2006 Excellence in Academic Advising Award Winner

Dennis Scanlon, professor of agricultural and extension education, has been advising students in the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education since 1982. He annually advises more than 30 undergraduate students in agricultural education and agricultural science, a few students from other majors seeking certification to teach in the Commonwealth, and all returning adult students seeking certification to teach secondary agricultural education in Pennsylvania.

Professor in charge of his department's resident education program since 1992, Scanlon stays abreast of evolving state requirements so he is able to keep other faculty members up to date on changes and ensure that all students get the best advice possible.

In addition to receiving high praise from a host of students he currently advises, Scanlon--who will receive an engraved brass plate and $1,000 honorarium at Penn State's commencement ceremonies--got support from a number of colleagues and past students.

"Dennis's tenure at Penn State and experience as a high school agricultural education teacher in Pennsylvania allows him to serve in a unique position regarding student advising," says Tracy Hoover, head of the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education. "He has a strong commitment to our secondary ag education programs and teachers. Many of the ag education teachers in the state were his students at one time and frequently call him and seek advice on undergraduate education opportunities for their high school students."

"Dennis Scanlon's role as an academic adviser has been to help students see their potential to be outstanding teachers in secondary agricultural education programs in Pennsylvania," says Tom Bruening, associate professor of agricultural and extension education. "Over his career he has worked with hundreds of students, getting them ready to enter the workforce as competent and well-trained professionals qualified to teach the next generation of agricultural students at the high school level."

"Dr. Scanlon always goes above and beyond the normal requirements of his position," says alumnus Greg Erb, agricultural department and FFA adviser for Midd-West High School. "The academic advice he provided me was always proactive and ripened with wisdom. Without his advice, I most certainly would have chosen a different path, and I am not sure I would still be in the teaching profession today."