Molly Stanley receives global new advisor award

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Molly Stanley , an Academic Advisor II in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, was named Outstanding New Advisor Award - Primary Advising Role by  the NACADA Global Awards Program. 

NACADA is a representative and advocate of academic advising and those providing that service to higher education.

The awards program honors individuals and institutions making significant impact on academic advising. 

Earlier in the spring, Stanley was named  UGA’s Outstanding New Advisor.  She advises over 300 students in all six music majors in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Stanley’s experience as a music major and music teacher has allowed her to formulate a unique understanding, knowledge, and compassion for the challenges student music majors face.

“Molly has transformed the culture of advising in HHSOM and earned the trust, respect, and admiration of her students, the music faculty, and her advising colleagues,” said Diane Miller, Director of Student Academic Services for Franklin College. “Molly demonstrates skill and knowledge equal to those advisors with several times her experience.”

In her first year, Stanley organized several student outreach events, including Transfer Student Welcome Hour and the Music Business Certificate Information Session. She also started a student wellness initiative called Wellness Wednesdays, which included activities such as yoga, painting, and jam sessions. The Performer’s Pantry was started by Stanley during her first year and is a food pantry for music students. Stanley currently serves as the co-chair of the First-Year Care Initiative Committee which aims to help first-year students transition to become a music major at UGA.

“Molly has been an absolute angel helping me figure out my classes and career goals in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She does everything she can to support my goals, show me my options according to what I want to achieve, and connect me with the people and resources I need if she does not know the answer to my questions. She encourages all of the music students to chase their dreams while making sure that they have a viable way to get there. All of her help is 100% personalized to what I need and I never feel like I’m getting a ‘one size fits all’ solution from her,” said student Marianna Schwark.

Stanley earned a B.M. in Music Education from Furman University and an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology at the University of Georgia.