CAAS is Home to USU’s Top Advisors

By Marcus Jensen and Lynnette Harris

Utah State University’s Advising Awards Committee announced the 2021 USU Advisor of the Year award recipients and both top advisors are now in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. Tami Spackman (left), advisor in the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS) was named Professional Advisor of the Year and Dawnetta Mahnken (right), who was then an advisor in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, was named New Advisor of the Year. Mahnken and has since joined the CAAS Student Services team, advising students in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences.

Spackman and Mahnken were selected by the committee based on their accomplishments and service providing academic advising centered on student needs, implementing tools and technologies, and collaboration with advising colleagues. Each advisor received a monetary award from the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and is nominated for the 2022 National Academic Advising Association’s regional awards.

Over the 19 years Spackman has been advising ADVS majors, she focused on working with students to achieve their goals, including graduating, starting or continuing their careers, or being accepted to veterinary medical school. Her rapport with students moves beyond students’ academic careers, often turning into lifetime friendships developed with alumni.

“This is outstanding and well-deserved recognition for everything Tami does, specifically in advising our students and more broadly the department, such as course/room scheduling every semester, serving on the ADVS Curriculum Committee, tracking catalog updates, and so much more,” said Dirk Vanderwall, ADVS department head. “These activities require a Herculean effort in any year, but the magnitude of Tami’s contributions became even more evident in the face of the upheaval to academic instruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tami’s knowledge and academic advising skills allowed us to navigate the pandemic in a manner that best served the needs of our students.”

Mahnken, an advisor since 2019, focuses on helping students create purposeful college pathways. She uses software and tools such as Degree Works and takes advantage of professional development opportunities offered by University Advising.

“My favorite resource is Degree Works,” said Mahnken. “I can help students build personalized plans to graduation to maximize their coursework and understand how different choices will impact their college plans. Not all students engage in college at the same speed or focus, and Degree Works helps to build conversations for students to personalize their college pathway.”

“I am so proud of the hard work that all of our advisors do throughout the year to help our students succeed,” said Mykel Beorchia, director of University Advising. “I am particularly proud that, despite the challenges of the pandemic, our students were able to receive the same, award-winning guidance provided by our team, as the infrastructure and procedures were already in place to offer remote advising to statewide students.”

CAAS Associate Dean for Student Services, Brian Warnick, said recognition for both advisors is well-deserved.

“The priority for Tami and Dawnetta is the success of the students they advise, and both genuinely care about their students,” Warnick said. “Excellent academic advising is the most effective way to positively impact student persistence. As the number of undergraduate students enrolled in the college has doubled over the past 10 years, the CAAS advising team has improved in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Tami has advised students for many years and been instrumental in shaping the “student first” approach to advising in the college. Dawnetta is an excellent fit in the college and comes to the team well-prepared to broker student success.” �