Heidi Sauber

(COLLEGE PARK, Md. - February 2004) - Heidi Sauber, director of the Engineering Co-op and Career Services, is the first recipient of the William L. "Bud" Thomas Jr. Mentoring Award.

Established in 2003 by the College Student Personnel graduate program, this award honors excellence in mentoring between higher education professionals and graduate college student personnel students. The award was presented at the conclusion of the Student Affairs Conference held Feb. 13. The conference was sponsored by the Department of Counseling and Personnel Services’ College Student Personnel program.

Sauber has served in her position in the engineering school for 17 years and has worked at the University of Maryland for 18 years. She has worked with 11 graduate assistants from the College Student Personnel program.

Nominated by former students from the program, Sauber was described as someone who showed genuine interest in her student’s coursework. Another student said that she learned from Sauber "how to have fun at work." Among other comments contained in the letters of nomination, Suaber was complimented on her mentorship skills of patience, faith, trust, and confidence. Sauber was lauded because "a good mentor is a person whose lessons and support linger with the ‘mentee’ long after the day-to-day contact."

William L. "Bud" Thomas, Jr. served the University of Maryland as Vice President for Student Affairs for over 25 years until his retirement in 2001. He also served the students of the College Student Personnel graduate program as a professor in the doctoral capstone seminar for many years. Thomas was committed to the development of new professionals and he mentored scores of doctoral students. According to program director Susan Komives, this award reflects University Provost William Destler’s initiative to promote more mentorship programs for students, especially graduate students.

Sauber thanked the College Student Personnel Program for honoring her with the award. She also thanked the countless graduate students that she worked with and learned from. "I am incredibly fortunate to have met such wonderful graduate students," Sauber said.

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For more information on the College of Education, visit: www.education.umd.edu, or contact

Deborah Hudson, Assistant Dean of External Relations, at: dmhudson@umd.edu.