Stephanie Jares was awarded the 2023 Jenny Chang Award for Outstanding Student Service.
NC State Student Government presents the annual award to one faculty, staff or administration member who exemplifies what it takes to serve the student body. Winners go above and beyond to help students during their time at NC State, and Jares embodies this idea.
As director of academic advising in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Jares works every day to ensure that students in the department receive the support they need to be successful in their educational endeavors.
Jares has spearheaded the Department of Sociology and Anthropology Student Ambassador Program. The program allows students to take part in planning events, writing stories and assisting in recruitment efforts. Every student in the department is assigned to a student ambassador who will act as a mentor for them until they graduate. Student ambassadors act as guides for new students who may find it difficult to find their place within the program.
The Jenny Chang Award is not the first award Jares has received for her work. She was awarded the NC State University New Academic Advisor Award in 2022 as well as the NACADA Outstanding New Advising Award in the same year. She was also nominated for the 2023 CHASS Award for Excellence.
Jares was presented the award in March at a university leadership event attended by members of the Student Senate, the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, and the Chancellor’s Office. Jares was nominated by student ambassador and criminology senior Kilye Hucks.
“It is quite an honor for me to be recognized with this award that was voted on 100 percent by students,” Jares said.
The Jenny Chang Award for Outstanding Student Service was renamed from the Outstanding Student Service Award in 2006 after NC State student Jenny Chang. Chang was Student Body President in 1998-1999 and Senior Class President in 2000.
Chang was a champion of students’ interests and was concerned with ensuring that students were represented and had a seat at the table where decisions were made. She worked to decrease student fees and get students involved with the university.
