By Larry Dendy
and Sharon
Omahen
University of Georgia
Rob Shewfelt, a professor with the University of Georgia College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has earned national
recognition as an academic advisor.
Shewfelt will receive the Outstanding Advising Certificate of
Merit from the National Academic Advising Association. He’s one
of 12 people in the nation honored in the faculty academic
advising category of the association’s national awards program.
The category recognizes faculty members whose primary job is
teaching but who spend part of their time providing academic help
to students.
Shewfelt is a professor and undergraduate coordinator of the food
science and technology department in the CAES. He was entered in
the national competition after getting the Outstanding
Advisor/Mentor Award at UGA earlier this year.
The UGA award recognizes faculty and staff members for excellence
in advising undergraduate students on their selection of classes
and course of study, for helping them with academic problems and
for providing guidance on graduate school, career and related
decisions.
Shewfelt has been a member of the CAES faculty for 22 years. He’s
been teaching and advising students on the Athens campus for the
past eight years.
Student favorite
A major theme in his classes is professional development. In one
class, “Chocolate Science,” he challenges first-year students to
think about careers. Another, “Food Science Forum,” stresses
job-search skills and strategies.
Students describe him as innovative, enthusiastic, passionate and
caring. One student said, “The only common factor among
Shewfelt’s classes is that he strives to get his students to
think for themselves.”
Another declared, “He expects his students to truly participate
in their own education. And he’s always willing to explain
difficult topics again so everyone can understand.”
The NAAA has presented awards in academic advising since 1983.
The award will be presented at the group’s annual conference in
October in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Kathy Wilson, an advisor in the insurance, legal studies and real
estate department in the UGA Terry College of Business, will also
receive an award. She’s one of 15 people recognized in a category
for people whose primary role is advising students.
(Larry Dendy is assistant to the associate vice president for
public affairs of the University of Georgia. Sharon Omahen is a
news editor with the University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
