I have always been engaged in advising students since I began teaching in 1990. I have an open-door policy, which means if my door is open I am free for students to come in and chat. If it is not open, students may knock and inquire if I am busy. Unless I am under a tight deadline, my answer is often "I am always busy! But not too busy to speak with students."
Beyond this, I have also been involved with student advising in a more formal role. From 1990-1992, I was the secretary for the Augustana Student Affairs Committee. In 1994, I became Divisional Registration Officer (DRO) for students in Biology and Chemistry. Then, in 1995 until 2006, I was Chair of the Biology and Chemistry Division, which later became the Department of Science within the Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta.
One of my roles as Chair was to give program advice to students. This involved assessing students' strengths and goals to help them find a program or course that would fit their preferences and, of course, timetable. My rule of thumb, which I share with students, has been to follow my own father's advice to me: find something in life at which you excel and love. Anything else will become either drudgery or too difficult to enjoy.
Since leaving the position of Chair of Science in 2006, I am still informally involved in advising students who are interested in either the molecular or health sciences.
From 2003 until 2010, I was faculty advisor to the Augustana Biology Club. This is a student-run club, catering to all students interested in both the life and health sciences. My role was minimal, as the club was truly student driven. Mostly, I acted as a liaison between the students and other groups on the Augustana Campus, providing advice on dates for activities, and feedback on activities the students devised.