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Marketing instructor wins national AMA award

Jack Schibrowsky and Jill Solomon

In her seven years of advising the USF chapter of the American Marketing Association, Marketing Instructor Jill Solomon has seen the chapter receive many awards, being recognized as one of the top chapters nationally for the past five years. This year, along with seeing USF recognized again as one of the best chapters in the country, Solomon was recognized as one of the best advisors.

At the annual AMA conference held in New Orleans in April, Solomon was presented with the Hugh G. Wales Outstanding Advisor of the Year Award, given to only two advisors nationwide. Last year, Solomon's co-advisor Victoria Panzer was presented with the award, and Solomon's husband, Marketing Professor Paul Solomon, won the award in 1991. The USF AMA chapter was also named a Silver Chapter at the conference, putting USF students in the top three percent of chapters in North America.

"I am thrilled to have been selected," Solomon said. "It confirms my belief that if you work hard and do the right things for the right reasons, people notice -- but it's OK if they don't. The reward is seeing my students grow."

During Solomon's tenure as advisor, USF marketing students have achieved numerous accomplishments. The USF chapter of the organization has been named Superior Collegiate Chapter in 2009, Distinguished Collegiate Chapter in 2010, Gold Collegiate Chapter in 2011, Silver Collegiate Chapter in 2012, and Silver Collegiate Chapter in 2013. She has presided over countless fundraisers and initiatives, notably growing USF's golf tournament from $4,500 initially to $15,000 for the past two years.

"Honestly the list of awards could go on, but that is not what is most important," USF chapter President Henry Reinberg wrote in his nomination letter for Solomon. "A marketing professor with enough things on her plate was asked to co-advise an entire organization. Years later, she is a devoted, caring, and passionate advisor who lives and breathes AMA."

The award is selected through a student-centric process: a student writes the letter of nomination, which cannot identify the name or college of the advisor, and a panel of students selects the winners based on a predetermined criteria of excellence.

"I am humbled to be chosen by students," Solomon said. "I simply love the close interaction I have with great students. I love mentoring at this level and seeing the personal growth."