UNM staff members, Stephanie Hands and Vanessa Harris, recently received accolades from the National Academic Advising Association. They receive formal recognition at the National Conference in October.

Hands, director of Academic Advisement, received the Outstanding Advisor award, which honors individuals and institutions that make significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising. Hands, who has been at the University of New Mexico since she was 19 years old, supervised the University College Advisement Center and then moved to Arts and Sciences in 2004. She has a Bachelor's in Psychology and an MBA from Anderson School of Management

Harris, director of University Advisement, was accepted into NACADA's Emerging Leadership Program, which encourages aspiring leaders from diverse backgrounds to get involved with new opportunities. Harris received her undergraduate work in political science and criminology at the University of South Carolina, her Master's in Public Administration and doctorate in educational psychology from UNM. She has also served as an instructor with University College and the College of Pharmacy.

NACADA promotes and supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education to enhance the educational development of students. It also provides a forum for discussion, debate and the exchange of ideas pertaining to academic advising through numerous activities and publications.

NACADA evolved from the first National Conference on Academic Advising in 1977 and has over 10,000 members representing all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and several other international countries.