Dr. Amanda Tucker, professor of Englishat the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being honored with the 2024 Outstanding Faculty Advising Award.

"Dr. Tucker demonstrates a holistic approach to academic advising that demonstrates excellence in all facets of the advising process, from reaching out to students in an encouraging and proactive way to sharing her in-depth knowledge of general education institutional regulations, policies and procedures and even assisting other faculty in her department," said Dr. Katie Kalish, professor of English at UW-Platteville who nominated Tucker for the award.

Tucker said she sees advising as critical to student success, retention and graduation as well as central to the university's mission. She emphasized the importance of tailoring the advising experience to a particular student's needs, because not all students need the same thing.

"I hope my advisees can look back and appreciate their undergraduate experience and how it prepared them for their future as professionals and citizens," said Tucker.

Tucker said that getting to know her advisees is one of the things she enjoys most about advising students. "I've first met some advisees on their prospective student campus visits and then served as their advisor through graduation," said Tucker. "It is a privilege to see someone learn and grow during that time period."

The advising Tucker provides doesn't stop with students. According to Kalish, who recently started advising, Tucker helped her prepare to become a good advisor by sharing her practices, which focus on relationship building, monitoring student progress toward career and academic goals, using institutional resources effectively and disseminating resources.

"I have benefitted immensely from Dr. Tucker's mentoring," said Kalish. "My own advisees will have immensely better experiences from Dr. Tucker's positive influence on my own advising."

Tucker was recognized at the university's annual faculty and staff convocation on Aug. 27.