Five faculty members have been recognized for their outstanding advising of students: Dr. Jeanne Barnett, Dr. Glenna Bower, Dr. Mary Hallock Morris, Dr. Susanna Hoeness-Krupsaw, and Beth Otto are the 2009-10 USI Outstanding Advisor Award winners.

Winners were chosen because of their strong interpersonal skills availability to advisees, faculty, or staff, frequency of contact with advisees appropriate referral activity, use and dissemination of appropriate information sources, caring, helpful attitude toward advisees, faculty, and staff, monitoring of student progress toward academic and career goals, and mastery of institutional regulations, policies, and procedures.

Dr. Jeanne Barnett 
Barnett, professor of biology, has served as a coordinator or advisor of the Presidential Scholars program, the Baccalaureate/Doctor of Medicine Program program, Sigma Zeta math and science honorary society, the Premedicine program, and the Pre-Health Professions Club. Barnett's student nominations for the honor are summed up by a B/MD scholar who wrote, "She is the most influential mentor I have had here at USI." She joined USI in 1989 and will retire from the University effective July 1, 2011, after 22 years.

Dr. Glenna Bower 
Bower, assistant professor of physical education, joined USI in 2004. She was appointed director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Physical Education in January and has also served as acting assistant chair of the department. A colleague who nominated Bower for the award said, "Dr. Bower would be committed to the success of every student in the Department regardless of a formal advising plan. She is selfless with her time."

Dr. Mary Hallock Morris 
Morris is associate professor of political science, chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and acting director of the Master of Public Administration program. She joined USI in 2003. A student said, "Due to Dr. Morris's patience and caring in her role of advising, I, as well as other students, have continued on to achieve very ambitious goals." Morris was also the winner of the 2008-09 Outstanding Teaching by New Faculty Award.

Dr. Susanna Hoeness-Krupsaw
Hoeness-Krupsaw, associate professor of English, joined USI in 1989. She serves as a coordinator of the Presidential Scholars program, is a member of the University Core Council, and has served on the USI Honors Council. A colleague wrote in nominating Hoeness-Krupsaw, "She is certainly among the most dedicated advisors at USI, as well as one of the most serious and productive scholars. In both regards she is an outstanding role model for students and for faculty."

Beth Otto 
Otto, instructor in education and coordinator of recruitment and advising in the Department of Teacher Education, "displays all the traits that I desire to develop as an advisor," a colleague wrote in nominating her for the award. "She has command of the University Core, is pleasant to work with, and puts students interests above all else." The colleague noted that Otto advises 109 students while the department average is 45. "Clearly, she commands the respect of students and awe of faculty that work with her as she advises nearly four times the University average."
 

The honor comes with a $1,000 award which may be taken by the winners as a stipend or as professional development funds. All full-time faculty and professional advising staff are eligible for the Outstanding Advisor Award. There is no length of service requirement.

Information on the Nomination process

Previous award winners