By Debbie Willmschen<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the director of academic services for the <\/span>Wilson College of Textiles<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Heather Lyerly<\/span><\/a> has learned to navigate the challenges of working with many different groups of students, staff and faculty. In her role, Lyerly oversees academic advising for the college and also coordinates admissions and collaborates with the recruitment team. She works closely with the Wilson College directors of undergraduate programs and department chairs to ensure that students are set up for academic success. In addition, Lyerly advises students, working primarily with incoming transfer students.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyerly\u2019s passion for student development as well as her commitment to providing a positive student experience were acknowledged recently with two awards. At the university level, Lyerly received the <\/span>Carrie McLean Award<\/span><\/a>, which recognizes an outstanding administrator who has oversight of an advising function. At the national level, Lyerly also was honored with a Certificate of Merit in the administrator category <\/span>by <\/span>NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising<\/span><\/a> for 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to her colleagues, these honors were well deserved, as Lyerly\u2019s list of accomplishments during her time with Wilson College are extensive. Since beginning her time with the college in 2016, first as the <\/span>associate director for advising and admissions before becoming director, Lyerly implemented several programs committed to improving faculty and student advising. Some of these programs include <\/span>advisor information sessions, regular \u201c<\/span>lunch and learn\u201d sessions and training sessions that provide information and support for student success. She also helped to ensure a seamless transition to virtual technologies during the challenging times created by COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karen Leonas, professor of textile sciences at Wilson College says, \u201cI am grateful for Heather\u2019s support, advocacy and assistance during the advising process. She is always responsive to questions and anticipates the needs of the Wilson College advisors, faculty and students. In addition, she has instilled a supportive, responsive and collaborative culture in her team and they are all a pleasure to work with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, Pam Rose, who served as a graduate student intern with Lyerly in <\/span>the <\/span>Center for Academic, Career and Student Services<\/span><\/a> (ACSS)<\/span>, echoes similar sentiments. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring my year as a graduate intern, I personally benefited from Heather\u2019s extensive knowledge and counseling skills,\u201d Rose says. \u201cHeather works hard to understand student challenges and does whatever she can to improve the student experiences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humbled by the recognition, Lyerly credits her success to the support she receives from the entire ACSS team. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was surprised and honored,\u201d Lyerly says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been able to accomplish so much as a team. I\u2019m especially proud of the work that we\u2019ve done with implementing the faculty advisor training program. That particular project was something that was in process for several years, and I want to give special credit to Meggie Metcalf, who really did a lot of the legwork to get it going. It was a group project and was definitely something that was much needed. Although it\u2019s still very new, we’re definitely proud of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic Services is housed in the ACSS at Wilson College. The ACSS supports students through all stages of their NC State journey. Current students receive support from the ACSS staff through academic advising, career services, scholarships, student engagement and peer tutoring. The ACSS uses a holistic approach to provide exemplary academic, career and student support programs and services for all Wilson College students.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyerly\u2019s personal philosophy matches closely with that of the ACSS and contributes to her success as an advisor. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen working with students, I strive to provide information, support and encouragement,\u201d Lyerly says. \u201cI meet them where they are and teach them how to become independent learners and critical thinkers. The most rewarding part of my job is helping students move from being consumed with an issue to feeling that they can get through it. When I see them relax, breathe, and say \u2018Yes, I\u2019ve got this!\u2019 then I know we\u2019ve provided them the support they need to be a success.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n

By Debbie Willmschen<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the director of academic services for the <\/span>Wilson College of Textiles<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Heather Lyerly<\/span><\/a> has learned to navigate the challenges of working with many different groups of students, staff and faculty. In her role, Lyerly oversees academic advising for the college and also coordinates admissions and collaborates with the recruitment team. She works closely with the Wilson College directors of undergraduate programs and department chairs to ensure that students are set up for academic success. In addition, Lyerly advises students, working primarily with incoming transfer students.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyerly\u2019s passion for student development as well as her commitment to providing a positive student experience were acknowledged recently with two awards. At the university level, Lyerly received the <\/span>Carrie McLean Award<\/span><\/a>, which recognizes an outstanding administrator who has oversight of an advising function. At the national level, Lyerly also was honored with a Certificate of Merit in the administrator category <\/span>by <\/span>NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising<\/span><\/a> for 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to her colleagues, these honors were well deserved, as Lyerly\u2019s list of accomplishments during her time with Wilson College are extensive. Since beginning her time with the college in 2016, first as the <\/span>associate director for advising and admissions before becoming director, Lyerly implemented several programs committed to improving faculty and student advising. Some of these programs include <\/span>advisor information sessions, regular \u201c<\/span>lunch and learn\u201d sessions and training sessions that provide information and support for student success. She also helped to ensure a seamless transition to virtual technologies during the challenging times created by COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karen Leonas, professor of textile sciences at Wilson College says, \u201cI am grateful for Heather\u2019s support, advocacy and assistance during the advising process. She is always responsive to questions and anticipates the needs of the Wilson College advisors, faculty and students. In addition, she has instilled a supportive, responsive and collaborative culture in her team and they are all a pleasure to work with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, Pam Rose, who served as a graduate student intern with Lyerly in <\/span>the <\/span>Center for Academic, Career and Student Services<\/span><\/a> (ACSS)<\/span>, echoes similar sentiments. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring my year as a graduate intern, I personally benefited from Heather\u2019s extensive knowledge and counseling skills,\u201d Rose says. \u201cHeather works hard to understand student challenges and does whatever she can to improve the student experiences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humbled by the recognition, Lyerly credits her success to the support she receives from the entire ACSS team. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was surprised and honored,\u201d Lyerly says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been able to accomplish so much as a team. I\u2019m especially proud of the work that we\u2019ve done with implementing the faculty advisor training program. That particular project was something that was in process for several years, and I want to give special credit to Meggie Metcalf, who really did a lot of the legwork to get it going. It was a group project and was definitely something that was much needed. Although it\u2019s still very new, we're definitely proud of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic Services is housed in the ACSS at Wilson College. The ACSS supports students through all stages of their NC State journey. Current students receive support from the ACSS staff through academic advising, career services, scholarships, student engagement and peer tutoring. The ACSS uses a holistic approach to provide exemplary academic, career and student support programs and services for all Wilson College students.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyerly\u2019s personal philosophy matches closely with that of the ACSS and contributes to her success as an advisor. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen working with students, I strive to provide information, support and encouragement,\u201d Lyerly says. \u201cI meet them where they are and teach them how to become independent learners and critical thinkers. The most rewarding part of my job is helping students move from being consumed with an issue to feeling that they can get through it. When I see them relax, breathe, and say \u2018Yes, I\u2019ve got this!\u2019 then I know we\u2019ve provided them the support they need to be a success.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Heather Lyerly, director of academic services for the Wilson College of Textiles, recently received recognition for her commitment to student development with two awards, one at the university level and one at the national level.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":28217,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"showAuthor\":true,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false,\"caption\":\"\",\"displayCategoryID\":2134}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[511,742,490],"tags":[2096,2098,2459,1382],"_ncst_magazine_issue":[],"class_list":["post-16732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-honors-and-awards","category-newswire","category-our-people","tag-acss","tag-center-for-academic-career-and-student-services","tag-heather-lyerly","tag-wilson-college-of-textiles"],"displayCategory":null,"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":null},"yoast_head":"