Mizzou Honors Excellence in Advising
Dorina Kosztin and Kathleen Kerr earn advising awards.
Dorina Kosztin and Kathleen Kerr were named recipients of the 2012 Excellence in Advising Awards at an April 10 reception at Memorial Union. Kosztin received the faculty advisers award, while Kerr earned the professional advisers award.
Kosztin is a teaching professor in the department of physics and astronomy and also serves as the director of undergraduate studies for the department of physics. She was named a Kemper Fellow in 2008 and earned the Provost Junior Faculty Award in 2005.
“Being an adviser comes with a lot of responsibility,” Kosztin says. “It is really important to take the time to get to know students you advise, learn their strengths and weaknesses and guide them toward fulfilling their dreams at the best of their abilities.”
In his nomination of Kosztin, Peter Pfeifer, the chair of the department of physics and astronomy, said Kosztin has “single-handedly done more for the delivery of exceptional, highest-quality teaching and advising in the department of physics and astronomy than any other person.”
Kosztin has been at MU since 2001.
Kerr is an academic adviser for Academic Exploration and Advising Services. She aids students in developing and accomplishing academic and life goals by finding a fit between the student’s interests and abilities and what MU has to offer.
“I am honored to receive this award,” Kerr said. “The other nominees are incredible. All of the advisers at Mizzou go above and beyond each day to help students and I am incredibly proud to be part of the MU advising community.”
Kerr works mostly with freshmen and sophomore undeclared, pre-journalism and pre-communication students.
“Kathleen works tirelessly towards the self-confidence and eventual success of students. It is testimony to her terrific skills that even after these students have found a realistic major and have begun working with new advisers, they stop by to visit with Kathleen, to get her perspective on their accomplishments and goals and to benefit from her quiet humor and positive bombardment,” Ted Tarkow, associate dean of the College of Arts & Science, said in his nomination of Kerr.
Other nominees for the Excellence in Advising Award for faculty advising were Brian Brooks (School of Journalism), Paul Chan (College of Engineering), Keith Goyne (College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources), David Kemp (College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources), Myoung Lee (College of Arts & Science), Rose-Marie Muzika (School of Natural Resources), Leigh Neier (College of Education), Angela Speck (College of Arts & Science), Sonja Wilhelm Stanis (School of Natural Resources) and Laurel Wilson (College of Human Environmental Sciences).
Others nominated for the Excellence in Advising Award for professional advisors were Shannon Breske (Trulaske College of Business), Tammy Conrad (College of Human Environmental Sciences), Aaron Cook (Trulaske College of Business), Jill Diener (School of Health Professions), Cason Jones (School of Health Professions), Carla Morton (Intercollegiate Athletics), Angela Rataj (Trulaske College of Business) and Kristina Wright (Honors College).
The Advisors Forum, with the support of the Provost Office, established the Excellence in Advising Awards in 1995 to promote and encourage recognition of outstanding advising service to the students of the University of Missouri.
Last year’s winners of these awards were Trista Strauch (College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources) and Susan Klusmeier (Trulaske College of Business).