PACADA honors two academic advisors for outstanding work

Two academic advisors have been recognized by the Purdue Academic Advising Association (PACADA) for their dedication to student success and active involvement in the campus community.

Jennifer Fecher, recipient of the Outstanding Advisor Award, and Candace Tulacz, recipient of the Outstanding New Professional Award, were honored for their work Thursday (Feb. 15) during PACADA’s annual business meeting.

Outstanding Academic Advisor: Jennifer Fecher

Jennifer Fecher, lead academic advisor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood) Download image

As the lead academic advisor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, Jennifer Fecher plays a vital role in the growth and development of Purdue students and advising staff.

For nearly 20 years, she’s worked hard to guide countless students toward their academic and professional goals, listening intently and providing constructive feedback during every one-on-one meeting, no matter how tough the conversation may be.

“Even during difficult conversations with students who may be struggling to find their path, she always finds a way to guide them towards achieving their fullest potential,” one nominator said. “Jen’s students trust her advice and always know she is in their corner.”

As a Purdue graduate, Fecher was once a student in many of the courses her advisees are taking now. She often taps into that firsthand experience to offer her 230 advisees sound guidance and advice, but she also takes on duties outside of her role to expand her understanding of their needs as students.

Since the beginning of her advising career, Fecher has doubled as a limited-term lecturer for multiple health and kinesiology courses. She’s advised multiple student organizations and served on a variety of search committees and task forces. And since 2004, she’s been a member of PACADA, taking on roles ranging anywhere from committee member to vice chair and chair.

Whether she’s teaching, presenting, tracking down answers to her students’ questions or simply asking “How are you?,” Fecher does it with a level of sincerity and respect that her students admire.

“Jen has been such a huge help in getting me to the point where I am today,” a student nominator said. “She remembers the important things about what I need done, and she has helped get me to graduation a year early so I can start my master’s. She has always been on my side, which makes me feel like I can do anything she suggests.”

Her colleagues agree: Fecher knows what she’s talking about, and she’ll do anything in her power to help her students facilitate positive, enriching experiences during their time at Purdue.

“She caters her style to the audience, but it’s always the same message — the great opportunities that await students in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, the College of Health and Human Sciences and at Purdue University,” said a nominator.

Outstanding New Professional: Candace Tulacz

Candace Tulacz, academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood) Download image

Since joining the College of Liberal Arts as an advisor in 2021, Candace Tulacz has consistently demonstrated a sincere devotion to their students’ academic and professional needs, interests and aspirations. 

According to one nominator, Tulacz is a welcoming presence among their team and strives to ensure everyone — students and colleagues alike — feels included and advocated for. Tulacz meets individuals where they are to offer unwavering support, whether that’s attending a student’s theater production on campus or setting up shop in a residence hall to meet on-on-one with a wheelchair-bound advisee.

“I’ve been an advisor for 12 years, and I can confidently say I have seen very few people start stronger in the advising profession,” one nominator said. “Candace can do it all. I have never seen someone more deserving of this award, and not many weeks pass when I do not think about how lucky I am to have Candace advising in my office.”

Their advisees often feel the same way. For many, Tulacz is the person who helped them power through their struggles, offering a steady stream of support and encouragement along the way. When one student nominator walked past Tulacz’s advising office with plans to skip a class, Tulacz intervened and walked them back toward the direction of the classroom, reminding them of attendance’s impact on their grades.

That same student nominator lists Tulacz as a key figure in their decision to continue their education at Purdue. 

“There is no one more dedicated to higher education and driven to support students in every possible way,” the nominator said. “At times when I was unsure if I should continue in college, Candace would ultimately convince me to stay, laying out exactly how I should proceed and what my alternative options were. I can confidently say that they are the reason that I am currently a Purdue student.”

When they’re not advising students, Tulacz is often gaining new advising knowledge and expertise through professional development opportunities. Tulacz has attended a wide variety of university trainings to better support students of all backgrounds and currently serves as an advisor of the Tri-Alpha National Honor Society for First-Generation Students.

Tulacz recently attended the National Academic Advising Association’s 2024 National Conference, where they were awarded a scholarship for new professionals. They have been a PACADA member since 2021 and will help lead the organization’s communications committee this year as co-chair.