Four win annual WSU awards for student advising

By Beverly Makhani, Undergraduate Education

PULLMAN, Wash. – Four Washington State University academic advisors have received “Outstanding Achievement in Academic Advising” awards from the local WSU Academic Advising Association (ACADA).

Robin Bond won the “faculty advisor” category; Matthew Jeffries in “new advisor” for those with three or fewer years of advising experience; Doug Juneau in “primary advising;” and Kasey Schertenleib in “administrator.”

Together these award winners advise more than 900 undergraduates each year.

WSU ACADA will support its local winners as they move their applications forward for consideration at the regional and global levels. For more information, visit http://wsuacada.wsu.edu.

Bond’s comprehensive advising

Bond recently was promoted to assistant dean of the Honors College after serving as an academic advisor there since 2007. She said she seeks to be available to students at all times, even during school breaks. According to a nominator, she is quick to recognize the potential of each student and give them support to achieve their full potential.

With a Ph.D. in classics from University of California-Los Angeles, Bond has served as a student research mentor and judge for the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA).

Jefferies builds students’ self-esteem

Jeffries has been an academic coordinator in the College of Education since 2014. According to a nominator, he is a skilled listener who asks questions, concentrates on each student and tailors guidance to their individual needs. Jeffries said his emphasis is building students’ self-esteem, helping them focus on career goals and encouraging them to advocate for themselves, which helps build self-confidence.

Jeffries graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Spanish and pursued a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs at The Ohio State University. He is a doctoral student at WSU.

Juneau is student centered

Juneau has been an advisor for 10 years. He advocates for accurate student record keeping, which led him to be involved with the my.WSU computer system; he has helped other advisors understand the system and worked to fix errors and processes with programmers. He said he is student centered, encouraging students even when they hit major roadblocks.

Juneau said his degree in comparative ethnic studies helps him as an advisor. He splits his time between two positions: academic technology coordinator in the dean’s office of the College of Arts and Sciences and academic coordinator in the sociology department.

Schertenleib pushes students to find their passion

Schertenleib is the student services manager for the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture and has been an academic advisor for eight years. He said engineering has influenced the way he approaches advising: He identifies problems, barriers or obstacles that he, students and other advisers face and finds creative solutions. He encourages student involvement in a variety of undertakings – such as undergraduate research, study abroad and student clubs – and use of support services such as mentoring and tutoring.

A WSU alumnus, Schertenleib was in the Honors College and studied biological systems engineering and later earned a master’s of business administration.