Lauren Pierce, student services specialist in animal science, is the recipient of the staff 2025 Early Achievement in Advising Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. She has demonstrated exceptional skills in student-centered advising, showing a unique ability to engage and support students in a way that promotes both their academic and personal growth.
Pierce is a true advocate for advising as a learning-centered experience. During her meetings, she equips students with all the necessary tools, policies and information for them to make an informed decision. She actively involves them in advising, familiarizing them with degree plans, academic progress reports and graduation requirements. Most importantly, she takes the time to see how students are doing holistically. Through thoughtful, individualized advising sessions, Pierce helps students navigate complex academic and personal challenges, ensuring that they feel empowered and confident in their educational journeys.
A colleague stated, “What sets Lauren apart is her exceptional interpersonal skills. Whether helping a student identify their academic strengths or offering guidance during moments of uncertainty, Lauren has a rare ability to foster an atmosphere of trust and respect. This trust empowers students to take ownership of their academic paths and approach challenges with resilience.”
One of Pierce's key initiatives to support animal science students was the creation and launch of the Animal Science Student Help Room, a dedicated space where students can access free tutoring services provided by their peers to strengthen and enhance their academic performance. She believes college is a place for students to feel challenged and supported at the same time and wants every student to be successful.
In addition to her one-on-one advising work, Pierce has made significant contributions to advising practices within the animal science department. She has been instrumental in developing valuable advising resources for faculty and staff. With the transition to Workday, she further demonstrated her leadership by creating detailed, step-by-step tutorials on accessing advising reports and using new advising features. These resources have been shared widely, benefiting academic advisors across the entire college. In reference to the 2024 summer orientation sessions, a colleague stated, “Pierce played a pivotal role in planning, testing and refining registration methods using the university's new Workday software. Thanks to her dedication and problem-solving efforts, more than 250 new students successfully left orientation with well-organized schedules for the fall 2024 semester.”
With a primary focus on advising and student support, Pierce has quickly emerged as a leader in undergraduate advising. She is passionate about her work, and you can see it in the way that she interacts with her advisees. Students seek out Pierce as both an advisor and a mentor, and she maintains strong relationships with students even beyond graduation. A student stated, “Her organizational skills have helped me to succeed, and her encouragement has helped me thrive.”