Honors College’s Albakry awarded MTSU advisor of year, receives AMP certification

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University presented Judy Albakry, University Honors College advisor, with its 2024 Outstanding Academic Advisor Award, a collaboration of the Advisor Mastery Program and the Office of Student Success.

Judy Albakry, Honors College advisor — Judy Albakry

AMP is MTSU’s professional learning community created, implemented and sustained by advisors to help foster a more cohesive and collaborative advising culture for the university. This award includes funding for professional development or items and equipment to support her future advising endeavors.

“I’ve advised at MTSU for 17 years (first in the College of Liberal Arts and now in Honors) and truly love working with our students,” Albakry said. “Working alongside our students as they pursue their goals, celebrate achievements, and overcome challenges is a joy.”

Albakry completed her doctorate in assessment, learning, and student success through MTSU’s College of Education in 2023.

Middle Tennessee State University’s Judy Albakry, center, University Honors College advisor, holds her 2024 Outstanding Academic Advisor Award inside the Honors College Building on MTSU’s campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Pictured with her are fellow Honors advisors Laura Clippard, left, and Emilee Buckmeyer, right, who hold their certification awards from the university’s Advisor Mastery Program, or AMP, a professional learning community. Albakry also earned the AMP certification. (MTSU Photo by Robin E. Lee)

In addition to Albakry’s award, all three of the Honors College advisors, Albakry, Laura Clippard and Emilee Buckmeyer, received their AMP Certification this year. AMP offers programs and interactive workshops that bring together MTSU advisors to engage critically with advising scholarship, and with the relationship between both its theory and practice.

Emilee Buckmeyer, Honors College advisor — Emilee Buckmeyer

Laura Clippard

“Becoming AMP certified has allowed me the opportunity to become better equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to empower students, foster their academic growth, and facilitate their personal development,” said Buckmeyer. “This experience has enabled me to further enrich the educational experience for students and I will continue to pursue these efforts in the next academic year.”

“The AMP committee has been instrumental in helping our advisors grow professionally and creating an advising community across campus. This award is another way to show our advisors that their hard work is seen and appreciated,” Albakry added.

AMP certification must be renewed each year. This is Buckmeyer’s first year at MTSU and her first year receiving the certification. Albakry and Clippard have consecutively renewed every year since the program began in 2017. Honors is the only college to consistently maintain 100% participation in the AMP certification process. For more information, visit mtsu.edu/academic-advising/professional-development/.

— Robin E. Lee (Robin.E.Lee@mtsu.edu)