The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Academic Advising Committee (IlliAAC) has named Statistics Undergraduate Advisor, Aaron Smith, as one of the recipients of the 2021 Outstanding New Advising Professionals. Smith was selected for this award for his dedication, care, and commitment to serving the undergraduate student population in the Department of Statistics. Along with the Program Director, David Unger, and additional Undergraduate Advisor, Jennifer Anderson Bliss, Aaron Smith and the Undergraduate Advising team serve over 900 undergraduate students in the Statistics majors in addition to over 200 students pursuing the Statistics minor. Award winners are nominated by their IlliACC peers. 

IlliACC is a professional organization of academic and student affairs professionals at the University of Illinois dedicated to the professional growth for academic advisor and advising. As the official voice for the academic advising community at the University of Illinois, it provides a forum for discussion, debate, and the exchange of ideas and information relevant to advising. In its efforts to enhance academic advising services on campus, IlliAAC advocates the highest level of professional ethics and standards among professionals.