From top: Ersoff, Madden, Sitlani, and Portnoy
Congratulations to Rausser College of Natural Resources advisors Ryann Madden and Zarah Ersoff, Professor Daniel Portnoy, and undergraduate Sanya Sitlani, recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Advising and Student Services Awards. The awards, presented annually by the Council on Advising and Student Support, recognize UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff who have a positive and innovative impact on student learning, engagement, and belonging across campus.
Madden and Ersoff were recognized for transforming graduate advising in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management through creativity, compassion, and thoughtful data use. By working as a team, Madden and Ersoff met with every incoming graduate student before their program began, gathering information on preparation, funding, and goals to provide personalized guidance from the start. They also drew on insights from past cohorts to build a bCourses site with key information and opportunities for connection and community.
The nomination credits Madden and Ersoff not only for easing students’ transition into graduate school but also for helping them navigate shared challenges together. They provided group support at milestones such as qualifying exams and advancement to candidacy, introduced ongoing assessments and individual development plans to strengthen mentorship, and tracked funding trends to guide financial planning and transparency for students.
Sitlani was one of three undergraduate or graduate students recognized for providing outstanding advising, mentoring, and counseling to their peers. A third-year Peer Advising Leader (PAL) in the Office of Instruction & Student Affairs, Sitlani’s nominator praised their positivity, hard work, innovation, and humble leadership. “Not only does Sanya represent the advising office well, but they are also a very active member of the wider Rausser College community among peers, other staff members, and faculty through their many other roles on campus,” the nomination reads.
Portnoy was honored as an Outstanding Faculty Advisor, which recognizes individuals whose primary responsibilities are teaching and research but who also spend a portion of their time providing direct student advising. Portnoy, a distinguished professor in the Departments of Molecular & Cell Biology and Plant and Microbial Biology, is described by one of his PHD students as incredibly organized and prompt. “The level of patience and flexibility Dan’s offered me these past 6 years is admirable and has served to improve my professional and personal life,” the nomination said.
Awardees will be recognized during a campus ceremony on Wednesday, February 18. Learn more about all the recipients at the 2025 Excellence in Advising and Student Services Awards website.