Academic advisors who go above and beyond in their roles help define students’ success, from enrollment to graduation. One such advisor is Courtney Miller, an academic advisor at Kent State University’s Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg. Ms. Miller was recently honored with the Dr. Terry Kuhn Distinguished Undergraduate Advising Award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of an academic or faculty advisor who demonstrates a commitment to student success inside and outside the classroom. The award recognizes a distinguished advisor as one who fosters an empowering advising relationship that models the National Academic Advising Associations’ Core Values, as well as Kent State’s advising guidelines. The award is sponsored by Academic Engagement and Degree Completion and University College.
Ms. Miller has worked at Kent State’s Regional Academic Center in Twinsburg for nearly five years. Her focus as an advisor is working with students in the Associate Degree in Nursing program. She assists the nursing department with daily functions along with advising all students in that program from the time they are considering the program through graduation.
"I can honestly say I love my job,” Ms. Miller says. “There are many facets that give me the most satisfaction but if I had to name one, I would say nursing admission letters. I love when the students who I have been working closely with are accepted into the program. Nursing programs are competitive regardless of where you go, so it’s a huge accomplishment to be accepted."
She says that Commencement is her favorite day of the year and she finds it very exciting to see students walk across the stage after years of hard work, dedication and often times, much sacrifice.
Britny Meszaros, a 2018 graduate, says that she nominated Ms. Miller because she gave her hope throughout her academic journey and if she was ever discouraged, Ms. Miller's door was always open.
"She was very honest with me and told me it was going to be a lot of work, but she encouraged me to keep moving forward in the program,” she says. “She never once told me to give up on my dream. She had faith in me when not a lot of people did."