Rachel Tolen receives Terri Nation Outstanding Academic Advisor Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Rachel Tolen, premedical advisor and assistant director of the Health Professions and Prelaw Center at Indiana University Bloomington, was honored with the 2014 Terri Nation Outstanding Academic Advisor Award at the campus Academic Advising Council’s spring conference.
The award recognizes the achievements of academic advisors on the campus and honors the memory of Nation, a longtime academic advisor at IU Bloomington.
Tolen has served the Health Professions and Prelaw Center for eight years, helping undergraduates develop a personalized strategy consistent with their goals. In addition to academic advising, Tolen coordinates the Health Programs Fair on campus each year to connect students with opportunities to further their success beyond graduation.
"We are delighted that Rachel’s exceptional work with students has been recognized with this award," said Elizabeth Guertin, assistant vice provost for undergraduate education and executive director of advising. "Rachel’s commitment to learning about each individual student’s interests and strengths and helping the student to tailor their education to provide them with the best preparation to achieve their future professional goals exemplifies the best in advising. For so many students, Rachel’s advice and recommendations have contributed to an extraordinary educational experience.”
Tolen credited her colleagues for helping her develop as an academic advisor.
"A lot of people think of advising as something advisors just go off and do in isolation, working one-on-one with students, but a lot of the most valuable insights I’ve learned as an advisor have come out of discussions with my colleagues," Tolen said. She added that colleagues have "all taught me so much and help me learn every day how to be a better advisor."
Recipients of the Terri Nation Outstanding Academic Advisor Award demonstrate exceptional service to academic advising, the IU Bloomington campus and the Bloomington Academic Advising Council. Nominees must have at least one year of service at IU Bloomington and be a current member of the council.
"Rachel is so very deserving of this award, and I could not be more happy for her," said Interim Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Dennis Groth. "The many students who have achieved their academic and personal goals through her efforts are true indicators of her skill and knowledge, and also her care for student success."
The Health Professions and Prelaw Center, a program of the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, provides advising and other services for students who want to pursue careers in law, medicine and other health professions. The center works closely with IU students throughout their undergraduate years, and with IU alumni, to help them become thoughtful, well-prepared, competitive applicants to professional programs in order to support their life and career goals.
Related Links
Rachel Tolen, center, with Mikki Nation-MacDonald, Terri Nation's daughter, and Lois Shipman, Nation's mother.
Media Contacts
Kyla Cox Deckard
- Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
- Office 812-855-1182
- knblanke@indiana.edu