NEWS
NORMAN, Okla. – Bee Sidwell, an academic advisor in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Outstanding New Advisor Award, presented by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising.
The Outstanding New Advisor Award is a national recognition given to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional academic advising of students and served as an advisor for three years or less. Sidwell will be recognized at the NACADA Annual Conference, which will be held Oct. 4-7 in Oklahoma City.
“We are incredibly proud to see Bee recognized nationally for the exceptional work she does every day with OU students,” said Interim Associate Provost for Academic Advising Johnnie-Margaret McConnell. “Bee represents academic advising at its very best through building meaningful relationships with students, helping them navigate complex decisions, advocating for them when challenges arise, and connecting their academic experience to where they hope to go next. This recognition is incredibly well deserved, and we are fortunate to have Bee as part of the OU advising community.”
At OU, Sidwell serves in the School of Aviation, which has grown to include more than 640 students in recent years. She ensures students meet graduation requirements and find meaningful career pathways through a thorough understanding of both university policies and strict Federal Aviation Administration regulations, while also helping students navigate financial aid, academic progress and course changes. Last year, she received OU’s Outstanding New Advisor Award.
“It's sincerely a joy and an honor to guide our Aviation students from freshman year to graduation as an advisor,” Sidwell said. “It feels really special to be part of their academic journey and to watch the next generation of aviation professionals head out into the field each semester. I'm so proud of each of them!”
NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising was chartered in 1979 and serves higher education advisors through a variety of professional development and networking opportunities to enhance the educational development of students.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
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