UNO Academic Advising Council Names Alex Zatizabal Boryca Advisor of the Month

Alex Zatizabal Boryca, Academic Advisor, at the College of Business Administration, was recently named the “Advisor of the Month” by the Academic Advising Council (AAC) for the month of April.

The award was presented to Zatizabal Boryca at the April Academic Advising Council meeting.

Zatizabal Boryca’s nominators said:

• “I am not sure if I can think of a better champion for staff at UNO than AZB. Serving in a leadership role in SAC and always being available to help others, Alex is a top-level human and employee at UNO. Starting as an Academic Advisor over a year ago, Alex has really found her footing in moving into service for students. She has built rapport quickly and created a trusting and warm environment for all students she sees. As a colleague, Alex is quick to jump in to lend a hand. Students, Faculty, and Staff all benefit from the wonderfulness of Alex!”

• "Alex is an outstanding Academic Advisor who goes above and beyond to support students, colleagues, and the broader UNO community. She brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to advising—consistently building strong relationships with students while also guiding them through important developmental conversations. Her ability to balance care and accountability helps students grow, reflect, and move forward with clarity.”

• “Within our team, Alex is a reliable and engaged colleague who is always willing to step up. For example, she volunteered to test the new MavCONNECT group advising feature, helping improve processes that benefit both advisors and students. She is also deeply committed to her own professional development, regularly participating in training opportunities and applying what she learns to her work.

• "Beyond her advising role, Alex serves as Vice President of the Staff Advisory Council. In this role, she is a passionate advocate for staff across campus, offering thoughtful leadership and creative ideas for strengthening staff engagement and well-being. Her impact was also seen at the inaugural UNO AI Summit, where she co-presented 'Thinking with AI: A Framework for Smarter Decision-Making in Higher Ed,' helping higher education professionals explore how AI can support thoughtful, inclusive problem-solving."

• "Alex is a well-rounded, values-driven advisor and leader who truly embodies what it means to support student success and community well-being at UNO. She is genuinely deserving of this recognition."

• "Alex is one of the most genuine, caring servants of students I know. She provides timely, thorough, and kind support for students, helping them to be the best versions of themselves. She is knowledgeable about campus resources and excellent at understanding student needs and pointing them towards appropriate resources.”

• “Alex has been a fantastic addition to the CBA team! She has a wealth of knowledge about UNO and higher education from both working in higher ed and working towards her doctoral degree. She connects with the students and builds relationships with each student. Alex asks the best questions and always great about sharing information and new things she has learned. She is also our SAC VP so she supports UNO staff which in return helps us all be awesome for our students!”

• “In her role as a College of Business Advisor, Alex supports University Honors Students and CBA Scholars, as well as CBA students in general. She is responsive to questions from faculty, students, and staff alike, from issuing course permission numbers to answering questions about MavConnect. As the Vice President of the Staff Advisory Council, Alex is involved in staff advocacy on a substantial level - - all the while fitting in time to complete her PhD on her personal time. We couldn't hope for a better colleague than Alex.”

For being selected as the AAC Advisor of the Month, Zatizabal Boryca will receive a certificate and gift card.