Five earn advising awards during Global Advising Week

Emily Alberts

4 May 2026

Advising award winners shown from left as five females, Ruoxi Jia, Julie Burger, Alyssa Rametta, Marlena McGlothlin Lester, and Nicole Ebreo — Advising award winners are (from left) Ruoxi Jia, Julie Burger, Alyssa Rametta, Marlena McGlothlin Lester, and Nicole Ebreo. Photos courtesy of the subjects.

The Global Community for Academic Advising has designated the first week in May as Global Advising Week, and Virginia Tech kicked off the celebration with a host of advisor appreciation events across campus.

On the heels of a successful 16th Annual Academic Advising Conference, Global Advising Week is committed to honoring the impact that advisors have on student achievement and recognizing the hard work and dedication that drive success.

The conference theme, Connected Through Student Success: Elevating Advising Through Relationships, Care, and Collaboration, anchored the largest conference to date, with 241 participants representing 30 institutions. Attendees left with tools to foster deeper connections, equipped with proven strategies from colleagues at other universities.

Nasim Schwab, director for academic advising and transition support, said the day was about “strengthening the way we support students and strengthening the way we support each other.”

The community also recognized the recipients of its 2026 advising awards, presented by Academic Advising & Transition Support, part of the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.

“These awardees represent the outstanding work that academic and career advisors do on a daily basis,” said Lauren Thomas, associate vice provost for Academic Advising Initiatives.

Marlena McGlothlin Lester, director of advising for the College of Engineering, received the 2026 Outstanding Administrator Award for her work “empowering students to become proactive in their academic and professional journeys.” Lester takes pride in helping students feel “not just academically supported, but personally valued and empowered."

The 2026 Outstanding New Advisor Award was presented to Nicole Ebreo. As an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Economics, Ebreo compares academic advisors "to the role of insurance in higher education." While advisors cannot prevent every problem a student may encounter, she said, “we help prepare, minimize risks, and navigate any academic setbacks.”

Ruoxi Jia, assistant professor in the College of Engineering, received the 2026 University Award for Excellence in Graduate Academic Advising. “When a student enters my office uncertain of their abilities and leaves years later as an accomplished researcher mentoring undergraduates, it is not because I gave them the answers. It is because I helped them find questions worth asking and the courage to pursue them.”

Julie Burger, academic advisor for the College of Natural Resources and Environment and Department of Geography liaison, received the 2026 University Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising. Guided by strengths-based principles, Burger’s approach is grounded in care and inclusivity, “creating space for students to discover and leverage their unique talents.”

The 2026 Award for Excellence in Career Advising was presented to Alyssa Rametta, career advisor and industry relations manager for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “Being housed within mechanical engineering allows me to personalize both sides of the critical relationship,” Rametta said, referring to “industry partners and students' career readiness.”

The Advising Network End-of-Semester will be held May 6at Maroon Door.