Three University of Tennessee Knoxville advisors, have won the 2021 NACADA Global Awards to recognize their significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising within higher education. Ashleigh Powers won the outstanding advisor award, Jeremy Mobley won the exceptional new advisor award, and Shanna Pendergrast won the outstanding advisor administrator certificate of merit. Powers is a coordinator for academic advising in the Department of Psychology.

Mobley is a student success advisor for the Herbert College of Agriculture, specializing in advising for Animal Science students. Pendergrast is the associate director of Advising Services for the College of Arts & Sciences and is a member of the Global Awards Committee for NACADA.  

“Academic advising is a critical component of students’ educational experience and success, and we congratulate and thank Ashleigh, Jeremy, and Shanna for their leadership and contributions to our Vols’ success,” Amber Williams, vice provost for the Division of Student Success, said. 

Academic advising serves to develop and enrich students’ educational plans in ways consistent with their aspirations, interests, strengths, and values—preparing them for a life of learning in a diverse and global society. 

The National Academic Advising Association was chartered in 1979 and had over 10,000 members representing all 50 US states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and several other countries. The goals of the NACADA program include recognizing outstanding advising throughout higher education, offering a global advising rewards system, encouraging broader support of advising personnel and programs, and ultimately improving reporting services for students. 

Contact:

Lacey Wood (laceywood@utk.edu)