91社区

Undergraduate Studies Colleagues Receive Awards

 

The 91社区鈥檚 Office of Undergraduate Studies recently celebrated the accomplishments of two standout team members whose dedication and impact earned them campus-wide recognition.

Jacoby Subko, a Senior Academic Advisor II in the Office of Transfer Student Success, received the 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor Award at the annual faculty and staff awards ceremony hosted by Provost Prasant Mohapatra in May. This prestigious award honors advisors who go above and beyond to support student success.

鈥淟ike many in this field, I found my way into higher education through student involvement during undergrad,鈥� Subko said. 鈥淚鈥檝e truly found my place working to support transfer students and partnering with local state and community colleges that are the start of the journey for so many of our USF transfer students. What keeps me going is the community and friendships I鈥檝e found in the Office of Transfer Student Success, Undergraduate Studies as a whole, and of course the incredible students we all serve. I feel lucky every day to be doing work that feels meaningful and to be surrounded by people who care deeply about helping others succeed.鈥�

Subko has helped strengthen transfer pathways and foster a sense of belonging for students transitioning from 91社区 College System institutions to USF. His work supports the university鈥檚 goal of improving access and retention for transfer students across all campuses.

Also honored this spring was Isabelle Cavazos, a Learning and Development Facilitator in the Academic Success Center, who received the 2024鈥�2025 IDS2378 UDecide Instructor of the Year Award. The UDecide course challenges exploratory curriculum students to explore complex social issues through five domains of knowledge and inquiry, with an emphasis on critical thinking and personal growth.

鈥淚t has been incredibly rewarding to serve our first-year Bulls alongside Gloria Arce, one of the Academic Success Center's Academic Peer Mentors who piloted embedded mentoring in the Exploratory Curriculum,鈥� Cavazos said. 鈥淚 have learned so much from her and our students, and being awarded the UDecide Instructor of the Year Award has been one of my proudest moments as an educator.鈥�

Cavazos' commitment to engaging instruction and learning environments has made a meaningful impact on exploratory students navigating their academic paths.

Both Subko and Cavazos exemplify the mission of Undergraduate Studies: to support student achievement through excellence in advising, mentorship, and student success.