“She doesn't just want us to succeed, but to shine. Carolyn really believes each student has a rock star inside them and is determined to bring it out.”- Kathryn Osborne
Kent State University at Ashtabula Associate Lecturer Carolyn Carvalho has been named a finalist by the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education (NOCHE) for The Expys 2019 Best College Advisor. The Expys is NOCHE and Contempo DESIGN + COMMUNICATIONS’s annual awards program that “recognizes the best-of-the-best in Northeast Ohio’s internship and experiential learning ecosystem.” The annual awards luncheon takes place April 10.
“Being nominated for the College Advisor award is a wonderful surprise and honor. I am grateful for the recognition, but also so happy to be able to help our students gain experience in the IT field by matching them up with employers in the community,” Carvalho said. “We’re blessed to have employers who generously share their time and efforts and provide experiential learning opportunities for our interns, plus eager students who quickly learn and gain skills under their patient mentorship. It is very rewarding to watch our student interns grow into experienced IT professionals over the semester.”
Carvalho teaches in the information technology program while coordinating internships and practicums for students in the IT majors. She has advised the nationally-recognized and award-winning student chapter of the Association of IT Professionals (AITP) since 2017. Many of her former students have gone on to careers in the IT field with some of the region’s – and nation’s - largest corporations and industry leaders.
Since 2011, The Expys celebrate the best Northeast Ohio internships and co-ops, as well as the individuals in both the business and higher education settings. Each year nominations from hundreds of individuals, companies and organizations throughout the region are submitted for the six award categories: Best College Advisor, Best Mentor or Supervisor, Best Large Company Internship, Best Small Company Internship, Coolest Internship, and Best Intern. A panel of independent judges reviews the nominations and selects the finalists.
Carvalho was nominated for the Best College Advisor award by current student Kathryn Osborne.
“She doesn’t just give assignments, projects to complete or commands, she really wants to know her students and know their stories,” Osborne said. “She is like a doctor who treats the whole patient. She finds what resources each student needs, and if they are available, can point them in the right direction. She is a teacher, who somehow manages to find time to advise, assist, tutor, advocate, and be there to listen. Her positivity is infectious, but she never lies or sugar coats the truth. She seeks out opportunity for student members to learn, grow, expand, and network in their respective fields.”
“She doesn't just want us to succeed, but to shine. Carolyn really believes each student has a rock star inside them and is determined to bring it out.”
A graduate of the campus, Carvalho earned her bachelor’s degree in technology from Kent State Ashtabula in 2005 and her master’s in technology from Kent State in 2007. Her areas of teaching include; programming, operating systems, hardware, networking, security, forensics, productivity applications, help desk support, career development, survey of IT, certification preparation, digital image editing, keyboarding and desktop publishing.
The Expys 2019 program will be held at Windows on the River in Cleveland. Local news reporter Monica Robins, of WKYC-TV, will be the emcee.
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