Elizabeth Freedman, a student success advisor in the Health and Life Sciences Advising Center, won the Excellence in Advising—New Advisor award. She has been a student success advisor at IUPUI since October 2014.
Freedman received the award by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Region V. NACADA is an association of professional advisors, counselors, faculty, administrators, and students working to enhance the educational development of students. The Excellence in Advising—New Advisor award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students and who have served as an advisor for a period of three or fewer years.
Freedman has been a member of the IUPUI staff for slightly more than a year, but she has been advising students in various capacities for five years. When asked what Freedman found as the most rewarding part of advising, she replied, “Despite the large size of IUPUI, I enjoy making connections and some long-term relationships with the students I advise.” Freedman is passionate about what she does, and because of that, she is able to build students into professionals.
Before Freedman came to IUPUI, she worked with several other institutions, including Ivy Tech, Butler University, and DePauw University. At Ivy Tech, Freedman was a career resource assistant, Career Services (April 2010–June 2010). Freedman served Butler University as a student employment coordinator in Career Services (2012–2013), as well as an assistant instructor for a career planning strategies course. At DePauw University, Freedman was a career advisor. Aside from this, Freedman has been involved as a tutor, intern, and service assistant at a variety of organizations that have carried her to where she is today.
NACADA’s vision is to recognize that effective academic advising is at the core of student success and aspires to be the premier global association for the development and dissemination of innovative theory, research, and practice of academic advising in higher education. Freedman will be attending NACADA’s Region V conference in April 2016 in Toronto, Canada.