Advising Network News Today

Christopher Schmitt and Matt Bae are the 2023 Academic Advising Awards winners.

The University of Kentucky Advising Network hosted the Ken Freedman Day of Recognition with a luncheon honoring advisors for their work during the previous academic semester. 

Jennifer Riggs Doerge, senior director of Advising and Engineering Student Services in the College of Engineering, was awarded the Outstanding Professional Advisor Award. Heather Hardesty, academic advisor for undergraduate students within the College of Health Sciences, was awarded the Outstanding New Advisor Award.

Academic advisors need help remaining resilient just like the students they help, especially during the pandemic. One of the most difficult parts of being an advisor “is having really hard conversations with students about challenges we can’t fix,” says Taryn Andrea, a College of Arts & Sciences advisor. Challenges such as losing a loved one and not being able to have services or grieve together with family. Dealing with a new role at home, like helping younger siblings with remote school...