Weinberger wins UNC Award for Advising Excellence

April 23, 2015

“Dr. Weinberger has been the single greatest part of my experience at the Gillings School,” read the nomination letter from Sowmya Mangipudi, an undergraduate pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree from the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health.

“Not only is his door always open,” she continued. “He will also go out of his way to make sure students are getting the most out of the program and working towards career goals. The best part about Dr. Weinberger is that he doesn’t have to be an adviser. He’s incredibly busy, but still chooses to advise undergraduates because he loves the work.”

Dr. Morris Weinberger

Based on glowing nominations like the one from Mangipudi, Morris Weinberger, PhD, Vergil N. Slee Distinguished Professor of health policy and management (HPM) and director of the HPM doctoral program at the Gillings School, will receive the Class of 1996 Award for Advising Excellence.

The award acknowledges his service as an adviser to undergraduate students, six of whom nominated him for the recognition.

“At our first meeting, Dr. Weinberger told me that if we were not still in contact five years after my graduation date, he would not have done his job well. He takes that promise to heart,” shared Mary Peeler, another student in the BSPH program. “He has become a partner with me in planning my future, been a navigator through the confusing world of graduate school applications and become a trusted confidante.”

Erin Isenberg, a third BSPH advisee, also contributed a letter in support of Weinberger’s nomination. “He was a first-generation college student, as am I, and he understands the associated challenges,” she wrote. “He made an effort to serve as a resource during the times when I didn’t have anyone else to rely on. Last year, he reached out to people he knew and found a summer opportunity that allowed me to pursue my interests in medicine, primary care, research and quality improvement. He has been there at every step to guide me through class selections, interviews, career goals and important decisions.”

When asked to comment on his award, Weinberger said, “When I came to UNC, I quickly realized how incredibly fortunate I was to advise and mentor truly outstanding students and to be in a department with a culture in which faculty are committed to students’ success.”

“I began advising undergraduate students three years ago,” he added. “As with other students in the department, they are unbelievably bright, work very hard, are fun to be around and are passionate about making a difference in the world. With this kind of students, advising becomes easy and enjoyable.”

Weinberger will be honored at the College of Arts and Sciences awards ceremony on May 5 at the University Room in Hyde Hall.