Brian Aitken is the 2014 recipient of the Herb Sanders Award for Outstanding Academic Advisement. The award will be presented at the Founders Day Convocation at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19.
Aitken began his academic advising career in 2006 when he joined the staff in University College Academic Advisement, after earning his bachelor’s degree in theatre education and master’s degree in college student personnel administration. He has spent the past nine years working primarily with students in the College of Fine Arts.
For the past three years, Aitken has served in the role of assistant coordinator for operational oversight. He has also served on the Council on General Education since 2009, where he contributed to the redesign of Illinois State’s general education program.
In addition to his position in University College, Aitken has served on the Academic Advising Council, fulfilling the role of council chair in 2011, and currently as a member of the assessment subcommittee. He has been a member of the National Academic Advising Association for the past nine years, presenting at numerous national conferences. He is also an instructor for the First Year LinC seminar, having the opportunity to design and pilot the Spring LinC course.
The award was established by friends of Herb Sanders, a member of the faculty from 1949 until his death in 1980, to recognize advisors who demonstrate a caring attitude for students, are assertive in their contacts with students and support campus-wide academic advisement.
