Kathleen Kerr, academic advisor and coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2021 Outstanding Professional Academic Advisor Award. Kerr, who mostly works with freshman and sophomore students, calls it an honor to build relationships and help students successfully transition into college.
“I am committed to meeting students where they are at and utilize different advising approaches based on their individual needs,” said Kerr. “I enjoy being approachable and accessible and allowing them space to ask a lot of questions. I hope my students walk away from our time together feeling supported and challenged to try new things.”
Kerr assists undecided students and guides them through the process of finding the best fit major. Colleagues highlight Kerr’s passion for preparing students to navigate their collegiate journey and teaching them how to be in control of their own education.
“Kathleen embodies what a great advisor is: knowledgeable, trustworthy, caring, open and communicative,” said Kia Hendrickson, director of academic advising. “As an advisor she goes out of her way to accommodate students outside of her normal day. Kathleen never leaves a stone unturned and always works to help the student get just what they need from their work together.”
“Kathleen is great at teaching students how to be responsible for their academic experience,” added Karen Drees, academic advisor and coach. “Kathleen encourages students to be confident and reach out to instructors when they have a question or concern. I believe that when an advisee leaves Kathleen and moves onto a faculty advisor, that student is well equipped with understanding our campus policies, how to use our software programs, and is empowered to take their academics into their own hands.”
Throughout Kerr’s academic appointments with her advisees, she hopes her students feel comfortable with asking questions, understand campus materials and gain confidence in developing their own problem-solving skills and decision-making.
“I enjoy supporting students whether they are at their very best, personally and academically, or facing challenges,” she said. “I hope they have learned that they can excel at UW-Platteville by being engaged in their academics, using good time management, and utilizing campus resources while taking advantage of opportunities for personal and professional growth.”
Kerr appreciates the great moment when students declare their major. She said it’s a proud feeling knowing students have found their academic paths.
“Sometimes students may feel anxious about starting college as undecided, but I find most students are actually “deciding” between interests rather than solely being “undecided,”’ Kerr notes. “Whether students are undecided or deciding, starting college with an open mind and a willingness to explore options, or different futures so to speak, can be an enjoyable experience rather than a nerve-racking one.”
Outside of advising and academic coaching, Kerr has contributed with the development of an advisor training program and created the advising handbook and resources for new advisors and advisees. The advising training program is scheduled to launch this fall.
“We have a great team of advisors and faculty working on the advising certificate program,” said Kerr. “Our goal is to make the program useful to new and seasoned professional and faculty advisors. The program is meant to assist advisors in utilizing information that will help them during their advising appointments, create consistency with advising experiences across campus, and create opportunities for professional growth.”
The start of the new academic year is only weeks away and Kerr is looking forward to meeting with her advisees in person.
“I will get to see my currents students again and build relationships with my new freshmen,” she said. “I am also excited for the students – they will mostly have face-to face classes and so many more opportunities to meet people and more opportunities to get involved. I hope it is absolutely a great year for everyone!”
Kerr will be recognized at the UW-Platteville faculty and staff convocation on Thursday, Aug. 26.