Maygen Simm Earns NACADA Award for Excellence in Advising

VERNAL, Utah — Utah State University advisor Maygen Simm has been recognized for outstanding work in advising by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). Simm earned the Global Community of Academic Advising Region 10 Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Advising. Region 10 covers Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

NACADA is the nation’s leading organization for academic advising. Simm will be recognized and presented with the award during the Region Conference Awards and Scholarships ceremony in Tucson, Arizona on March 21.

“Maygen was selected for her excellence in her interactions with students, implementation of best practices based on the advising literature and institutional research, and contributions to the advising community,” said Janet Anderson, senior vice provost. “Maygen has embraced and helped us create institutional practices that benefit her students. Her students describe her as respectful, caring, proactive, motivational, trustworthy, compassionate, encouraging, kind, understanding, and flexible.”

Simm is the lead academic advisor at USU Uintah Basin, having joined the campus in 2017. In 2023, Simm was named the 2023 Outstanding Professional Advisor of the Year by USU’s Office of the Provost.

Simm is a first-generation college graduate, earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Utah in 2013 and a master’s degree from USU in 2020. Simm was raised on the Uintah and Ouray reservation in Northeastern Utah.

“Receiving this recognition is a tremendous honor and a humbling experience,” Simm said. “Academic advising is a profession that I hold near and dear to my heart, as it allows me to make a positive impact on student's lives and educational journeys. I want to express my gratitude to my students, family, the Ute Tribe Education Department, colleagues, mentors, and the entire academic advising community for their support, guidance, and collaboration. It validates the effort and passion I bring to my work every day, knowing that it has made a meaningful difference.

“At the same time, it inspires me to continue striving for excellence and innovation in academic advising, always seeking new ways to support and empower students on their educational journeys. I am truly honored to receive this award and am committed to continuing to uphold the values of excellence, integrity, and student-centeredness that it represents. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey with me.”

As an advisor, Simm promotes meaningful opportunities for learning, development, and engagement for the students she serves at USU Uintah Basin. She strives to design plans for students that best align their educational goals with their strengths, values, and interests. Simm is also the Ute Indian Tribe Liaison at USU Uintah Basin, creating connections with the tribal departments and coordinating course offerings for the Education College Opportunity program.