is presented to an individual in recognition and acknowledgment to the contributions, proactive support, and advocacy that an individual has made to the Academic Advising Community. The nominee's will be evaluated based on the significance of their impact on improving the culture in their unit and/or the campus at large, implementing or enhancing outreach efforts to underrepresented populations in support of persistence and graduation, and contributing to a greater sense of belonging on campus and/or within their unit for both students and staff.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Rubric

  • Individuals can nominate a colleague or themselves. 
  • Nominators and self-nominators must submit a nomination letter highlighting contribution & service, advocacy & collaboration, and initiative & attitude.
  • The nomination letter must be submitted as a PDF to Michelle Kenny (michelle.kenny@colorado.edu)
  • Nominees must accept the nomination for further consideration. Nominees who accept the nomination must submit a professional philosophy statement.
  • The professional philosophy statement must be submitted as a PDF to Michelle Kenny (michelle.kenny@colorado.edu)
  • For help writing your awards nomination, check out the Awards Nomination Letter Guidance presentation!

  • Outstanding New Academic Advisor - Megan Rogers, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Outstanding Experienced Academic Advisor - Elyse Sutton, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion - Ulysses Diaz, University Exploration & Advising Center
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion - John Tran, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion - Jerry Nguyen, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion - Amanda McKenzie, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences
  • View the entire list of Previous Advising Excellence Award Winners here.