Western Oregon University Assistant Professor and Advisor Brooke Dolenc Nott believes her responsibilities extend beyond assisting students in navigating their college journey and career aspirations.

“I want my students to know that I believe in them and that their skills, their specific path, their story is going to fulfill a need in our communities,” she said.

Nott’s philosophical approach to provide guidance to help her students to grow and develop as individuals has earned her international recognition.

Nott is the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding New Advisor in the Faculty Advising category from the NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, an organization with more than 14,000 international members promoting and supporting quality academic advising in institutions of higher education. The award honors individuals making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising within higher education internationally. Nott is the first WOU faculty member to be a recipient of the New Advisor in Faculty Advising award and joins many fellow WOU faculty and staff members who have been selected for NACADA Outstanding Advisor awards in other categories. To see other prior award winners, visit NACADA Awards.

Nott will be recognized for her achievements at the annual NACADA conference in October in Puerto Rico. She earned the international award after first being named WOU Faculty Advisor of the Year last June and the Certificate of Merit of Region 8 Excellence in Advising – Faculty Advisor, NACADA in December.

Nott joined WOU’s Behavioral Sciences Division as a visiting professor in 2017. She earned her doctorate and master’s degrees from Oregon State University. Her research focuses on adolescent development, emerging adulthood and homelessness. Along with her teaching and advising responsibilities, she oversees the WOU-Talmadge Mentoring Program.

Student Success and Advising Director Niki Weight said Nott is an outstanding example of the impact a caring, passionate advisor can have on student success.

“Dr. Nott does not limit her help to only those students who are her assigned advisees but is open to any student who comes to her with questions,” Weight said. “She empowers students to be invested in their own goals by developing meaningful relationships and being student focused.”

Nott said research proves advising plays an essential role in students’ success, retention, sense of belonging and fondness of their college experience. She is motivated by her undergraduate experience where she had professors who listened to her aspirations, provided counsel and answered her questions. For more than 20 years, she was in contact with her college faculty advisor until his passing in 2017.

“He certainly impacted my path. I often think of him and my other undergraduate professors when I am advising. They knew me by my name, knew my background, believed in me and challenged me. I hope I can offer that to WOU students,” she said. “It’s my expectation that students would come away being listened to and knowing I believe in them.”