Adviser Awards and Recognition

The Patrick C. Bennett Outstanding Professional Academic Advising Award is awarded annually to one individual who has demonstrated qualities and practices associated with outstanding academic advising of Oakland University students. The award is named after Patrick C. Bennett who served as an advising coordinator and academic adviser at OU for 30 years. 

Nominees must have served as a professional adviser for more than three years as of May 1 of the award year, with at least 50% of their job responsibilities spent on direct delivery of advising to students. Students can nominate excellent advisers throughout the year via online submissions.  Previous winners are not eligible again for five years following their receipt of this award.

The Awards Selection Committee includes one faculty representative from each school/College, the Dean of Students, the Associate Vice President for Advising and Student Success and the previous year’s award winner. 

Past Award Recipients:

• 2025: Tessa Johnson, First Year Advising Center
• 2024: Tiffany LeDonne-Smith, School of Business Administration
• 2023: Melanie Chamberlain, School of Education and Human Services
• 2022: Adam McChesney, School of Business Administration
• 2021: Kate Golder, First Year Advising Center
• 2020: Sarah Konrad, School of Engineering and Computer Science 
• 2019: Nancy Osmialowski, School of Health Sciences
• 2018: April Thomas-Powell, School of Nursing
• 2017: Debra Wheeler, School of Engineering and Computer Science
• 2016: Lindsay Zeig, Bachelor of Integrative Studies
• 2015: Laurie Shano, School of Education and Human Services
• 2014: Renee Ligeski, Communication Advising, College of Arts and Sciences
• 2013: Julie Dermidoff, School of Business Administration
• 2012: Lorin Wright, School of Education and Human Services
• 2011: Donna Malaski, Human Resource Development, School of Education and Human Services
• 2010: Carmen Etienne, School of Engineering and Computer Science
• 2009: Sarah Mullin, School of Nursing

The Outstanding New Academic Adviser Award is awarded annually to one individual who has demonstrated qualities and practices associated with outstanding academic advising of Oakland University students. 

Nominees must have served as a professional adviser for three or fewer years as of May 1 of the award year, with at least 50% of their job responsibilities spent on direct delivery of advising to students. Students can nominate excellent advisers throughout the year via online submissions.  This award may not be received more than once.

The Awards Selection Committee includes one faculty representative from each school/College, the Dean of Students, the Associate Vice President for Advising and Student Success and the previous year’s award winner.

Past Award Recipients:

• 2025: Alexa Cotter, School of Engineering and Computer Science
• 2024: Simone Amalio-Klebba, College of Arts and Sciences
• 2023: Jenny Lee, School of Engineering and Computer Science
• 2022: Denica Holzworth, School of Business Administration
• 2021: Jari Pathenos, School of Education and Human Services
• 2020: Tiffany LeDonne-Smith, School of Business Administration
• 2019: John Cebelak, First Year Advising Center
• 2019: Hnou Vue, School of Health Sciences
• 2018: John Cebelak, First Year Advising Center
• 2017: Meaghan Cole, School of Business Administration

Each year, NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising honors select individuals and institutions making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising. OU Academic Advisers have received recognition for various Global Awards.

2022

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Adam McChesney 

2021

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Kate Golder

2020

• Assessment Institute Scholarship Recipient - Adam McChesney
• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Sarah Konrad
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Tiffany LeDonne-Smith

2019

• Outstanding Advising Program Award - First Year Advising Center

2018

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - April Thomas-Powell
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - John Cebelak

2017

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Debra Wheeler

2016

• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Meaghan Cole
• Graduate Student Annual Conference Scholarship Recipient - Valerie Skubick

2015

• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Krista Malley

2014

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Renee Ligeski
• Outstanding Advising Administrator Award - Shannon Esselink

2013

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Julie Dermidoff
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Adrienne Spitzer

2012

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Lorin Wright
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Roberta Rea
• Outstanding Advising Administrator Award - Michelle Southward

2011

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Jennifer Bellini
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Laurie Shano
• Outstanding Advising Administrator Award - Pam Marin

2010

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Donna Malaski
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Lindsay (Oliver) Zeig
• Outstanding Advising Administrator Award - Patrick Bennett

2009

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Sarah Mullin
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Shaunda Mankowski
• Outstanding Advising Administrator Award - Tamra Bays

2008

• Outstanding Advisor Award - Primary Role - Carmen Etienne
• Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Role - Kellie Klinck
• Outstanding Advising Program Award - Advising Week

NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising is split into ten regions.  Oakland University is included in Region 5, which recognizes outstanding advising within Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nunavut, Ohio, Ontario, and Wisconsin.  OU Academic Advisers have received regional recognition several times.

2023

• Region 5 NACADA Annual Conference Scholarship Recipient - Sarah Konrad 

2022

• Excellence in Advising - Advisor Primary Role - Sarah Konrad

2020

• Professional Development Grant - Annie Hegedus

2018

• Excellence in Advising - Advisor Primary Role - Debra Wheeler
• Excellence in Advising - New Advisor - Lauren Leve
• Institutional Allied Organization Grant - Adam McChesney

2016

• Excellence in Advising - Advisor Primary Role - Laurie Shano

Annually, MIACADA recognizes outstanding advising in the State of Michigan. OU Academic Advisers have received recognition at the state level.

• 2018: Advising Award - Graduate Student - Brook-Lynn Vig
• 2017: Advising Award - Primary Role - Debra Wheeler
• 2015: Advising Award - Primary Role - Laurie Shano
• 2011: Advising Award - Primary Role - Donna Malaski
• 2010: Advising Award - Primary Role - Carmen Etienne

Each month, the Professional Advisers Council invites nominations from advisers who wish to recognize a colleague for their outstanding work. The Adviser Welcome and Awards Committee then selects one deserving nominee to award the Adviser of the Month certificate.

2025 Recipients

• January: Sarah Mullin, School of Nursing
• February: Arianna Abbott, School of Engineering and Computer Science
• March: Jade Dang, First Year Advising Center
• April: Paige Gibson, College of Arts and Sciences
• May: Chris Mocny, College of Arts and Sciences
• June: Jamie Franklin, First Year Advising Center
• July: Nancy Osmialowski, School of Health Sciences
• August: Ashley Sweeney, First Year Advising Center
• September: Elizabeth Gerhart, School of Business Administration
• October: Emily Hall, Interdisciplinary Studies

Archived Adviser of the Month Recipients