Lisa D. Redding: Outstanding Graduate Academic Advising – Staff Award

Lisa D. Redding is the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Graduate Academic Advising – Staff Award. Redding is the academic program coordinator for two Ph.D. programs: the Bioinformatics Graduate Program and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences (QBios).

By all indications, Redding is the guardian angel every graduate student, as well as graduate program director, wishes for.  She is a student advocate, faculty partner, problem solver, go-to person, administrator par excellence. Especially to international students, Redding is the comforting reassurance that whatever vexing problems arise in their educational journey, a suitable solution will be found.

Students and faculty alike sing high praises of Redding.

“Lisa Redding is an exemplary advisor, but an even better person,” says a former M.S. Bioinformatics student. “She is consistently going above and beyond for all students and is always informative, respectful, and just delightful to be around.”

“Lisa embodies the spirit of a graduate academic advisor,” says another former M.S. Bioinformatics student. “She radiates a certain quality of happiness and confidence that made me feel secure in my decision to attend Georgia Tech and confident in my first days in the program.”

“Georgia Tech staff have a remarkable sense of service for members of the academic community. Lisa is an outstanding example of that spirit,” say nine QBios students in a nomination letter. “She showed genuine interest in our lives and would always ask if there were ways she could be helping.”

Redding “has been the highest performing ... member of staff I have had the pleasure to work with at this great and well-run institute,” says Jung H. Choi, a 30-year faculty member, an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, and the director of the Professional M.S. Bioinformatics Program.

Redding’s cheerful disposition puts students at ease and helps them focus on their work rather than unduly worrying about paperwork, says I. King Jordan, an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences and the director of the Bioinformatics Graduate Program.

“She is available to students, responsive to their needs, as well as introspective and thoughtful in trying to bridge the gap between student perceptions and program administration,” says Joshua S. Weitz, a professor in the School of Biological Sciences and the director of QBios. “She has been a tremendous asset in recruitment and in student satisfaction.”

“It is a privilege to work with the graduate students and faculty in the Bioinformatics and QBioS programs,” Redding says.  “I am honored to be recognized for my service.”