2024 Award Recipients
| V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Award |
Patriot Inspiration Award | Unsung Hero Award |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| Valerie Bartush Academic Advisor Elementary Education College of Education and Human Development |
Grey Williams Academic Advisor Office of Student Success and Academic Services Costello College of Business |
Dr. Rajesh Ganesan Associate Professor Systems Engineering and Operations Research College of Engineering and Computing |
2024 Academic Advisor Awards Results Infographic
V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year AwardAcademic advisors are a vital part of student success. Students have an opportunity each year to nominate an undergraduate academic advisor who has had a positive impact on students. The purpose of this award is to recognize excellence in advising across the Mason community. In 2020, the Academic Advisor of the Year (AAOY) award was named after V. Ann Lewis in recognition of Ann’s impact on the academic advising community during her 23 years at Mason. This award was very dear to Ann, and she took several steps to ensure the award would live on after she retired from Mason.
Award Criteria:
- Demonstrates a caring, helpful attitude toward students
- Communicates with clarity and empathy, making complex information understandable for students
- Encourages students to reach out and actively seeks opportunities to engage with them
- Guides students to relevant resources that can aid in their academic success
- Has extensive knowledge of George Mason University regulations, policies, and procedures
- Exemplifies an unwavering commitment to putting the needs and interests of students at the forefront of advising practices
- Uses inclusive language and communication strategies that make all students feel valued and welcome
- Tailors advising strategies to address the unique challenges and aspirations of individual students
This award recognizes a member of the Mason academic advising community who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to, understanding of, and application of effective diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in their academic advising of students.
Award Criteria:
- Demonstrates a deep understanding and respect for diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences
- Advocates for the needs of underrepresented students and ensures they have equal access to resources and opportunities
- Contributes to the development and implementation of policies and initiatives that enhance belonging
- Facilitates opportunities to bring people from different backgrounds at the university together
- Incorporates the use of scholarly and/or professional work to enhance the success of students from underserved and minoritized communities
This award recognizes a member of the Mason academic advising community who demonstrates strong advocacy for students within an academic unit or the university. This advisor is committed to a “student-first” perspective in academic advising practice by going above and beyond to advocate for students or students in a particular population.
Award Criteria:
- Exhibits qualities that make them a quiet yet powerful force in the academic advising community, often working behind the scenes without seeking acknowledgment
- Advocates for the importance of academic advising in fostering student success within the institution
- Consistently demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the efficient functioning of their department by providing comprehensive support and sharing relevant knowledge, expertise, and best practices
- Engages in ongoing professional development to stay informed about the evolving needs of students and best practices in advising
- Develops strategies to enhance the advising process, resulting in streamlined operations, increased efficiency, and improved outcomes for students and faculty alike
Rules and Regulations
Purpose: The Academic Advisor Awards are to promote and acknowledge excellence in undergraduate academic advising at George Mason University.
Eligibility: To be eligible to win an Academic Advisor Award, you must be a full or part time faculty or staff member who has undergraduate academic advising responsibilities as part of your job description. Academic Advisors include major advisors, minor advisors, Honors advisors, Exploratory advisors, and pre-professional advisors (pre-law and pre-health). Peer and graduate advisors are not eligible. Past recipients of the Academic Advisor of the Year Award are not eligible to win the award again for five years from the date it was last awarded.
Nominations: Each enrolled undergraduate student can submit one nomination for the Academic Advisor of the Year Award per voting cycle. Their nomination comments will also be used to select the Top 10 and can be considered for the other two awards. Each faculty/staff can submit one nomination for the Patriot Inspiration Award and one for the Unsung Hero Award; faculty/staff can self-nominate. Nominations are accepted annually during the beginning of the Spring semester.
Selection Process: A committee will be formed consisting of OAA and MAAN leadership, a previous award winner who is ineligible for this year’s award, and an advising constituent. Decisions will be based on the quality of the nominations. The committee will choose their top candidates and eligibility will then be verified. If the top candidates are not eligible to win, the committee will move on to their second choice and so on. The winners will then be notified. The awards are presented at the luncheon during the Mason Advising Symposium.
Past Winners 2020-20232023
V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Award: Elli Ambros, Academic Advisor, Criminology, Law and Society, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Patriot Inspiration Award: Shabnam Rezai, Senior Academic Advisor, School of Business
Unsung Hero Award: Claudia Borke, Academic Advisor, Bioengineering, College of Engineering and Computing
Top 10: Marty Abruzzo (CHSS), Jada Crocker (CHSS), Julio Diaz (CPH), Mary Getsey Bernier (CHSS), Ibrahim Kargbo (CPH), Kurt Lazaroff (CHSS), Deborah Polayes (COS), Carson Tatton (SBUS), Kristin Tyburczy (CHSS), Vernell Wilks (CEC)
2023 Academic Advisor Awards Results Infographic
2022
V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Award: Tiffany Sandstrum, Academic Advisor, Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development
Patriot Inspiration Award: Sara Montiel, Associate Director of Student Services, School of Integrative Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Unsung Hero Award: Jasmyne Rogers, Associate Director of Student, Support and Retention, Honors College
Top 10: Marty Abruzzo (CHSS), Valerie Bartush (CEHD), Claudia Borke (VSE), Krystal Dains (BAS/VSE), Mary Getsey Bernier (CHSS), Matt Green (Schar), Mike Hurley (CHSS), Ann Ludwick (Schar), Jane Walker (Carter), Robert Yi (CVPA)
AAOY Results Infographic for 2022
2021
V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Award: Tahmina Rahman, Honors College
Top 10: Jaclyn Beasley (BUS), Claudia Borke (VSE), Krystal Dains (BAS), Mike Hurley (CHSS), Valerie Olmo (COS), Maria Perez (CHHS), Sara Simanski (CVPA), Thomas Winston (VSE), Lori Yi (CVPA), Robert Yi (CVPA)
2020
V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Award: Malerie Gamblin, Business
Top 10: Marty Abruzzo (SIS), Claudia Borke (VSE), Krystal Dains (BAS), Michelle Gnoleba (CEHD), Patricia Granfield (COS), Kurt Lazaroff (BIS), Lisa Nolder (VSE), Thomas Winston (VSE), Stormi Woltz (CEHD), Robert Yi (CVPA)
2018: Robert Yi (CVPA)
2017: Troy Lowery (SIS)
2016: Smriti Kansal (VSE)
2015: Melinda Wildman (Music)
2014: Cheryl Howe (VSE)
2013: Bryden Banning (S-CAR)
2012: Brian Gillette (CHHS)
2011: Jan Ward (SOM)
2010: Bernard White (VSE)
2009: Cindy Waddell (RHT)
2008: Sarah Sweetman (NCC)
2007: Lisa Shaw (S-CAR)
2006: Laura Scott (CHSS)
2005: Michael Hurley (CHSS)