Anne Oldham, academic advisor in food science and human nutrition, is the recipient of the staff 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Advising Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. She advises approximately 100-150 undergraduate students each year on all academic matters, including curriculum, graduation requirements and professional development.
As an academic advisor, Oldham strives to assist and support students to enable them to reach their highest academic and professional potential. She continually engages with students and tries to enhance their awareness of connections between academic and personal interests, promote student development of a degree plan with high impact experiences, and encourage personal and professional growth. Her goal is for students to become life-long learners and strong future professionals.
Oldham developed the food science and human nutrition department’s advising model, which ensures that all undergraduate students work with a professional academic advisor and a faculty member in the student’s area of study. This model ensures that students are given current and correct information by the advisor and additional career-focused information from the faculty member. “I always walk out feeling better than when I walk in,” states one student. “The guidance I am given each advising session has always helped me with whatever problem or question I am facing.”
Oldham also is a registered dietitian and director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at Iowa State. She is responsible for all administrative tasks for the program, including developing and implementing policies and procedures for the effective management and operation of the undergraduate dietetics program, updating curriculum material and maintaining program accreditation. She serves as advisor of the Student Dietetic Association.