NACADA honors pharmacy director of student services

Mildred Curran, the director of Student Services for the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, was presented with the NACADA Global Award for Outstanding Advising in a Primary Role in October. Among her many professional accomplishments, she was selected in recognition of her dedication to inclusivity, diversity, and equity, her commitment to acknowledging excellence, and her efforts to advocate for and empower all students.

The Global Award for Outstanding Advising in a Primary Role is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional efforts in directly advising students. Applicants for the award must submit a detailed packet of their professional achievements and goals, as well as letters of support from colleagues and students, to be reviewed by the selection committee. The awards were presented at an invitation-only ceremony at the NACADA Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Curran was one of three winners for this award.

Curran has been with the University of Arizona since 2012, and has supported hundreds of students throughout her career. Before joining the College of Pharmacy, she was an academic advisor with the Systems and Industrial Engineering (SIE) Department at the College of Engineering, where she guided students through their educational and professional goals and initiated policies and campaigns to support underrepresented populations. In 2023 she was honored with the Excellence in Undergraduate Advising Award for her work at SIE, and later that same year she was also awarded the NACADA Region 10 National Academic Advising Association Award. She is the only recipient of all three awards.

“These awards mean so much to me because I truly care about my students’ success and strive to make a positive impact on their academic journeys,” Curran said. Although her current role with the College of Pharmacy does not primarily focus on advising, she credits her experience in the field with her success in Student Services, adding that they allow her to continue providing support to students and building community. “Additionally, with my background as an Army Reserves veteran (11 years of service), I am well-positioned to support our military-affiliated students as well,” she added.

Congratulations to Curran for all of her outstanding accomplishments and recognition! To learn more about the NACADA Global Awards, visit their website.