Purdue has outstanding academic advisors, many of whom go above and beyond their daily job responsibilities in order to serve their students and the greater Purdue community to the best of their ability. Many academic advisors also serve as Learning Community Instructors. Each year students are asked to nominate outstanding Learning Community Instructors and based on those nominations, four LCIs receive the Learning Community Advocate Award. Of those four, three are academic advisors and PACADA members! They are as follows:
Sheila Hurt – Explorers LC
Julie Pluimer – The Nature of Wild Things LC
Cara Wetzel – Exploratory Studies Purdue Promise LC
In addition, several other Learning Community Instructors were recognized with various awards. Among the winners, PACADA members were very well represented:
Exceptional Event Planner
Awarded to those LCIs who are especially successful at planning events that are engaging, exciting, and integral to student learning and development during their first semester here at Purdue.
Debbi Bearden – Krannert Direct Admit LC
Lora Goonewardene – Discoveries in Biology LC
Jamie Linville – Discoveries in Biology LC
Marsha Rhees – Discoveries in Biology LC
Karen Wiggins – Discoveries in Biology LC
Academic Connection
Awarded to LCIs who are especially successful at planning events and activities that directly connect classroom learning with hands-on experiences for students.
Michelle Mullen – Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences LC
Student Support
Awarded to LCIs who are especially successful at planning events and activities that introduce students to helpful resources on campus and provide opportunities for direct interaction for support.
Vicki Gilbert – Computer Science LC
Faith Giordano – Computer Science LC
Desiree Marmon – Computer Science LC
Real-World Experience
Awarded to LCIs who are especially successful at planning events and activities that offer introductions to various opportunities within their respective academic fields.
Julie Pluimer – The Nature of Wild Things LC
Congratulations to the award winners, and thank you for all that you do for the Purdue community!
*a special thanks to Justin Hamman, Assistant Director of Learning Communities, for providing award descriptions and award winners.