Trista Strauch, an adjunct professor in the Division of Animal Sciences and the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri, has been awarded the 2011 MACADA Outstanding Academic Advisor in a Faculty Role.
MACADA — the Missouri Academic Advising Association — is a chapter of the National Academic Advising Association with a mission to promote an award system for academic advising. Strauch will receive the award tonight at the annual MACADA dinner and business meeting at Camden on the Lake Resort, Spa and Yacht Club in Lake Ozark, Mo.
“It is certainly an honor to be nominated and selected for this award,” Strauch said. “I am just one representative of the excellent advisors serving our students at Mizzou.”
In addition to advising, Strauch is the coordinator of the Captive Wild Animal Management minor and teaches a zoology course.
In his nomination letter, George Jesse, director of undergraduate studies for the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, called Strauch “truly one of the exceptional teachers and advisors.” He added, “Dr. Strauch could be the poster child for the care and advising that parents can expect their children to receive here at Mizzou. She exemplifies the purpose of the Outstanding Advisor Award.”
One of her advisees, Nichole Johnson, called Strauch a wonderful career and personal advisor and mentor, in addition to being a great academic advisor.
“She has always been the first person I go to with questions on school and my future career plans,” Johnson, a senior animal sciences major, said in her nomination letter. “Trista genuinely cares about the well-being and progress of her students.”
Strauch adds this award to a long list of honors she has earned, including the 2011 MU Excellence in Advising Award and a Golden Apple Award in 2009.
“As coordinator of the 2011 Missouri Academic Advising Association Awards, it was really nice to see such great applicants from all across Missouri,” said Rachael Orr, MU senior academic advisor and MACADA president elect. “There were many good candidates, but the winners this year, including Dr. Strauch, stood out above the other nominations.”