Nate Whittaker, an academic adviser in TRiO Student Support Services, has won the 2013 University of MN Award for Global Engagement.
Since 2010, Whittaker has led a global seminar to South Africa, where students learn about social justice firsthand by participating in a retreat and service learning at two South African non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Whittaker has consistently recruited a diverse pool of applicants to his global seminar, with 40% representing both low-income and first-generation populations. He has identified opportunities for students returning from the program to receive support through International Student Support and Services, and coordinated fundraising projects for the two South African NGOs.
He has worked with colleagues across campus to increase recruitment of low-income and students of color to study abroad, and helped develop the Learning Abroad Center’s Bridging Loan program, which assists low-income students with upfront study abroad costs such as confirmation fees and airline tickets.
Whittaker earned his M.Ed. in Youth Development Leadership in CEHD, and has been an academic adviser since 2006. Earlier this year, Whittaker also won the University’s Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award.
See a recent profile of Whittaker and his accomplishments.