Brekhus recognized for excellent advising

Wayne Brekhus, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, received the 2009 MACADA Outstanding Advisor Award. MACADA – the Missouri Academic Advising Association – is a chapter of the National Academic Advising Association. Their mission is to promote an award system for academic advising. Brekhus received the award at a dinner on September 10, 2009, at the annual MACADA dinner and business meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks.

"I feel really honored to receive a statewide excellence in advising award," says Brekhus. "I think often, in the public perception of university life, people forget how important a role academic advising plays. The one-on-one relationship with their academic adviser is often the most important mentor role students in a university have."

Brekhus' passion for MU students is obvious by the notes of congratulations he received. James Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies, said to him, "It is obvious you genuinely invest yourself in the discussion with the student about their academic goals. This award is so very well deserved."

"As an adviser I try to be very dedicated to each individual student, recognizing that while I have many advisees, they do not have many advisers, so each appointment is very important," says Brekhus.

Lauren Byington, BA '08, is one of Brekus' former advisees. She agrees that the award is well-deserved. "Dr. Brekhus' mentorship provided me with the confidence to navigate my way through all things college and helped me to prepare for the future," says Byington. "Thanks to him, my undergraduate career was guided by great structure, leadership, unwavering encouragement, a great dose of laughs, and the sincerity that makes Dr. Brekhus stand out from the pack. I would have been lost without him."

Laura Lindsey
Arts & Science Dean's Office

Links

Wayne Brekhus
Department of Sociology

MACADA