Kari McCloud Receives NC State’s Outstanding Teacher Award

Kari McCloud, master academic advisor and lecturer in the Department of Exploratory Studies, has been selected as a university-level recipient of the 2020-21 Outstanding Teacher Award and will become a member of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers for the duration of her faculty appointment at NC State.

As a recipient of the award, McCloud will be honored at the virtual University Teaching Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 21. She and other recipients were also featured in the NC State Bulletin and the Provost’s Office newsletter. 

As master academic advisor and lecturer in Exploratory Studies, McCloud advises 60-80 undecided undergraduate students in a holistic manner as they transition from high school to college, choose a major and progress toward graduation. She also instructs two sections of Introduction to Higher Education, a two-semester, 1-credit hour graded course for undecided first-years. This course includes administering the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory. McCloud coordinated the Major Exploration Series, which allows students to learn about different majors across the university. 

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Kari McCloud at NC State,” said Bret Smith, senior associate dean of University College in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs. “As a result of her work as a teacher and advisor over the past 14 years in Exploratory Studies, she has helped hundreds of NC State students thrive. 

“In the words of one of her students, ‘She always goes the extra mile for each and every student, making an effort to get to know each student on a deeper level… Having someone like Kari who truly cares made the process of finding a field of study much less stressful, as I knew she always had my back,’” Smith added. “ I can only add that all of us are fortunate to have someone of Kari’s talent, passion, expertise and care working to support our students at NC State.”