Annual Advising Awards

The TennACADA Executive Board agrees with NACADA that great advising needs to be recognized, just like great teaching or research. In addition to the university wide Chancellor’s Honors award for advising, we also recognize our colleagues within the advising community during our spring advising awards event. This allows us to celebrate the great work that we all do, to increase the camaraderie among advisors, and to put forward more nominations of advisors on a regional and national level.

Starting in the 2025-2026 awards cycle, the Executive Board also began offering Certificates of Merit to outstanding award finalists to recognize lasting impact and unique contributions, similar to the Global NACADA Awards.

Check out the rubric our committee uses to evaluate award nominations! Advising Awards Rubrics

There are eight award categories:

Congratulations to all of our 2025-2026 Award Winners & Certificate of Merit Recipients!

Outstanding New Advisor Award – Laurel Harrison, Tickle College of Engineering
- Certificates of Merit: Lindsey Davis (CEHHS), Aleigha Cope-Tipton (Herbert), Josh Harris (Haslam)
Outstanding Advising – Primary Role Award – Sarah Taylor, Arts and Sciences
- Certificates of Merit: Margaret Huffstetler (SOWK), Emily Neely (CAS), Amy Looney (CCI), Brittany Hiller (Tickle), Alicia Luc (Haslam)
Outstanding Advising – Faculty Advisor Award – Dr. Todd Freeberg, Arts and Sciences
Innovative Advising Award – Kirstie Fredrich, Education, Health and Human Sciences
Advocate in Advising: Friend to the Community Award – Tom Cruise, Veterans Success Center
- Certificate of Merit: Josh Martin (Student Services)
Melissa “Missy” Parker Outstanding Advising Administrator Award – Dr. Alexandra Brewer, Arts and Sciences
- Certificate of Merit: Julie Longmire (CCI)