Outstanding Academic Advisor
Richard Narad Richard Narad fulfills the axiom, “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” Narad has been at California State University, Chico in the Department of Health and Community Services since 1990. He has been the coordinator of the Health Services Administration Option within Health Science since 1991. With that role came the advising of students in the option and minor. In addition to his advising duties, Narad also supervises students in their internships, keeps contact with alumni, and initiated the student chapter of American College of Health Executives on campus and has been its advisor since its inception. Narad is all of the things, according to his advisees, that a good advisor should be: caring, available, a good listener, and knowledgeable. Two of his former advisees speak of the “life-changing” influence he has had on their lives: “Dr. Narad changed my school career, my life and his advice will assist me in the future,” says one former student. “First and foremost Rick loves to advise students and often talks about the satisfaction he gets from it. And the students like him. Not only is he competent, but also he cares about their well being,” declares his department Chair Armeda Ferrini. Psychology professor Jane Rysberg states that Narad complained about gaining weight from all of the candy that students brought him. “I remember thinking,” said Rysberg, “that he must give very good advice!” Over and above the advising he has given to countless students in the last 12 years, the last three without release time, Narad developed two- and four-year plans for the department well before the concept was initiated at the University level. He also developed a personalized grid system which he uses in his advising sessions for individuals who do not fit the standard four-year plan. He calls it the “automated advising system,” and students walk away from his door, says Ferrini, with an individualized plan for graduation. Narad also developed the department’s web page <http://www.csuchico.edu/hcsv/> to provide easy access to advising materials, including links for health related career searches. He is also responsible for developing links to health related legislation, professional organizations, and sites to assist students in their research. In addition to coordinating the Health Services and Emergency Medical Services Administration programs, Narad is vice chair of the department. He received his M.P.A., with a specialty in health services administration, and his D.P.A., with a specialty in health policy, from the University of Southern California. His research interest is public policy regarding the organization and management of emergency medical services systems. Prior to coming to Chico, Dr. Narad was an emergency medical services administrator and consultant. He is currently chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials committee on Emergency Medical Services. |
