Medina, Paris receive 2026 Excellence in Advising Award 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Scott Medina, the William and Wendy Korb Early Career Professor and Dorothy and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Nano Bioengineering; and Heather Paris, associate director of the advising center and career services at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, have been selected to receive the 2026 Penn State Excellence in Advising Award.

The award, established by the former Undergraduate Student Government’s Academic Assembly and sponsored by each college, annually honors one full-time professional adviser and one full-time faculty member from any Penn State location who have at least two years of advising experience. Selection criteria are based on excellence in general advising, academic and career guidance, enthusiasm and assistance in decision making, and goal setting.

Scott Medina

Medina said students know their goals and aspirations best, so his role as an adviser is to give them the tools to advocate for themselves. He wants them to become experts in their field while also instilling in them confidence to act as agents of change within their professional communities. He forms a relationship built on clarity, responsiveness and flexibility as they together formalize a path for their futures.

Together they form individualized development plans that identify their academic and professional goals and chart an academic path toward achieving those goals, he said.

“This process extends beyond research and academic logistics; rather it is a holistic partnership that supports students in developing resiliency, a sense of ownership over their learning, and a healthy work-life balance that protects mental well-being and avoids burn out,” Medina said. “I apply this approach uniformly across all trainee levels, from undergraduate students in my classroom to researchers in the lab, ensuring each individual feels seen, supported and meaningfully challenged.”

Medina said these goals are achieved only through structured, transparent and measurable expectations. It’s a frequent and iterative process where students get feedback and necessary course corrections along the way. Through these conversations, he reinforces the values of curiosity, perseverance, ethical conduct and professional integrity.

“These expectations are formalized through clear, written compacts that lay out an academic development roadmap or research plan, with my expectations of their role as the advisee clearly defined,” Medina said. “This transparency reduces stress and uncertainty by clearly identifying the competencies and milestones needed to achieve the student’s professional goals. When advising is carried out in this way, with intentionality and clear communication, it empowers students not only to excel in their scholarly environments but also to carry forward the enduring passion for inquiry and discovery that underpin lifelong learning and impactful careers.”

Nominators said Medina is always available yet gives students the freedom they need to chart their own paths as they explore new possibilities.

“We are always welcome to start new collaborations, discuss ideas, and share space with others, the result of which is that we have great relationships with so many lab mates and have built friendships while conducting better science with an expanded resource and expertise network,” a nominator said.

Heather Paris

No two students are alike, so Paris’ approach to advising is never the same, she said. She’s always seeking student input and altering strategies so that students can efficiently reach their educational goals.

“While advising research and established best practices provides an important foundation, I believe effective advising requires flexibility, reflection and responsiveness to student input,” Paris said. “Advising strategies should evolve based on a student’s goals, challenges and stage of development.”

Because advising involves relationship-building, Paris said she meets students where they’re at and makes herself known. She visits all sections of a required first-year seminar, establishing early connections with her advisees. She also attends club fundraisers, athletic events and other extracurricular activities.

When she meets with students, she knows course registration is a small part of her job. She said she wants to establish a partnership that’s focused on exploration, growth and purpose.

“Advising also plays a critical role in identifying and addressing barriers to success. I help students reflect on why they may be struggling and connect them with appropriate campus resources by engaging them in meaningful, purposeful conversations,” Paris said. “Rather than prescribing solutions, I guide students in selecting strategies that align with their needs. I empower students to become autonomous learners who can set goals, take responsibility for their decisions and think critically about their path forward.”

Students said Paris understands challenges students face, especially nontraditional learners who often have families and employment obligations. They said she keeps the doors to a quality education open to everyone.

“Paris is an understanding adviser who is concerned about the struggles students often face,” a nominator said. “She helped me discover what I wanted to do with my future and smartly and selflessly put me on a path to getting there.”