UNO Academic Advising Council Names Brian Richardson Advisor of the Month

Brian Richardson, Academic Advisor I, in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service Division of Continuing Studies, was recently named the “Advisor of the Month” by the Academic Advising Council (AAC) for the month of October.

The award was presented to Richardson at the October Academic Advising Council meeting. For being selected as the AAC Advisor of the Month, Richardson will receive a certificate and gift card.

Nominations

Richardson had six nominators including two students.

“Brian is a very proactive advisor, reaching out to students before they come to him. If he doesn't know an answer, he takes the time to find it out and gets back to the student in a timely manner. He connects deeply with students and has a great relationship with the students in his caseload. Very recently, NACADA lost the chair for the Advising Community on Veterans, Military Students, and Family Members. Even though he has only been an advisor for a couple of years, he didn't want to see that group disband so he stepped up to serve as the new chair. I am so excited about what he is going to do to help this group move forward in NACADA.”

“Brian works mostly with our military-affiliated students. He takes the time and energy to build an effective relationship with each of his students. He identifies with his students' unique experiences and meets them where they are. He is skilled at navigating the many funding processes his students have. In this way, Brian is a vital resource for the rest of our advising team, but he also often suggests other advising process improvements. Brian is a positive, reliable member of our team and it's a pleasure to work with him.”

“I am a non-traditional student, nearing 58 years of age. I began going down the college track last Autumn when I first spoke with Brian. I was uncertain of basically everything. Brian patiently listened to my story, asked all the questions I would have never thought of, and guided me in developing a plan of action. He did not steer me in the direction he thought I should go but took the time to lay out all of the many options before me and allowed me to make choices. When I want his frank opinion, I appreciate that he is so careful to always present the facts as he knows them, objectively. Talking with him is like talking to a good friend. Being a fellow veteran, he understands how we think, what drives us, and from where we come. He always returns my calls and emails, without fail. I had sent him an email while he was on vacation this summer, not expecting to receive a response until he returned from vacation. He took the time to call me while still on vacation and not only did he answer the original question, but continued to answer other questions that came up. I repeatedly suggested that my questions could wait until he returned to work, but he insisted that it was a good time to talk, and he was fine doing so. I remember hanging up the phone after more than a half hour conversation. These are just a few of the many things I appreciate about Brian Richardson. I am very thankful for him.”

“I work next to Brian on Offutt AFB, and I see his commitment to excellence every day. No matter what issues arise, Brian continuously places the needs of his military-connected students above his own. Not only does he provide excellent advising to his students through Zoom, Phone calls, and emails, in-person on Offutt AFB, and on Main Campus, but he also completes tasks outside his duties in that he completes evaluated degree plans for tuition assistance usage which is separate from the degree plans he completes for DCS and UNO. He provides a professional and direct demeanor when discussing coursework with students both current, former, and prospective; the military-connected population appreciates the apropos nature of his advising style. Brian deserves this recognition many times over for the outstanding work he does for the Offutt AFB community, Division of Continuing Studies, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha.”

“Brian is exceptionally dedicated to his students and routinely goes above and beyond to support the learners on his case load. I watched him grow from someone who cares deeply for the military-connected community and wanted to make a difference to a passionate academic advisor who takes the time to get to know each of his students and their unique goals and circumstances advancing them to degree completion - never losing sight of his drive to make a difference for the military-connected students. He is never to busy to take a last minute or late night appointment, he even schedules appointments outside "normal" hours to support his students who are serving overseas (in over 5 different countries and across the US to include Alaska and Hawaii). Recognizing that serving military affiliated students isn't frequently discussed in advising communities, Brian has now begun working to advance opportunities for his colleagues in academic advising to better understand the needs and perspectives of military students. I can't say enough great things about his efforts or impact, and think he is abundantly deserving of the monthly academic advising award.”

“Brian is such a great guy to have on our team. He helps ensure all our military-connected students in the BMS Program, and UNO at large, are cared for and receive the best service. He's extremely knowledgeable about all military funding procedures and will help anyone and everyone with questions they have about it. He hates being recognized for his incredible work, but he also deserves it to the max!”

Nominate an Academic Advisor for the "Advisor of the Month Award"

If you know one of your colleagues has gone above and beyond in their exceptional service to students, their colleagues and/or the university, nominate them for the Advisor of the Month Award! Each month, one advisor will be selected at random from the nominations to receive the award at the Academic Advising Council meeting. All nominees will be recognized by AAC for their work.

Nominees must be at least .5 FTE whose primary role is academic advising. Once selected, advisors would not be eligible to receive the award again for one calendar year, although they can still be nominated in recognition of their work.

To nominate an academic advisor, complete the nomination form on the AAC website.

About the Academic Advising Council (AAC)

Monthly forums keep advisors up to date on topics ranging from best practices in advising to technology and program updates. The group, which formally launched in 2011, welcomes not just advisors to its meetings, but also many other professionals on campus who support UNO students.

The Academic Advising Council meets the third Thursday of each month at 1:30 P.M.

Meetings are open to the public