Gizerian, Krauss, and Mendez-Liana named top advisors by WSU ACADA | WSU Academic Advising Association

October 30, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Anna Chow, Co-Chair, WSU ACADA Awards Committee, 509-335-8731, ychow@wsu.edu

Brooke Whiting, Co-Chair, WSU ACADA Awards Committee, 509-335-1219, bwhiting@wsu.edu

Gizerian, Krauss, and Mendez-Liaina named top advisors by WSU ACADA

PULLMAN, Wash. – Three Washington State University advisors have received the highest awards possible from their local WSU Academic Advising Association (ACADA). Samantha Gizerian received the Outstanding Achievement in Academic Advising award in the “faculty category.” The “primary role” category, for those with more than three years of experience in the field, goes to Veronica Mendez- Liaina. The Outstanding Achievement in Academic Advising in the “new advisory category,” for those with three or fewer years of advising experience goes to Tina Krauss.

Together the award winners advise more than 800 undergraduates each year. They all are credited with showing an incredible investment in their students, going above and beyond their required duties and working in sync with the faculty in their departments to make sure each student is achieving their potential and are involved in the WSU community.

“ACADA is proud to support student success by recognizing outstanding advisors at WSU. Each of the award winners have demonstrated excellence in academic advising,” said Yung-Hwa Anna Chow, awards co-chair. “They see the opportunity to support students as an honor, both in assisting students toward their career and life goals and in their commitment towards student success and retention.”

Krauss sees potential for success.

Krauss, an academic coordinator in the School of Biological Sciences, has been advising students for two years. In her WSU ACADA application packet, Krauss highlighted her excitement about the many facets of advising.

“Being an advisor at WSU is more than just helping students get the right classes or managing exceptions,“ said Krauss. “Being an advisor means helping students plan for their life after high school, life after college, and helping provide tools to make them successful in life. My goal is to see each of my students graduate in their chosen field, but more than that, to help them be successful in everything they do.”

Common threads ran through her letters of recommendation.

“Tina obviously cares deeply for the students, and she takes her role in their lives very seriously. She strives to do her job well, and seems to be involved in many dimensions of advising, such as serving on various committees that involve anti-bullying and gender equality” said Erica J. Crespi, a fellow advisor.

In 1997 she was a “Hypernaut” lab consultant in the former Student Advising and Learning Center. She worked as a consultant in the Avery Microcomputer Lab (AML) in 2005 and she co-instructed English 300: Teaching with Technology. In 2008 she taught American Studies 475: Digital Diversity. In 2012 she became the program assistant at the Registrar’s Office Graduations, working with zzusis and providing training on the system to others across campus. She began her current job in 2013.

In her short time advising she’s taken advantage of the many resources available to her. She’s Level 2 certified by WSU ACADA and is well versed in MyWSU and financial aid programs. She also stays up to date on opportunities that might be beneficial to her students.

A WSU alumna, she received her bachelor of arts degree (’98) in communication and master of arts in American studies: digital diversity (’06) from WSU. In 2014-15, she was on the President’s Commission on Gender Identity/ Expression and Sexual Orientation. Krauss has been a major supporter of LGBTQ issues since she was a student at WSU. Krauss lives in Pullman with her fiancé and two children.

Gizerian builds positive relationships.

Gizerian is a clinical assistant professor and associate director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience Department, College of Veterinary Medicine. She believes strongly that advising is key to students’ success especially in neurobiology.

“I believe that academic advising plays a significant role in the development of college students into successful, independent graduates” said Gizerian. “The advising relationship, built on mutual respect and contribution, provides a safe place for students to challenge themselves and grow. Although I am a teacher and a researcher by training, advising is the most important part of my job. Working with students as their mentor-advisor gives me opportunities to help them learn not only how the brain works, but also how to use it to be successful in whatever path they choose.”

Gizerian directs the college’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program (SURE). In 2015, she received the Excellence in Support of Undergraduate Research Award from the Office of Undergraduate Research. Gizerian strives to be, in her own words, “open and available” to her students.

Gizerian teaches Neuroscience 138: Neuroscience Seminar and Neuroscience 490: Senior Project. Teaching allows her to stay in close contact with both freshmen and seniors, many of whom she advises, which gives her additional touchpoints with her advisees.

Before WSU, Gizerian was an assistant professor at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science. She loved teaching but was not as enthusiastic about research. When she saw the opportunity to advise and teach at WSU she jumped at it. She moved to Pullman to accept the position.

Her advisees appreciate Gizerian’s passion for advising. “The things that she does beyond what is expected make Dr. Gizerian amazing” said a student advisee. “She keeps her door open; I have walked in without an appointment countless times with questions, concerns, or simply to say hello… she genuinely cares for her advisees, far beyond our academic standing.”

She graduated with a bachelor of arts (’99) in biology from the California Institute of Technology and earned her Ph. D (’05) in neurobiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She’s been at WSU since 2011. Gizerian says her job is “the best job in the universe” and wants to continue exactly what she’s doing now for as long as she can. She lives in Pullman with her husband who was her high school sweetheart.

Mendez-Liaina is always giving back.

Mendez-Liaina is the academic coordinator and advisor in the College of Education, Office of Student Services and Department of Sport Management.

Mendez-Liaina spends much of her time outside of work volunteering as well as serving on various committees. She’s the NACADA Multicultural Commission Chair until 2016, a position that requires nominations by other advisors. She’s always been focuses on furthering multicultural diversity and awareness. In 1998 she was a founding member of Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc., a multicultural sorority on campus. She currently serves as their chapter advisor.

“I love to give back” said Mendez-Liaina. “Someone did it for me in college, now I get to give back and I hope someone will do it for my children one day.”

From 2012-14 she taught KINE 138- Introduction to Kinesiology. As her first time teaching Mendez-Liaina felt teaching pushed her to become more organized and gave her the classroom perspective.

“It gave me a better idea of exactly what my students are going through it the classroom” said Mendez-Liaina. “It’s a teachable moment every time you advise and teaching made me better at that part of my job.”

A senior sport management major stated in his letter of recommendation, “Students are Veronica’s main priority and this needs to be recognized. From the first time I stood in her office she was fully committed to developing my goals, expectations, and objectives at WSU.”

“The best part of my job is working with first year students and watching them succeed” said Mendez-Liaina. “When they graduate I’m their biggest supporter. I love being there to help them celebrate getting into graduate school or a big internship. My favorite part though it is when one of my advisees says thank you. It makes me happy to know I helped them get to where they are today.”

Also a WSU alumna, she received her Bachelors of Arts in Communication/ Public Relations in 1999 and her Masters of Arts in Higher Education in 2005. She’s worked at WSU since 2001. First as the Interim Recruitment Coordinator for the Office of Multicultural Student Services and as a Program Assistant. She was an Academic Advisor and Recruitment Coordinator in the College of Business until 2012 when she moved to her current position. She lives in Pullman with her husband, Sonny and their three children, Daniel, Sonny Jr. and Morin.

The awardees will be recognized at the Office of Undergraduate Education Award Ceremony in April. For more information on these and previous WSU ACADA awardees, visit: http://www.wsuacada.org

Gizerian, Krauss, and Mendez-Liaina named top advisors by WSU ACADA

Three Washington State University advisors have received the highest awards possible from their local WSU Academic Advising Association (ACADA). Samantha Gizerian received the Outstanding Achievement in Academic Advising award in the “faculty category.” The “primary role” category, for those with more than three years of experience in the field, goes to Veronica Mendez- Liaina. The Outstanding Achievement in Academic Advising in the “new advisory category,” for those with three or fewer years of advising experience goes to Tina Krauss.

The awardees will be recognized at the Office of Undergraduate Education Award Ceremony in April. For more information on these and previous WSU ACADA awardees, visit: http://www.wsuacada.org