Amy Betzelberger has been awarded the 2020 Early Career Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Award. The award, given by the Office for Undergraduate Advising (OUA) at UW-Madison, honors individuals who have been employed at UW–Madison for fewer than 5 years, but in that time have made distinctive contributions to undergraduate advising and/or career services on our campus.
Betzelberger joined the Department of Biochemistry in January 2018 as Associate Student Services Coordinator, the sole advisor for roughly 600 students in the Biochemistry major. She played a key role in developing potential models designed to improve services to Biochemistry majors, and in informing the development of the pilot collaboration between the Departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology, what ultimately became the first of its kind shared-advising Hub in CALS.
“Amy’s leadership has been instrumental in putting the advising hub model into practice, building a strong community, and meeting the needs of students,” said Karen Wassarman, CALS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. “We are lucky to have her.”
OUA awards were to be publicly announced during an event scheduled for early fall, but that event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Wren Singer, Associate Vice Provost and Director of Undergraduate Advising and Career Services, arranged to join a virtual meeting to surprise Betzelberger with the award.
“I had the pleasure of presenting this important award to Amy during a surprise Teams meeting,” said Singer. “I stayed to listen while Amy’s colleagues shared their gratitude for her hard work and strong leadership. It was clear we gave this award to the right person. Amy is so well respected and loved by her team. The whole experience just made my day!”
Betzelberger now serves CALS as the Manager of the Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub, working closely with her team of advisors, Katy France, Jolijn Nagelkerke, and Morgan Reidinger.
“I was completely surprised, and a little worried,” said Betzelberger, “when Wren Singer joined a weekly meeting with my supervisor and the advisors of the Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub, all grinning like they were at a surprise party – and it turned out they were! I am incredibly grateful to my team and my colleagues, and am looking forward to the excellent things that we accomplish together next!”
