The National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) selected Rosen College’s Vanessa Cogswell as the 2014 National Academic Advising Association Region 4: Excellence in Advising – New Advisor Award winner. She will be recognized during the region conference in Savannah, Georgia at the Region Luncheon on Wednesday, April 2, 2014.
Cogswell is the academic services coordinator for Rosen College’s Office of Student Services and the creator of its award-winning Peer Outreach Mentorship Program (POMP), which pairs struggling students with peer mentors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0. She shared her expertise with colleagues on a national stage when she was selected to present on the topic of peer advising and mentoring at NACADA’s 36th Annual Conference in 2012.
Under Cogswell’s leadership, this award-winning mentoring program has consistently produced impressive results since its inception in the fall of 2011. From Spring 2012 to Fall 2013 (not including summers), POMP helped 97% of participating students improve their UCF Cumulative GPA with an overall retention rate of 98%. It also attained a 42% overall success rate in helping students who were on academic probation obtain good standing by the end of the term in which they participated in POMP.
“We’re incredibly proud of Vanessa’s contributions to Rosen College and this recognition is very well-deserved,” said Lori Ashby, director of student services at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. “Her work with POMP has positively impacted many students’ lives and this award is further proof of the amazing difference she’s making at UCF.”