Academic advisors honor two for outstanding work
February 15, 2013
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LEFT: Brooke Linn shows her award plaque as
PACADA's Outstanding New Professional, presented Feb. 12 by Andrew Oppy,
recognizing Linn's work in in her position in the College of Pharmacy. RIGHT:
Cara Wetzel (left) celebrates her award as Outstanding Academic Advisor,
presented by colleague Mary Beth Lencke in the Undergraduate Studies Program.
The presenters are both former recipients of the respective awards from the
Purdue Academic Advising Association. |
Two academic advisors who interact caringly and effectively with both students and colleagues were honored Wednesday (Feb. 13) by the Purdue Academic Advising Association (PACADA).
Outstanding Academic Advisor: Cara Wetzel, assistant director in the Undergraduate Studies Program
With 15 years of experience, Wetzel has acquired expansive proficiency in advising and related work. She contributes to students' success and lives, and she helps strengthen the field of advising. Her main nominator wrote, "She is well-respected and an integral part of our department, the Purdue advising community and NACADA [the national association]."
Working with students not yet settled into a major, she helps her advisees and her colleagues work toward solutions and students' paths to growth and careers. Another nominator stated, "The level of comfort she instills in her students is impressive. They seek her out for both academic and personal support."
In addition, Wetzel is an instructor for the Explorers learning community (USP and English). One nominator wrote, "She jumps right in with her responsibilities, demonstrating eagerness, trustworthiness and social interaction; and she is integral to the emotional development of our students."
Wetzel says advising was not part of her early career plan.
"I tell my students, you don't know why you're making the decision, but when you look back it makes sense," she says. "I had a great advisor, but I didn't know what I wanted to do. After grad school, I got a job in Admissions. My husband was talking with Ron Burkhardt in Technology one day and he mentioned advising. From there, it just happened.
"Once I got an advising job, the more I met with students, the more I enjoyed it." Her first advising position was in Organizational Leadership and Supervision.
In activities beyond the campus, she was Indiana liaison to Region V of NACADA and has been co-presenter on presentations on assessments and activities.
In presenting the award to Wetzel, past winner and USP colleague Mary Beth Lencke told of how Wetzel stepped up quickly and strongly when Lencke's mother died. That exemplified who Wetzel is, Lencke said -- that and "her ever-present hugs, her compassionate words, and her truly awful puns."
Comments written by her students included these: "She is an amazing advisor. She makes you feel great the moment you enter the room. She took the time to get to know me …. No matter what I wanted to pursue, she was behind me 100 percent, with total support and a smile always."
Outstanding New Professional: Brooke Linn, College of Pharmacy
Linn uses the reality and the metaphor of her office door to communicate her advising philosophy -- open and inviting, or closed to provide dedicated attention to a student. "My door is the gateway to discovery," she holds.
Her nominators confirm that in about 18 months, Linn has taken to her role as relational and attuned to opportunity. One wrote, "She truly feels connected to a mission of service, and being accessible to her students is one of her highest priorities."
Another wrote, "She has been outstanding in 'being there' for students when they experience difficulties."
A third-year student, calling her effort "above and beyond," wrote, "She takes an active role in her students' professional development, as she challenges her students to pursue leadership and internship opportunities."
In presenting the award to Linn, past winner Andrew Oppy of the Department of Agricultural Economics also noted Linn's contributions in the past year on PACADA's Professional Development Committee, on which both of them sit.
Linn spoke after receiving the award, saying, "I'm glad I'm part of this. I've never been more excited to get up and go to work in the morning." She thanked her colleagues in Pharmacy, remarking lightheartedly that they always smile when they see her coming with another question.
Later, she said, "I could not ask for a better support system in this office," noting that advising calls for knowing many facts and procedures.
Toward that end, she works hard at being a good listener, and she stresses that skill and habit to her students.
"In my job interview for this position, one person asked me what the most valuable lesson I had ever learned was," she said. "I said listening. Listening is critical. It is impossible to remember everything, and that is why I encourage students pay attention to what is happening around them so they can utilize that information to help them make good decisions."
Linn also lauded her parents and husband for their support and flexibility now and as her atypical career path took shape.
"I have an undergraduate degree from Purdue in elementary education and an MFA in writing," she said. "But I remember sitting across from my advisor as a student here and saying, 'I want your job. How do I get your job?'"
During six years of elementary school teaching, she became sure that the age level wasn't the right fit for her -- and she stayed in touch with her connections at Purdue.
"In 2010, I came back and talked to my advisor about advising jobs at Purdue," she said. "I followed the steps she suggested and, lo and behold, here I am."