UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Nüket Acar, coordinator of undergraduate advising for veterinary and biomedical sciences, has received the 2021 Excellence in Academic Advising Award from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Sponsored by the college’s alumni society, the award recognizes faculty members and staff for overall effectiveness in student advising, individual student goal setting and career planning, and personal counseling. Candidates are recommended by faculty, students, administrators and alumni.

“Dr. Acar is a proven leader in recruiting and guiding capable, energetic and dedicated undergraduate students,” said K. Sandeep Prabhu, professor and head of the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. “Her energy and motivation are hard to miss. At times, she has carried the largest advising load throughout the college, which is no small undertaking.”

He added that Acar is known for staying in touch with students after they have graduated. “I routinely receive emails from students expressing that Dr. Acar is the single reason they were able to get into the vet school of their choice,” he said.

Acar began her advising career in the college in 2006 as an assistant teaching professor, having earned a doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of Ankara in Turkey, a master’s degree in avian sciences from the University of California-Davis, and a doctorate in poultry science from Auburn University. She recently was promoted to associate teaching professor.

As coordinator of undergraduate advising, she advises about 90 undergraduates each year on academic planning, internship opportunities and careers. She teaches a first-year seminar, “VBSC 505: Mechanisms of Disease” for University Park campus students; “VBSC 101: Careers in Veterinary Medicine and Allied Industries,” an introductory elective course for students at the Commonwealth Campuses; and she co-taught 400-level embedded courses on the poultry industry in Spain and Italy.

Acar also helps recruit and retain students, including underrepresented and underserved students, by providing them and their parents with information and insight related to the department’s undergraduate majors and minors.

She helps develop recruiting materials, including web-based content, to engage promising students. She stays current on the trends of what veterinary schools are looking for, so students are prepared if they pursue that option.

An important recruiting effort created, organized and executed by Acar is the “Annual Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Stay Over” program for 36 high school seniors. She also takes an active role in the open house events organized by the college for high school students and their families.

Luke Trimble, who graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in veterinary and biomedical sciences and minors in poultry and avian science and in biology, said Acar’s biggest strength is her ability to connect with her advisees.

“She takes pride in advising and leading students, enabling them to have a truly memorable Penn State experience,” said Trimble, now a student in Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “This compassion and interest in her students are why many students want her to be their adviser. I was very lucky to have such an exceptional adviser during my four short years at Penn State.”