A&S advisers recognized for commitment to UC students
Loren Papin and Gail Kiley receive awards for advising excellence
By Sally Bishop
Two advisers from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences have been recognized for their dedication and service to undergraduate students.
Senior Academic Adviser Loren Papin received the Sarah Barber Outstanding Professional Adviser Award and Assistant Academic Director Gail Kiley received the Great Colleague Award. The awards were given by UC Academic Advising Association (UCAADA) on May 22.
College of Arts and Sciences Senior Academic Adviser Loren Papin. Photo/Provided
Papin, a Cincinnati native, has been an adviser for UC A&S for four years. By her colleagues, she is described as a positive leader and by her students, an anchor.
“I try to offer students whatever support they need in the moment. No two students need the same thing, and the same student can have vastly different needs depending on current circumstances,” says Papin.
Papin often states that working as a college academic adviser is her dream job. She is not only a resource to students, she says, but a supporter.
“I try to start all of my appointments with an open ended question that gives the student the power to direct the meeting towards their needs and their agenda. I want their appointment to be about what they need.”
Papin states that she is inspired by love to advise her students. During every interaction with a student, she asks herself if she is coming from a place of love and kindness.
“Sometimes our job involves having hard, uncomfortable conversations – It’s important to always enter these conversations from a place of empathy and love,” Papin says.
College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Academic Director Gail Kiley
Kiley received the Great Colleague Award. Kiley has been with UC since 2004, starting out as an assistant professor, and eventually becoming a pioneer adviser for Neuroscience majors.
“Advising is aspirational. We are looking ahead to graduation, to adulthood, and to making a difference in the world. I love looking forward with young people,” says Kiley, who advises Neuroscience and Psychology majors.
Kiley supports her students not just academically, but mentally too. She has walked students to UC’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Office of Accessibility Resources in the past, and will always be willing to do so in the present. She is a cheerleader for her students, letting students ring the “I Feel So Much Better Now” bell that sits on her desk when they say those magic words.
Advising is aspirational. We are looking ahead to graduation, to adulthood, and to making a difference in the world. I love looking forward with young people.
Gail Kiley
Kiley also credits her co-workers for making her job meaningful.
“I absolutely adore my co-workers. Our team is smart, hopeful, caring, and willing to work to make our students’ dreams come true,” says Kiley. “The fact that I am at least 30 years older than most of them is a delight as I look to retirement – they include me, they help me, and they make me glad to drive to campus every day.”
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