Kayla McKinney, coordinator of student engagement in the Mary Frances Early College of Education, received the 2026 Advisor of the Year Award from the University of Georgia’s Department of Engagement, Leadership, and Service (ELS).
The award honors an advisor of a student organization who goes above and beyond to support the organization’s student leadership. McKinney joined the College of Education as student engagement coordinator in 2022, where she advises the College’s Student Ambassador program, supports student organizations within the College, and runs events and programs geared toward students.
“I feel honored simply by the fact the ambassadors take the time out to nominate me. The executive boards have done so every year religiously and are quite offended when I don’t win,” McKinney said.
“Advising the ambassadors is about 40% of my role as engagement coordinator, so there are times I feel that I am not supporting them as much as I could due to other priorities. Receiving this award—and by default the ambassadors’ support—means that I am succeeding in curating a positive campus experience for these 50-plus members, which is my ultimate goal.”
Housed in UGA’s Division of Student Affairs, ELS aims to foster a sense of community and engagement between students and the University through events, programming, and services.
Students, student organizations, and individuals like McKinney are recognized at the ELS annual awards ceremony for their commitment to student engagement.
“I am passionate about my work because I believe student engagement and campus involvement can reshape students’ lives for the better by building connection and community,” she said.
McKinney accepted the award at the 2026 H. Gordon and Francis S. Davis Student Engagement Awards ceremony, held on campus in the Tate Grand Hall on Tuesday, April 14.