Prof. Merav Shohet Wins Undergraduate Academic Advising Awards, Featured on BU Today
Prof. Merav Shohet Wins Undergraduate Academic Advising Awards, Featured on BU Today
Every year, Boston University recognizes two exceptional undergraduate advisors with the Undergraduate Academic Advising Awards. This year, the honors go to Elizabeth Vassallo, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development director of undergraduate student services, and Merav Shohet, a College of Arts & Sciences associate professor and director of undergraduate studies for anthropology.
“Your selection for this award reflects your outstanding contributions to academic advising and your exceptional work engaging and supporting our students,” Amie Grills, associate provost for undergraduate affairs, wrote in letters notifying Shohet and Vassallo of their wins. “I know how incredibly rewarding, and challenging, this work can be and your continued commitment to your students is truly noteworthy. On behalf of Boston University, thank you and congratulations.”
The awards recognize advisors “who have engaged students in the collaborative process of advising and have had a significant impact on students’ academic careers.” Winners receive $1,500. BU staff, faculty, and alumni are invited to nominate one candidate per category (awards are given to both a professional academic advisor and faculty academic advisor).
Shohet, the 2024 faculty advisor winner, splits her time among teaching, advising, and administrative duties. It’s a busy schedule, she acknowledges, but one that allows her plenty of time for what she enjoys best: talking to students.
“I love that BU students have a lot of initiative and curiosity,” says Shohet, whose anthropological research ranges from studying underprivileged dialysis patients to how Israeli kibbutzim manage aging and end-of-life care. “And I love when students start forming their own questions they want to answer. One of my favorite parts of the job is advising students on how to start their own research to answer these really interesting questions of all kinds.”
More than anything, Shohet says, she takes pride in seeing students succeed.
That doesn’t just mean acceptance letters or awards. “To me, success means being fulfilled,” she says. “It is always really nice to see students challenge themselves or expand their horizons and figure out what’s meaningful to them.”
Shohet and Vassallo will be honored at the 11th annual Academic Advising Symposium on Friday, March 1. Find more details here.