Faculty, staff honored for excellence in advising

Andrea Schafer, Li Wang, Betsy Robbins and Lauren Stein

Each year, at the direction of the Office of the Provost, the Academic Advising Council selects honorees for the Nicholas Evans Awards for Advising Excellence in recognition of outstanding advising and mentoring provided by faculty and professional advisers at WVU. 

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The awards are in honor of Nicholas Evans, a lifelong proponent and exemplar of undergraduate advising at WVU.

The 2023 recipients of the Nicholas Evans Faculty Advising Excellence Award include:

Andrea Schafer, education assistant professor at WVU Potomac State College 

With an “advising is teaching” philosophy, Schafer provides extraordinary service and mentoring to her assigned advisees and first-year seminar students across the Potomac State Campus. 

Through her proactive advising efforts, she has developed strong relationships with students who are new to the college experience and need the most support and guidance, including many first-generation college students. 

Schafer takes a holistic approach to advising, focusing on whole student development and directing them to the best resources to facilitate their success. 

Li Wang, teaching associate professor and director of the Business Honors Program in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics

Wang offers exemplary support to her students both in and outside the classroom. Using a “learning-by-doing” approach, Wang connects students to multiple resources and often pushes them beyond their comfort zone for continued growth and development. 

In addition to advising all Honors students in the Chambers College, she also develops the Honors program curriculum, organizes on-campus student events and takes students on business-exposure and study abroad trips. 

Wang takes proactive steps to build connections with students from the outset and maintains positive, long-term relationships that often span beyond graduation. 

The 2023 recipients of the Nicholas Evans Professional Staff Advising Excellence Award are:

Betsy Robbins, student success coordinator in the College of Applied Human Sciences 

Even with an extensive advising load, Robbins is known for her ability to connect with students and her commitment to the WVU community. Her approach to advising offers students individualized attention through which she helps them define their goals and supports them throughout their college journey. 

Robbins is passionate about serving WVU students and has developed several partnerships within the WVU and local community to provide experiential learning opportunities. 

She also coordinates a dynamic living-learning community and has created a number of resources for both on-campus and online students.

Lauren Stein, senior academic adviser in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources 

Stein brings real-world industry experience to share with her advisees and is adept at helping them identify opportunities that best align with their goals. She is known as a collaborative team member, often working with faculty to identify and develop resources for student success. 

According to the committee, Stein has all the “hallmarks of a great adviser” — strong student evaluations, great personal anecdotes and a robust approach to advising issues. She is a vital resource for her students and colleagues alike and demonstrates the value of advising within the larger academic landscape.

All four Nicholas Evans award recipients will be awarded $1,250 for professional development. 

Recipients will be recognized during a faculty and staff awards reception at Blaney House on April 26.

Find additional details about the Nicholas Evans Awards for Advising Excellence and past winners.

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