Lucas Simmons from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences has been awarded a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Academic Advising from NACADA, the Global Community of Academic Advising Association. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding academic advising of students.

Simmons was nominated for the NACADA Outstanding Advisor award after being named outstanding academic advisor for the University of Arkansas. Simmons provides academic and career advising to current, new and transfer students through completion of 60 hours; is the first point of contact for transfer and change of major students regardless of credits earned and provides pre-transfer advising; and makes recommendations for appropriate course substitutions, organization memberships, research opportunities, mentorship, study-abroad focus areas and honors student opportunities.

Criteria for the NACADA Outstanding Academic Advising award include strong interpersonal skills, frequent contact with advisees, a caring attitude toward students, and participation in advisor development programs. The nomination packet for Simmons included numerous examples of his continuous contribution to the academic advising community at the University of Arkansas and his commitment to new ideas and growth through evaluation and assessment. Simmon's own academic advising philosophy focuses on helping students prepare to "overcome obstacles and transition from student to lifelong learner."

Simmons will be honored at the NACADA annual conference in October.