Communication Advisor Honored by National Academic Advising Association

Communication Department director of undergraduate advising and senior lecturer Cynthia Zuckerman-Hyman has been named a 2021 outstanding advising award winner by the National Academic Advising Association.

The National Academic Advising Association recognizes awardees for their dedicated service to students in a primary advisory role and exceptional commitment to students’ advocacy and success.

Zuckerman-Hyman has been with the communication department since 2001. She has been advising since 2011 and became director of undergraduate advising in 2015. 

She also serves as a senior lecturer in the department. Additionally, she conducts research, focusing on such topics as the communication of a stigmatized self and narrative frames around education and education policy.

Zuckerman-Hyman said her advising philosophy centers on three key components:

• Knowing at the heart of student success is satisfaction with the college experience.
• Respecting the cultural and intellectual diversity of each individual.
• Understanding that students change over their time at the university. 

“Receiving this award is a recognition of the importance of advising to student success and to the strong student support networks NC State has created,” she said.

The National Academic Advising Association, founded in 1979, is an international, educational organization that supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education to enhance the educational development of students. Zuckerman-Hyman will be honored along with other 2021 awardees at the NACADA Annual Conference later this fall. 

Earlier this year, Zuckerman-Hyman also received NC State’s Barbara Soloman Advising Award, which recognizes the dedicated service to students by an advisor with five or more years of experience at the university. It is among five undergraduate academic advising awards NC State has awarded annually since 2002 to faculty for helping students succeed through academic advising.

Zuckerman-Hyman was honored at the university’s 2020-2021 awards presentation.

Jessica Jameson, professor and head of the Communication Department, said of Zuckerman-Hyman receiving the twin awards: 

“Cynthia is an incredible advocate for students, staff, and professional faculty and ensures that all voices are included and heard. Her commitment to helping students extends beyond student meetings to providing opportunities for students through curricular revision proposals and partnering with her broad campus network to create innovative experiences. 

“She also takes a whole student approach to advising, showing concern for their emotional, financial and physical well-being in addition to their academic progress.” 

For more information about Zuckerman-Hyman and her work, visit her faculty page.

This post was originally published in College of Humanities and Social Sciences.