PULLMAN – Karla Makus recently received top adviser honors from the region as well as from WSU.
An academic coordinator in the School of Economic Sciences (SES), she was named 2011 Outstanding Academic Advisor in the primary role category by WSU ACADA, a chapter of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). She also earned the academic advising award from the Pacific Northwest region of NACADA (Region 8).
“I am extremely honored and humbled to receive these awards,” Makus said.
Makus, who joined WSU in 2007 following 17 years at the University of Idaho, earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from WSU with an emphasis in child and family studies.
As academic coordinator for SES, part of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, her responsibilities include academic advising for SES undergraduates (260-290 students), coordinating annual scholarship and award processes, coordinating and participating in recruiting events, scheduling courses, and coordinating several aspects of commencement and graduation for students.
Makus also served as chair of the WSU ACADA awards committee until this year.
“Karla’s dedication to students and to the profession of academic advising makes her stand out as a leader and someone others look to as a role model,” said Jessica Cassleman, awards committee chair and 2010 recipient of top WSU ACADA and national NACADA honors. Cassleman is assistant dean and faculty in the Honors College.
“We are very pleased to nominate Karla for recognition consideration at the national level,” said Gloria Tong, WSU ACADA president and enrollment and advising director in the College of Business. “She has devoted her life to the profession of education, and specifically at WSU to advising. We are very proud of her accomplishments, and she has made many contributions to the WSU ACADA professional advisers’ organization since it began in 2008.”
Makus’s was the only award, out of five categories, given this year by WSU ACADA, Tong said. Her award is in the category of “outstanding advising” for advisers with more than three years experience and whose primary role at WSU is the direct delivery of academic advising services to students.
“This is the third year that WSU ACADA has honored members of our organization,” she said. “Karla joins seven previous winners from 2009 and 2010, six of whom won certificates of merit at NACADA’s annual conference. Jessica took top honors nationally in 2010 in the category of faculty who advise.
“When Karla’s nomination goes to nationals, it won’t be the first time her name has been there,” Tong said. “In 2005, when Karla was at the University of Idaho, she received a NACADA national certificate of merit for outstanding advising.”
For more information on WSU ACADA, visit its website.