The University College selected Jessica Aslin as the LSU Adviser of the Year on March 27 at its annual “Celebration of Excellence” Spring Awards.
LSU Adviser of the Year is awarded annually to academic advisers who indicate exceptional advising qualities to counsel students academically. Aslin, a counselor in the Center for Advising and Counseling, was nominated by her supervisor and selected by a committee consisting of University students, staff and leaders in the community and faculty. Aslin said she appreciated the award.
“I love it here,” Aslin said. “I love my job. I was a school counselor for two years before I was here and I’ve always liked the whole academic and career aspect of counseling.”
Aslin was nominated for the award by Andrea Jones, the assistant director of the Center for Advising and Counseling. Jones said in a news release that Aslin is “innovative, knowledgeable and an amazing adviser … Jessica has approximately 2,000 student contacts each year. One of the things that is so special about
Jessica is she gives her undivided attention to each of the many students who walk through her door.”
Aslin said her goal is to point students in the right direction, working to put herself in students’ shoes to better advise them.
“My whole thing is just kind of be open minded and have a place for students to talk or vent, and also to kind of get them pointed to what’s going to help them most next,” Aslin said.
For her undergraduate degree, Aslin attended Southeastern Louisiana University. She said she was undecided for a long time, and it was through an experience with her academic advisers there that helped and led her to her own career in academic counseling.
“What I had trouble with when I went to college was just finding out what I wanted to do, and I had a really good experience,” Aslin said. “I went to Southeastern for my undergrad, and I had a good experience with an adviser. I kind of use that experience, and I try to give that to somebody else.”
Not being too far removed from college herself, Aslin said the college perspective helped her better assist students. Her advice to students would be not to take their college years or their resources for granted.
“My advice would just be, of course, take the whole college experience in. It goes by quick, and real life comes quick,” Aslin said. “Also, just know your resources. There’s tons of stuff on campus that is free for students and so many places they can get help. I just think a lot of that is under-utilized.”
According to a news release, Aslin has a Bachelor of General Studies from Southeastern and received her Master of Education with a concentration in guidance counseling from LSU. Aslin also received her Education Specialist Certificate from the LSU and is a national certified counselor and a licensed professional counselor. She joined the University College in 2013 after counseling at Mentorship Academy in Baton Rouge.