Oregon State University College of Public Health and Human Sciences (CPHHS) associate dean for undergraduate programs Dr. Mark Hoffman has been named the recipient of the NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) Region 8 Excellence in Advising – Advising Administrator Award.

[Photo: Dr. Mark Hoffman]

Dr. Hoffman, who teaches athletic training courses in addition to his role as associate dean and leading the CPHHS’ Academic Advising office, was nominated by college and university colleagues for his exemplary work furthering CPHHS Advising’s mission to “partner with students in a collaborative process promoting and supporting the exploration, development and achievement of their unique academic and professional goals.”

“He is involved in leading numerous student success initiatives, all of which help support undergraduate students and our advising office,” writes the CPHHS Advising team in a letter nominating Dr. Hoffman for the award.

The NACADA Advising Administrator Award is given to individuals who have exhibited excellence in their primary role as an administrator or director of an academic advising program.

“My philosophy for directing this office is rooted in three basic principles: 1) provide the academic advisors the resources needed to deliver high-quality services to every student they serve, 2) discuss, consider and when possible, adopt advising best practices and 3) encourage and support the academic advisors to contribute to the larger community of academic advisors on campus and across the nation,” Dr. Hoffman says.

Dr. Hoffman has served on a provost-chaired committee to develop and promote the First-Year Experience at Oregon State including developing a first-year student advising syllabus, forming the new Health & Well-Being Living-Learning Community on campus designed to promote self-exploration for first-year students, encouraging advisors to participate in continuing education and leading the college’s Advising office to be the first to adopt the use of an ID card swipe to track and monitor student activity.

“I truly enjoy working closely with academic advisors because of their genuine interest in students as individuals who have come to OSU to fulfill their dreams,” Dr. Hoffman says.

“He has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in advocating for excellence in academic advising, and he is deeply committed to the development of his college’s academic advising program and advising campus wide,” wrote Oregon State Vice Provost for Student Affairs Susie Brubaker-Cole in a recommendation letter for the award.

Dr. Hoffman accepted the award in March at the 2015 regional conference in Idaho.