Elaine Matuszek receives 2013 Provost Award for Excellence in Advising
Elaine Matuszek, associate director of the University Academic Advising Center at Virginia Tech, has received the university’s 2013 Provost Award for Excellence in Advising.
The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Advising is given annually to a Virginia Tech faculty or staff member who serves undergraduate advisees in exemplary ways. Awardees receive a $2,000 prize and are inducted into the university’s Academy of Advising Excellence.
Matuszek has more than 23 years of experience advising undeclared majors at the university. In addition to serving in an administrative capacity at the center, she is academic advisor to approximately 150 students each semester.
“I consider Elaine to be among the most knowledgeable and experienced academic advisors on campus,” said Kimberly Smith, director of University Studies and Undergraduate Advising. “She is a consistent university-wide collaborator with the goal of ensuring key processes perform well and run smoothly for students.”
Matuszek manages the summer orientation program for university studies majors, which often includes more than 1,400 students each summer. The program consistently has a near perfect satisfaction rating by parents and students. She also serves as an instructor for the first-year experience course Hokie Horizons, again with very positive feedback regarding her work with students.
“My goal as an advisor is to have students become independent, life-long learners,” Matuszek said. “I want them to advocate for their own education, and know—at least in a general way—how to navigate through the maze of a large university.”
Matuszek earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Indiana University.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
