Open door policy wins adviser annual award
Dennis Welker, an associate professor and director of undergraduate studies, was named the Outstanding New Faculty Adviser for 2004.
Welker has been at Utah State University for 20 years, and currently splits his time between teaching, researching and advising.
“I was thrilled to receive the award,” Welker said. “I really enjoy meeting with students and talking to them about their career goals.”
John Tokemoto, head of the biology department, nominated Welker for the award.
“It’s as if this award was tailor made for Dr. Welker,” Tokemoto said.
As the director of undergraduatestudies for the biology department, Welker is in charge of the advising center.
“He is doing an extraordinarily fine job,” Tokemoto said. “Biology is responsible for advising about 700 students, and Dr. Welker personally interacts one-on-one with a large fraction of them. We hear nothing but praises from the students themselves about how he helps with their study programs and career plans.”
Welker is willing and available to meet with any students who may want to meet with him.
“I am in my office four days a week,” Welker said. “I think anyone who wants to meet with me during office hours typically can. If my office hours don’t work, I’m more than happy to set up an individual appointment.”
Welker also meets with perspective students.
“Basically anytime we’re trying to get information out to new students, I’m involved,” he said.
He interacts with students who are part of SOAR, students who are changing majors, students at scholar day and students at the major fair. Welker said he is also responsible for reviewing applications for graduation, typically between 50 and 100 every fall. This is only 30 percent of his job. Welker also teaches molecular biology, while his research interests are in genetics.
Currently he is researching lactic acid bacteria which are involved in making cheese. As busy as he is, he said he does love the interaction he gets to have with students.
“Actually sitting down with students and helping them is very rewarding,” he said.
-apassey@cc.usu.edu