Nursing advisor receives top USF award

Advisors contribute to students’ success. Through academic planning and direction, they empower students from the start…all the way through graduation. And they do it with great dedication and compassion.

Those are standards Kirsten Manzi, lives by. She said, as an academic advisor at USF Nursing, watching students succeed gives her a sense of purpose.

“I am students’ biggest support system,” Manzi said. “My goal is to help them reach their highest academic achievements. And I do it with passion and positivity.”

As a result of her outstanding advising skills and commitment to students, she received the USF Outstanding Undergraduate Advising award. She was one of six USF advisors to be recognized with the award.

“It’s such an honor to receive this award,” said Manzi. “It means a great deal to be recognized among my peers. It gives me more drive and passion for my profession.”

Manzi mainly works with pre-nursing sophomores, pre-nursing transfers, and pre-nursing students who have a bachelor’s degree outside nursing. She also advises prospective and current veterans to bachelor of science in nursing, or VCARE, students.

“I help the students with course planning, class registration and academic counseling,” Manzi said. “I give them accurate advising and help them make a decision. I also support their decision-making. This practice helps them build independence and critical thinking. That’s my philosophy.”

Manzi stays current on academic advising trends and best practices. She is currently working on a graduate certificate in academic advising through USF. She also attends a variety of conferences in the field. She recently presented at the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) conference about veterans transitioning into the workforce.

She will be honored with the award by USF System President, Judy Genshaft, PhD, at the annual faculty honors & awards reception on Nov. 7 at USF Sam & Martha Gibbons Alumni Center.

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