NEEDHAM, MASS. – The Northeast-10 Conference has honored Dr. Sophia Koustas, Assistant Professor of Business Administration and Management, with the Dr. Dave Landers Faculty Mentor Award.  Dr. Koustas is the first Southern New Hampshire University winner of the award, now in its eighth year.  The award was announced at the Northeast-10 banquet Tuesday night in Needham, Mass.

Dr. Koustas has been teaching at SNHU since 2010. Her professional experience includes nearly 20 years as a leader, innovator, and connector in various sectors (local government, private, and non-profit organizations) in the U.S. and abroad. The projects and collaborations she has been involved in have allowed her to travel to over 20 countries. She is fluent in the Greek language and has some knowledge of Spanish and German.

In her nomination, SNHU Volleyball junior Eyleen Dias (Plymouth, Mass.) wrote "Dr. Koustas is deeply committed to ensuring that student-athletes are well-prepared for life beyond their athletic careers. Recognizing the importance of equipping us with the skills and resources necessary for success in the professional world, she takes proactive steps to organize events tailored to our needs. These events, such as the AI Forum and Summit, serve as invaluable opportunities for us to network with industry professionals, gain practical insights, and develop essential skills relevant to our future careers."

The award is named after Dr. Dave Landers, a longtime professor and faculty athletic representative at Saint Michael's College.  In June 2016, the NE10 Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) created the Faculty Mentor Award – an honor that is organized and voted on by a committee made up of current NE10 SAAC members. The award recognizes a faculty member from a league institution who has supported the efforts of student-athletes in achieving their academic goals.  Each of the 12 institutions nominated one faculty member.

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