Herbert Bruce named outstanding first-year student advocate

Herbert “Bruce” Bruce, an associate director of the University Academic Advising Center, was named a 2017 national outstanding first-year student advocate by the National Resource Center for First-Year Experiences and Students in Transition.

Bruce was nominated for national recognition by Undergraduate Academic Affairs and the Office of First-Year Experiences. His work spans the University Studies First-Year Experience (FYE) course, undergraduate academic advising, peer mentor programs, and the Virginia Tech Common Book Project.

“What sets Dr. Bruce apart is his ability to weave academic advising into the very fabric of his first-year experience course,” said  Kimberly Smith, assistant provost for Academic Advising Initiatives. “Not only does this approach strengthen the level of rapport established between Dr. Bruce and his advisees/students, but it better assists students in understanding the connections among all of the valuable academic resources available to them.”

Bruce’s impact on campus expands further than the University Studies. He shares his expertise with colleagues in multiple colleges, training peer mentors, and sharing curriculum that supports first-year students.  

The award, now in its 28th year, honors college faculty, administrators, staff, and students for their outstanding work on behalf of first-year students and for the impact their efforts have on the students and culture of their institutions. Bruce was recognized Feb. 11 at the Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience in Atlanta, Georgia.