Lynn Freeman, director of academic advising at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh was selected as a recipient of a 2010 University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents Academic Staff Award for Excellence — the highest recognition bestowed upon members of UW System’s academic staff.

Since joining the staff of UW Oshkosh in 2002, Freeman has developed the University advising program to reflect national standards and continues to improve practices dealing with student success across campus. She worked to develop the Early Alert System, which helps increase student success among underrepresented students.

Working collaboratively across departments, Freeman has helped ensure that each student receives the best advising and support services possible. Additionally, she has been elected to regional and national leadership positions in the area of academic advising.

“I have two favorite parts of my job: helping students find their way through college, set academic and personal goals, and then make a plan to achieve them and working with staff of the Undergraduate Advising Resource Center and our partners all over campus,” Freeman said. “UW Oshkosh has some of the most talented and committed professionals I have ever worked with in my career, and working with them has helped me become a better adviser, administrator, supervisor and communicator.”

Freeman came to UW Oshkosh from Stanford University, where she served as that university’s first director of academic advising in more than 30 years.

“Lynn Freeman truly is an asset to this University. Her hard work and innovative approaches to improving student success are appreciated by the faculty, staff and students across campus,” said Provost Lane Earns. “We at UW Oshkosh are proud that UW System has recognized her many accomplishment with the prestigious Board of Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award.”

Freeman, along with Dale Braun, a campus planner at UW-River Falls and representatives of the McNair Scholars Program at UW-River Falls, will be recognized at the Board of Regents meeting on June 11 in Milwaukee.

“These award winners reflect the high caliber and dedication of our academic staff systemwide,” said committee chair Regent John Drew. “Their commitment to academic quality and student success is inspiring, and we are honored to recognize their wide-ranging and significant accomplishments on behalf of our students and campus communities.”

Each winner receives a $5,000 award for professional development to enhance their program or function. Academic staff members and programs from each of the 15 UW institutions were nominated for this year’s awards.

“I felt like I won when I was first nominated because Associate Director Liz Whalley wrote the nomination letter and everyone else in the Undergraduate Advising Resource Center signed it,” Freeman said. “I was speechless.”