On Sept. 30, 2025, the University Academic Advising Board held its annual awards ceremony at Cabell Library, where multiple College of Humanities and Sciences staff were recognized as award recipients. These honors celebrate the dedicated educators and administrators who go above and beyond in student support. Out of the six awards, CHS took home four. Learn more about our winners below.
Cole Cridlin, Ph.D. - Outstanding New Advisor
Senior academic advisor for the Department of English Cole Cridlin, Ph.D., was selected for the Outstanding New Advisor award. This honor is given to nominees who have served as an academic or faculty advisor for at least one, but no more than three years. The recipient is someone who demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills with a drive to help promote student success. Cridlin completed three degrees in English, French, and gender sexuality and women’s studies as an undergraduate student at VCU. Crindlin also holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in French language and literature from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining CHS, he worked as a study abroad advisor in VCU’s Global Education Office.
Rigby Bendele - Outstanding Administrator
Associate Director of Advising (Humanities) Rigby Bendele was the recipient for the Outstanding Administrator award. This award recognizes individuals whose primary focus is as a driven and responsible administrator or associate director/director of an academic advising program for at least three years while also providing direct academic advising services to students. Bendele started their time at VCU as a graduate student in the Department of Sociology in 2014. During that time, there was a need for graduate students to provide assistance by becoming academic advisors and Bendele took on the role and was partnered with the Department of Political Science. In their current role, Bendele oversees humanities academic advisors and also works with students who have escalated needs.
Juliana Rasnic - Gary Halliday Lifetime Achievement Award
Juliana Rasnic, director of advising for the humanities and social sciences, received the Gary Halliday Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition goes to individuals with a minimum of 15 years worth of documented accomplishments at VCU. They must be someone who has had a major influence on a large number of individuals and organizations in student support. In her current role, Rasnic assists students in crisis or financial aid issues, handles complex graduation problems, trains new advisors, and oversees many administrative tasks.
Nathan Bickett and Jen Clayton - Advising Innovation Award
Nathan Bickett, coordinator of undergraduate academic advising, and Jen Clayton, academic advisor, both for the Department of Political Science received the Advising Innovation Award for their work on the Political Science FirstGen course. This honor celebrates an advising professional or team for creatively improving advising practices at VCU with unique, innovative strategies. Both Bickett and Clayton played key roles in implementing and teaching the first-gen, first-year program at VCU, using grant support to put together coursework and give guidance to enhance students’ academic success.