Mac Campus and Music staff members honoured for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising

Adelina Lameiras and David Wees are the latest winners of the Dean of Students Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising.

Adelina Lameiras, Student Affairs Administrator at the Schulich School of Music, was recognized in the Administrative Staff category.

David Wees, a Faculty Lecturer and Associate Director of the Farm Management and Technology Program in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, won in the Academic Staff category.

The awards aim to recognize the valuable contributions McGill’s academic advisors make to undergraduate student life. They’re overseen by the Office of the Dean of Students.

An advisor for all seasons

David Wees has taught for more than 30 years at Macdonald Campus, where he leads courses on horticulture, agriculture and plant science at the CEGEP and undergraduate levels.

He likens academic advising to farming.

“It’s very seasonal,” he explained. “There are things in the spring, summer and fall that come back year after year so you know what to expect. But every now and then, you get a surprise.”

His goal to get his students through “hoops and hurdles, especially in their first year. It’s all new to them, and it can be daunting.”

That means advising on topics from navigating the library, to obtaining a parking permit, to changing courses in the middle of a semester.

“David has a deep knowledge about the program and he knows the impact of the choices students make,” says Adriana Martins, Student Affairs Coordinator for the Farm Management and Technology program. “He has so much knowledge about the history of the program and the campus, and he is kind in sharing that and helping everyone who comes to him for guidance.”