Excellence in Academic Advising and Career Services Awards

In an effort to recognize our faculty and staff for their outstanding work in the areas of academic advising and career services, both the Office of Undergraduate Education and the Office for Experiential Education and Career Connections are sponsoring the Excellence in Academic Advising and Career Services Awards: Recognizing Outstanding Contributions. Academic and Career Advising are two of the many vital components to student success at Montclair State University.

 

Awards Categories

The Academic Advising Professional Development Committee coordinates the award nomination process on behalf of the Office of the Provost annually, inviting faculty and staff across the institution to recognize colleagues and professionals within the categories mentioned below.

Nominees will be evaluated by the Committee, and recipients will be selected based on demonstration of their alignment with the NACADA or NACE Core Values.

Recognizing Outstanding Contributions in Academic Advising

Academic Advisors who have less than 3 years’ experience in academic advising, inclusive of roles outside of Montclair State University.

Individuals whose primary responsibility is teaching and who spend a portion of their time providing academic advising services to undergraduate students.

Individuals whose primary responsibility is academic advising.

Individuals whose formal job responsibilities include providing academic advising services to graduate students.

Individuals whose formal job responsibilities include providing advising services to undergraduate and graduate students.

Recognizing Outstanding Contributions in Career Services

Career Advisors who have less than 3 years’ experience in career advising, inclusive of roles outside of Montclair State University.

Faculty, staff and/or program administrator who supervises a Montclair graduate student in one of these experiences: Practicum, internship, field placement, externships or clinical placements.

Individuals who instruct a Cooperative Education course at Montclair State University.

Individuals whose primary responsibility is career advising.

Individuals whose formal job responsibilities include providing some career advising or counseling services to undergraduate and graduate students.

We are pleased to announce the 2025-2026 award recipients.

Excellence AwardRecipientRole
Advising ServicesJazmene MosleyAssistant Director of Recruitment and Programming, EOF
Career ServicesCrystal Tejada-BretonEmployer Relations Specialist, Experiential Education and Career Connections
Co-Op Education Faculty InstructorBen FaircloughAdjunct Instructor, College of Communication and Media
Faculty Academic AdvisorMatthew GorringAssociate Professor, Earth and Environmental Studies
Graduate Academic AdvisorSamita MezgerGraduate Program Administrator, Teaching and Learning
New Career AdvisorThomas BarbaraCareer and Internship Advisor, College for Community Health
Professional Academic AdvisorJohayra Granados-RoldánAcademic Advisor, Discovery Program
Professional Career AdvisorAsiah LemonPre-Medical Advisor, College for Community Health

Gallery

All photos of this year's event were taken by Reggy Stainfil and can be found here. 

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Previous Awards Recipients

  • Advising Services: Christina Dilkes, Academic Success Coach, CSAM
  • Professional Career Advisor: Annie Lobb, Student Services Career Advisor, Feliciano School of Business
  • Career Services: Victoria Nauta, Director of Career Services, College of the Arts
  • Co-Op Education Faculty Advisor: Jaime Stickle, Assistant Teaching Professor, Film and Television
  • New Academic Advisor: Jill Siroty, Academic Advisor, School of Communication and Media
  • Faculty Academic Advisor: Jessica Bacon, Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning
  • Professional Academic Advisor: Ivan Lopez, Academic Advisor, University College
  • Graduate Academic Advisor: Julia Coyne, Assistant Director of Clinical and School Psychology Training, Educational Foundations
  • Graduate Experiential Advisor: Jane Pilanski, Director of the Dietetic Internship Program, Nutrition and Food Studies
  • Distinguished Service Award for Retirement: Gina Balestracci, Academic Administrator, Cali School of Music
  • Professional Advisor: Robert Schneider, Academic Advisor (University College)
  • New Advisor: Samantha Sheehan, Academic Advisor (Feliciano School of Business)
  • Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ian Drake, Associate Professor (Political Science and Law)
  • Graduate Student Advisor: Jen Wilenta, Coordinator for Graduate Student Advancement (Psychology)
  • Academic Advising Services: Dawn Wilkenfeld, Assistant Director (Early College Programs)
  • Professional Career Advisor: Amanda Brandt, Career Advisor (College of the Arts)
  • New Career Advisor: Macayla Mack, Career Advisor and Employer Relations Specialist (College of Humanities and Social Sciences)
  • Career Services: Miko Castillo, Co-Op and Employer Relations Assistant (College of the Arts)
  • Graduate Experiential Advisor: Annie Montero, Career and Internship Advisor (College for Community Health)
  • Co-Op Education Faculty Instructor: Tobi Elkin, Adjunct Faculty (School of Communication and Media)

Professional Advisor Award: Kyle Courter, Academic Advisor, College of the Arts

New Advisor Award: Hope Lennon, Academic Advisor, University College

Faculty Advisor Award: Dr. Weitian Wang, Assistant Professor, Computer Science

Graduate Student Advisor Award: Dr. Maryrose McInerney, Instructional Specialist, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Career Advisor Award: Colleen Casenta, Career and Internship Advisor, College for Community Health

Professional Advisor Award: Patrick Haggerty, Academic Advisor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

New Advisor Award: Lindsey Hresko, Academic Advisor, University College

Faculty Advisor Award: Dr. Jefferson Gattrall, Associate Professor, World Languages and Cultures

Graduate Student Advisor Award: Dr. Nina Goodey, Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Career Advisor: Mariah Mayers, Assistant Director of Career Advising, Feliciano School of Business

Professional Advisor Award: Nicole Fackina, Director of Paralegal Studies Program, Justice Studies

Professional Advisor Award: Jane Sanchez Swain, Academic Advisor, University College

Professional Advisor Award: Andre Philippe White, Academic Advisor, Art and Design

New Advisor Award: Johayra Diaz, Academic Advisor, School of Communication and Media

Faculty Advisor Award: Dr. Alexios Lykidis, Associate Professor, English

Graduate Student Advisor Award: Carla Engstrom, Program Administrator, Educational Leadership

Primary Role Award: Adrian Reagan, Program Advisor, Center of Pedagogy

New Advisor Award: Sanaz Saminejad, Academic Advisor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty Advisor Award: Dr. Sangeeta Parashar, Associate Professor, Sociology

Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award: Dr. Jennifer Holly-Wells, Associate Director of First-Year Writing, Writing Studies