Two members of George Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's academic advising community were honored with regional awards from the (NACADA) this spring. These awards recognize excellence in academic advising in NACADA Region 2, which includes Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Barbara Snyder, BS Psychology ’08, director of student success and academic advising in the , received the award for Excellence in Advising—Advising Administrator.
Joshua Fletcher, undergraduate academic advisor in the , was honored with the award for Excellence in Advising—Primary Role Advisor. Read more about him.
Fletcher and Snyder were formally recognized at the NACADA Region 1 and 2 conference in April in Buffalo, New York.
Snyder will be a George Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ student once again this fall, when she starts the doctoral program in Education with a concentration in Higher Education. Snyder earned a master’s in student personnel in higher education from the University of Florida.
We asked Snyder to share some insights her experiences in academic advising and what it means to be recognized for her work.
How long have you worked at George Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ? How has your job changed over the years?
I began as an academic advisor in the Costello College of Business in 2011, then spent a few years at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, where I helped launch their first centralized advising center. I returned to George Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ in 2017, and since then, I’ve become the director of student success and academic advising for the Costello College of Business.
Over the years, my roles have evolved from individual advising, to shaping strategy, training, and student success initiatives at the college level. Each phase of my career has reinforced my belief that academic advising is one of the most essential components of student success.
What are your main responsibilities in your role?
I work alongside a team of directors to oversee undergraduate academic advising for more than 4,500 business majors. I co-lead the strategic vision for the office and serve as the main coordinator of onboarding and training for all new advisors.
I also oversee pre-orientation advising, orientation programming, and student-centered initiatives like the and first-generation student programming. Additionally, I serve as Costello’s undergraduate advising liaison to the university’s Academic Advising Leadership Council, working with advising leaders from each college to create a consistent and collaborative advising experience across the university.
What do you like best about your job?
I love that my work allows me to impact both students and staff. Supporting advisors in their growth, watching students achieve milestones they once doubted were possible, and designing programs that help people feel a sense of belonging—those are the moments that keep me going.

You were recognized at the recent NACADA regional conference with their Excellence in Advising—Advising Administrator award. What are your biggest takeaways from their conferences?
I’ve attended both regional and annual NACADA conferences over the years. What I appreciate most is the sense of community and shared purpose. You are surrounded by professionals who deeply care about student success and who are generous in sharing tools, ideas, and lessons learned.
I enjoy catching up with colleagues I’ve worked with through the years and connecting with new advisors entering the field. I find a lot of value in both mentoring and being mentored; those relationships and exchanges of experience are some of the most energizing parts of the conference. Every time I attend, I come back inspired.
Do any memorable moments stand out in your academic advising experience?
One that stands out was leading a full virtual orientation and advising experience for more than 1,500 students during the pandemic. We had to pivot quickly, redesign everything, and still make students feel seen and supported. It was one of the most exhausting, yet rewarding, moments of my career.
I also carry with me the many memories of supporting academic advisors throughout their professional journeys, especially those who have gone on to become leaders across campus or at other institutions. Being part of their growth is incredibly meaningful and a big part of what keeps me passionate about this work.
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