Advisor of the Month is an award in which staff and faculty can give excellent academic advisors recognition for their ability to go above and beyond in their roles and with students.

January’s Advisor of the Month is Eric Gardner, senior academic advisor for Parks, Recreation and Tourism. One of his nominations demonstrates the many roles Gardner has on campus, and his passion for both students and his department:

“Eric goes above and beyond for his students in every interaction he has. He is patient, kind, and thorough and makes sure that any student concerns are taken care of. He is also a great instructor who is passionate about the courses he teaches and ensures that his students feel comfortable with the task and have all of their questions answered. The University of Utah is fortunate to have Eric on our team.”

Gardner is an advisor on campus who is always willing to improve students’ experiences and works closely with advising colleagues in this community to create a team determined to make a change. Here is a little more information about Gardner:

He has worked in outdoor trip leading, inclusive camping, and as the director of an Outdoor Leadership and Team Development Program at the university level. Gardner enjoys almost any outdoor activity from backpacking to skiing to climbing or just sitting and enjoying the peacefulness of nature.

Do you need to meet with an advisor to help create a meaningful plan, navigate the university and graduate on time? See our advisors across campus on our website and schedule an appointment.