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Heather Ford Named 2025 Academic Advisor of the Year

The Academic Advisor of the Year Award recognizes undergraduate, professional academic advisors for their exceptional service to students, their colleagues and/or the university.

  • published: 2025/04/24
  • contact: Sammi Kaiser - Academic Advising Council
  • email: skkaiser@unomaha.edu
Heather Ford

Heather Ford

Heather Ford, Academic Advisor II in the Department of Gerontology in the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS), has been named the 2024-2025 UNO Academic Advisor of the Year. She will receive a framed certificate and $500 award at the Faculty Senate/Staff Advisory Council/Academic Advising Council Banquet on May 8.

Ford’s nominators describe her as an enthusiastic student advocate. One of her student nominators shared that “Heather’s work goes beyond the role of an academic advisor—she continually strives to create systems that help students thrive both academically and personally."

She currently serves the UNO academic advising community as the Academic Advising Council (AAC) President. As president, Ford leads the council’s effort to improve student experiences through excellence in advising. Her nominators note her dedication to the role and advancing academic advising beyond UNO.

The Academic Advisor of the Year Award recognizes undergraduate, professional academic advisors for their exceptional service to students, their colleagues and/or the university. The award was created in 2015 to recognize and honor UNO professional advisors for their:

  • Contribution and service to students and academic advising on campus
  • Advocacy and collaboration for students and academic advising best practices
  • Initiative and attitude in improving academic advising

Congratulations to UNO’s 2024-2025 Academic Advisor of the Year, Heather Ford!

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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