Outstanding Undergraduate New Professional Staff Advisor Award Recipient

 

Lyn Alexander

Admissions Coordinator and Academic Advisor, Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, School of Pharmacy

Lyn Alexander (they/she) serves as the Admissions Coordinator and Staff Advisor for the Professional Program in Pharmacy (Pharm.D). In this role, she works with over 300 Professional students and supports a team of 13 faculty advisors. They also serve as one of the primary contact points for numerous prospective students, both at UConn and at other institutions. Lyn is one of the advisors for the UConn Pharmacy Ambassadors, a selected group of students who embody the spirit of the UConn School of Pharmacy and represent the school. Within the School of Pharmacy, Lyn works to advocate for and support students, faculty and staff through the Admissions, Wellness, and Diversity Committees.

Outside of academic advising and admissions work, Lyn is an adjunct instructor with the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry teaching Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS). In this role, Lyn has taught classes such as Gender and Sexuality in Everyday Life, Women, Gender and Film, and their favorite course, Genders and Sexualities, a course that introduces students to activism and commitment to public service. Lyn views teaching as an extension to advising and has supported several students in WGSS in their future plans and career goals. She also serves the wider UConn community through her role on the President’s Council on Combating Sexual Violence and Harassment, sitting on both on the steering committee as an alumni representative, and the prevention subcommittee.

Outstanding Undergraduate Professional Advisor Award Recipient

Ramón Espinoza  

Counselor, CAPS, Hartford Campus 

Born and raised in Hartford, Ramón has fought for underrepresented voices since beginning his career in public service with ASPIRA of Connecticut, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of the Latino community’s educational and leadership capacity, where he provided career and college counseling to youth and families. As an Administrative Fellow for Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NCC), Ramón managed a performance-based student diversity grant by researching, developing and implementing student recruitment, retention and professional development plans. Additionally, he developed and taught a sociology course at NCC, which was well received by the students. Ramón also worked for Quinebaug Valley Community College, where he served as an instructor to a program that provided incarcerated men and women with job readiness skills and aimed to reduce prisoner recidivism rates in Connecticut. Currently, Ramón serves as a Counselor for the Center for Access and Postsecondary Success (CAPS) at the University of Connecticut (UConn)’s Hartford Regional Campus. CAPS works directly with undergraduate students who come from underserved backgrounds, are low-income, and are the first in their families to attend a college or university. Ramón graduated from UConn with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Latin American Studies. He also holds a Certificate in Paralegal Litigation from UConn and earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Policy from Trinity College with Honors in Graduate Scholarship. 

 

Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Advisor Award Recipients

Mary Anne Amalaradjou, DVM, MVSc, MS, PhD 

Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, CAHNR 

Mary Anne Amalaradjou, PhD is an associate professor of food microbiology in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut. She received her DVM from Pondicherry University and MSc from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute in India in 2002 and 2004, respectively. She then earned her PhD in food microbiology from the University of Connecticut in 2010. 

Dr. Amalaradjou’s current research is targeted towards understanding pathogen survival and persistence along the food chain, their virulence attributes and the application of probiotics to control foodborne pathogens. She also studies the efficacy of currently applied hurdle technologies to reduce pathogen transmission from farm-to-fork. Beyond controlling pathogens in food systems, her research also investigates the potential application of probiotics as alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production and functional foods in the prevention of gut pathologies. Her research program is funded by intramural and extramural funding agencies including the Center for Produce Safety, USDA, NSF and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture. Through all aspects of her research, Dr. Amalaradjou’ s main objective is to improve food safety and promote public health. In the classroom, she teaches a graduate-level course on “Prebiotics and Probiotics” and undergraduate courses on “Food Microbiology and Safety” and “Scientific writing in Food Microbiology”. Besides research and teaching, she is passionate about mentoring the next generation with a strong focus on promoting equity and inclusivity in higher education. To this end, she currently serves as a UConn Connects mentor, Honors and pre-vet advisor, Faculty Affiliate to the Office for Diversity and Inclusion and a Faculty Affiliate for Inclusive Excellence for the UConn Graduate School. Outside of UConn, Dr. Amalaradjou is actively involved with IAFP, IFT, ASM and PSA. 

 

Matthew Singer  

Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor, Political Science, CLAS 

Matthew Singer is the Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor of Political Science. He has taught at UConn since 2007 and was also a visiting fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at Notre Dame. He is the co-editor of the book The Latin American Voter: Pursuing Representation and Accountability in Challenging Contexts and of Economics and Politics Revisited: Executive Approval and the New Calculus of Support and numerous articles and book chapters. His current research, funded by the National Science Foundation, looks at how the public evaluates political leaders during different types of crises to explain why some crises generate opportunities for leaders to consolidate their support with the public. He is also finishing his term directing the Political Science Department’s Honors Program. 

New Professional Staff Advisors

• Alyssa Henry | Academic Advisor, Computer Science, Data Science & Engineering, College of Engineering  
• Alex Sauer | Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Programs Office, School of Business  
• Sara Shea | Academic Advisor, Computer Science & Engineering, College of Engineering
• Amanda Wilde | Director of Advising, School of Fine Arts  

Professional Staff Advisors

• Annie Casarella | International Advisor, DSO/ARO, Center for International Students & Scholars (CISS)  
• Dan Levy | Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Programs Office, School of Business (Stamford)  
• Raquel Lopez | Academic Advisor, ACES (Stamford)  
• Amy McKeon | Academic Advisor I, Department of Allied Health Sciences, CAHNR  
• Tony Omega | Academic Advisor, Student Services (Waterbury)  
• Katerine Pais | Academic Advisor, Biology Advising Center, CLAS   
• Rebecca Walker | Academic Advisor II, Department of Economics, CLAS

Faculty Advisors

• Leanne Adams | Instructor In-Residence, Accounting, Undergraduate Programs Office, School of Business  
• Jill Desimini | Director & Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture, CAHNR  
• Allison MacKenzie | Instructor-in-Residence | Director of Undergraduate Exercise Science, Department of Kinesiology, CAHNR  
• Paula J Kalksma McDowell | Lecturer & Academic Advisor, Department of Allied Health Sciences, CAHNR  
• Matthew Singer | Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor, Department of Political Science, CLAS  
• Steve Wilson | Extension Instructor, Director of Investment Management Initiative, Department of Finance, School of Business 

Professional Staff Advisors

• Alana Adams | Director for Undergraduate Programs and Dean's Designee, School of Business 
• Lyn Alexander | Professional Academic Advising, Admissions Advising, School of Pharmacy 
• Jose Aponte | Academic Advisor, School of Business
• Julie Carney | ACES Advisor
• Annie Casarella | International Advisor, DSO/ARO, Center for International Students & Scholars (CISS) 
• Ramon Espinoza | Counselor, Center for Access & Postsecondary Success (CAPS), (Hartford)
• Kaitlin Heenehan | Associate Director, Honors Program at the Regional Campuses and Director, Regional Campuses for Enrichment Programs (Hartford)
• Alyssa Henry | Academic Advisor, Computer Science, Data Science & Engineering, College of Engineering
• James Hill | Executive Director, Academic Center for Exploratory Students (ACES)
• Dan Levy | Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Programs Office, School of Business (Stamford)
• Raquel Lopez | Academic Advisor, ACES (Stamford)
• Amy McKeon | Academic Advisor I, Department of Allied Health Sciences, CAHNR
• Tony Omega | Academic Advisor, Student Services (Waterbury)
• Katerine Pais | Academic Advisor, Biology Advising Center, CLAS 
• Heather Parker | Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Department of History, CLAS
• Megan Ridder | Academic Advisory Center Director, Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, CAHNR
• Joanna Rivera Davis | Director of Student Success, Equity, and Inclusion, Center for Access & Postsecondary Success (CAPS) (Hartford)
• Alex Sauer | Academic Advisor, Undergraduate Programs Office, School of Business
• Sara Shea | Academic Advisor, Computer Science & Engineering, College of Engineering
• Jennifer Testin | Director, Academic Advising, Advising Center (Stamford)
• Rebecca Walker | Academic Advisor II, Department of Economics, CLAS
• Amanda Wilde | Director of Advising, School of Fine Arts 

 

Faculty Advisors

• Leanne Adams | Instructor In-Residence, Accounting, Undergraduate Programs Office, School of Business
• Mary Anne Roshni Amalaradjou | Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, CAHNR
• Bruce Blanchard | Assistant Clinical Professor & Director, Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, Department of Allied Health Sciences, CAHNR
• Ryan Coles | Assistant Professor, Chief Scientist, Daigle Labs, Management & Entrepreneurship, School of Business
• Jill Desimini | Director & Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture, Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture, CAHNR
• Mariana Fragomeni | Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, CAHNR
• Kristen Haseney | Assistant Extension Professor, Real Estate, School of Business
• Matthew Lamoureux | Assistant Professor, School of Computing, College of Engineering
• Allison MacKenzie | Instructor-in-Residence | Director of Undergraduate Exercise Science, Department of Kinesiology, CAHNR
• Charles Mahoney | Professor, Department of English, CLAS
• Paula J Kalksma McDowell | Lecturer & Academic Advisor, Department of Allied Health Sciences, CAHNR
• Katherine Pancak | Professor In-Residence of Finance, Academic Director, Stamford Campus Business Programs (Stamford)
• Sarah Reed | Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, CAHNR
• Matthew Singer | Alan R. Bennett Honors Professor, Department of Political Science, CLAS
• Tammie Spaulding | Associate Department Head & Associate Professor, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, CLAS
• Tom Sterling | Assistant Professor in Residence, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, CAHNR
• Brian Willis | Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Steve Wilson | Extension Instructor, Director of Investment Management Initiative, Department of Finance, School of Business 

Nominees must be involved in the direct delivery of advising services as part of their job responsibilities to UConn undergraduate students. Three awards will be granted in 2025:

Professional Advisors: 

• The Outstanding New Professional Staff Advisor Award recognizes an individual, typically a staff member, who has primary responsibilities involve undergraduate academic advising. Nominees must have less than three years of UConn undergraduate advising experience.
• The Outstanding Professional Staff Advisor Award recognizes an individual, typically a staff member, whose primary responsibilities involve undergraduate academic advising. Nominees must have three or more years of undergraduate advising experience.

Faculty Advisors:

• The Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award recognizes an individual whose primary responsibility is as a teaching and/or research faculty member but who spends a portion of their time providing academic advising and mentoring to undergraduate students.

Criteria

Advisors must significantly enhance advisees' educational experiences by being readily available to them, have knowledge of the University’s policies and resources as they pertain to advising, and demonstrate a genuine interest in and concern for their advisees’ overall educational experience.

• Accessibility: Advisors will have demonstrated a willingness to be available and accessible to advisees, allowing for frequent contact and being proactive in their engagement with advisees.
• Knowledge: Advisors will have demonstrated a good understanding of and support for UConn’s policies to support student success, appropriately referring their advisees to support services and other resources on campus, and effectively collaborating with university partners to support student success.
• Support: Academic advisors will have demonstrated engagement in equitable and meaningful advising practices and relationships with students with diverse backgrounds, including addressing barriers and needs that support student success.

Kelly Gilbert (Committee Chair) | Assistant Director for Engagement, Learning and Development, Undergraduate Advising

Dr. Erin Ciarimbol | Director of Undergraduate Advising

Kennedy Evans | Student Administrative Specialist, Office of Undergraduate Advising

Nominations will be accepted from undergraduate students, as well as current UConn colleagues, faculty, or current or past supervisors. Nominate an advisor using this link by February 24, 2025 (form available on Feb 3).

Once nominations have been collected, nominees will be notified and asked to submit the following by Monday, March 25, 2025:

• Nominee’s advising philosophy
  • 2 pages maximum
• Nominee’s advising resume/vita
  • This should highlight experiences and dates that are relevant to academic advising for award consideration.
  • 2 pages maximum
• Testimonials, which speak directly to the specific criteria listed on the nomination submission-access, knowledge and support.
  • Testimonials should be submitted to the nominee and attached to this form at the time of submission.
  • Testimonials can come from:
    • Current or past undergraduate advisees
    • Current University of Connecticut colleagues
    • Past or present supervisors
  • Testimonials are not mandatory but are recommended for adding additional support for each nominee
  • Nominees may submit a maximum of 5 testimonials.

2025 Outstanding Advisor Awards Nomination Link

 

2024

Faculty Award

• • • Vida Samuel, Assistant Professor in Residence, HDFS (Stamford)

New Professional Staff Award

• • • Abigail "Abby" Clark, Academic Advisor II, School of Nursing
    • Jenna Hartwell, Academic Advisor, Student Services (Waterbury)

Professional Staff Award

• • • Kristen Dostaler, Academic Advisor, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

2023

Faculty Award

• • • Steven Zinn, Professor, Department of Animal Science

New Professional Staff Advisor Award (new in 2022)

• • • Jennifer 'JP' Platts, Academic Advisor (Avery Point)

Professional Staff Award

• • • Krista Rogers, Assistant Director, Pre-Professional Programs
    • Rawan Shilleh, Student Support Services, Coordinator/Counselor, ISS Academic Programs Center (Stamford)

2022

Faculty Award

• • • Fei Wang, Associate Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice

New Professional Staff Advisor Award (new in 2022)

• • • Megan Lucia, CLAS Staff Advisor (Stamford)

Professional Staff Award

• • • Megan Delaney, Academic Advisor, Pre-Professional Program, Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, School of Pharmacy
    • Lauren Munyard, Academic Advisor, Department of Economics, CLAS

2021

 Faculty Award

• • • Daniela Weiser, Assistant Professor in Residence, Design, Scenic Charge Artist, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Head of Courses & Curriculum

Professional Staff Award

• • • Dr. Noemi Maldonado-Picardi, Director of Student Services (Avery Point)

2020

Faculty Award

• • • Dr. Judy Brown,
      • Associate Professor & Director, Health Care Genetics Professional Science Masters Degree Program
      • Co-Director, UCONN Chromosome Core, a Division of the Center for Genome Innovation within the Institute for Systems Genomics
      • Associate Director, Genetic Counseling Professional Science Masters Degree Program under development
        

Professional Staff Award

• • • Shoshana Armington, Associate Director of Advising for Student Transitions

2019

 Faculty Award

• • • Dr. Helen Rozwadowski, History

Professional Staff Award

• • • Dr. Dana Ziter, Engineering

2018

Faculty Award

• • • Dr. Thomas Abbott, Biology

Professional Staff Award

• • • Carl Dean, SSS (Storrs)
    • Nancy Steenburg, Avery Point