University Staff Awards

Received by VMBS staff from organizations within and affiliated with The Texas A&M University System

The Association of Former Students University-Level Distinguished Achievement Awards honor Texas A&M University faculty and staff members in the areas of teaching, research, individual student engagement, graduate mentoring, extension/outreach/continuing education/professional development, administration and staff support.

The President’s Meritorious Service Awards, sponsored by the Office of the President and The Association of Former Students, are given to individuals who demonstrate their commitment to the Aggie Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service.

President’s Meritorious Service Award – Team

Regents Fellow Service Award, established by the A&M System Board of Regents in 1998, honors service, extension, and research professionals who have made significant contributions, creating lasting benefits for Texas and beyond. This award is specifically for professionals working within the member agencies and is similar in purpose to the Regents Professor Award Program.

Texas A&M University and the professional association, University Advisors and Counselors, each have a series of awards to recognize outstanding Academic Advisors and Counselors

Advising Team Award – The purpose of the Advising Team Award is to recognize the advising team which has made notable and outstanding contributions towards Student Advising. The contributions can be through an advising team’s support of advisor professional development, enhancement of communication methods between advisors, advisor training, and development of programs. Excellent student advising contributes to the overall improvement of our educational environment.

Ed Guthrie Advisor Award – This award recognizes the efforts of faculty and staff members who exemplify former advisor Dr. Ed Guthrie’s spirit and concern for students’ welfare combined with skillful and insightful advisement.

• William Wansitler (2026)

Excellence in Graduate Advising Award – This award recognizes academic advisors who help to create and nurture an environment in which highly qualified, diverse graduate and professional students can thrive. Such individuals demonstrate knowledge, care, empathy, and advocacy for graduate and professional students.

• Heather Baldi (2026)

Innovative Advising Award – The purpose of the Innovative Advising Award is to recognize the most creative and unique uses of technology and/or advising models that support academic advising. Electronic tools used to support and enhance advising can include, but are not limited to, advising websites, databases, software applications, online tutorials, electronic portfolios, DVDs and other web-based and non-web-based innovations to improve academic advising.

Margaret Annette Peters Award – Established in 2000, is to recognize and reward those faculty / administrators who embody the spirit of caring, compassion, and genuine concern for the welfare of individual students.

• Jake Clough (2026)

New Advisor Award – The purpose of the New Advisor Award is to recognize and reward novice professional advising staff who embody the spirit of caring, compassionate, skillful advisement, and genuine concern for the welfare of individual students.

• WenWen Zhou

President’s Award for Academic Advising is coordinated by the Office for Student Success and selected by a committee of students and Advisors. The award recognizes up to five individuals who exemplify the qualities and practices of exceptional academic advising

• Alexander Nagy (2026)
• Daniella Stratta (2026)
• Heather Baldi (2026)
• Melyssa Anne Stricklin (2026)
• Rachel Ball (2026)

University Advisors and Counselors’ CONNECTED Award-Recognizes an individual for notable advancement in the use of EAB Navigate in supporting Texas A&M’s student success initiatives. 

• Christine Cooper (2026)
• Scott Skrla (2026)