June 13, 2022 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A Grand Rapids Community College academic advisor has earned national recognition for her success in helping students navigate higher education.
Associate professor Lynnae Selberg has been awarded a Certificate of Merit from NACADA, a national association supporting academic advisors. She received recognition in the Outstanding Advising Award-Primary Advising Role category.
GRCC President Bill Pink called the honor “well-deserved.”
“Lynnae is an educator, advocate, mentor and leader,” he said. “Her work has made a very real difference in the lives of so many students.”
Selberg meets students before and after the regular workday and, even before the pandemic, was reaching out through Zoom and texting.
“She is always looking for new ways to help students, to meet them where they are at and to help provide what they need to be successful,” said Erin Busscher, assistant professor and academic advisor. “She has created videos, workshops, ‘how-to’ guides and other tools and resources.”
Selberg, who received GRCC’s Excellence in Education Award in 2017, works with GRCC’s Early/Middle College students and the Honors Program. She also serves as the academic advisor for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Selberg earned her bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Grand Valley State University and a master’s in rehabilitation counseling from Michigan State University. She joined GRCC in 2011 after working for Ferris State and Davenport universities and Albion College. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan and a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor.
“You couldn’t have a better job than this!” she says, adding that she loves watching students achieve success when they didn’t think it was possible.
“Sometimes the plans don’t work out, and we have to change course, but it is like a giant puzzle with each student, and I help them find the best pieces and put it all together.”