OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi biology professor is the recipient of a national honor for excellence in academic advising of students.
Jason Hoeksema has been awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Faculty Academic Advising category by the National Academic Advising Association. Established in 1983, the NACADA Annual Awards Program for Academic Advising honors individuals and institutions making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising. NACADA is a representative and advocate of academic advising and those providing that service to higher education.
Jason Hoeksema, biology professor at the University of Mississippi
“I’m really honored, as the award was instigated by graduate students and undergraduates working in my research group,” said Hoeksema, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology. “Mentoring them and interacting with them is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job, so it’s gratifying to know that they also feel like our interactions are effective and meaningful.
“Service is not often explicitly honored in our profession, so I’m glad NACADA is makes an effort to do so.”
Hoeksema’s research interests are ecological and evolutionary consequences of species interactions (such as mutualism, parasitism and competition) on populations and communities, with a focus on interactions between plants and mycorrhizal fungi. He teaches undergraduate courses in microbiology, ornithology, mycology and biometry, as well as graduate courses in advanced statistics, statistical meta-analysis and co-evolution.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and his doctorate at the University of California at Davis.
With more than 10,000 members, NACADA hosts an annual conference each fall that has attracted some 3,000 attendees, as well as 10 regional conferences and intensive study of advising through various other events held throughout the year. The association publishes a scholarly journal, a quarterly e-publication and occasional special publications.
NACADA offers an advising training video, manages an academic advising consultants and speakers’ service, offers member career services, funds research grants, sponsors an awards program, grants scholarships and supports commissions to address important academic advising issues. The organization provides a network and professional identity for the thousands of faculty, full-time advisers and administrators whose responsibilities include academic advising.
For more information about NACADA, go to http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/.