Graduate studies is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020-2021 Graduate Program Advising and Mentoring Awards. Mentorship and advising are a critical component to graduate student success and this award celebrates those individuals who provide outstanding service in this area.

This year's winners are:

• Enoch Baldwin, Associate Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
• Charles Bevins, M.D., Professor, Immunology
• Kermit Carraway, Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Tim Choy, Associate Professor, Anthropology
• James Cloyne, Associate Professor, Economics
• Mark Cooper, Assistant Professor, Geography
• Nicholas Curro, Professor, Physics
• Zhi Ding, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Georgia Drakakaki, Professor, Plant Biology
• Ryan Finnigan, Associate Professor, Sociology
• Thomas Hahn, Professor, Animal Behavior
• Jeffrey Hoch, Professor, Public Health
• Fushing Hsieh, Professor, Biostatistics
• Patrice Koehl, Professor, Computer Science
• Alison Ledgerwood, Professor, Psychology
• Seongkyu Lee, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Jeremy Mason, Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
• Sabbie Miller, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Frances Moore, Assistant Professor, Environmental Policy & Management
• Vaidehi Ramanathan, Professor, Linguistics
• Samuel Sandoval Solis, Associate Professor, Hydrologic Sciences
• Andrea Schreier, Adjunct Associate Professor, Ecology
• Joshua Stern, D.V.M., Professor, Integrative Genetics and Genomics
• Gil Tal, Director, The Plug-in Hybrid & Electric Vehicle (PH&EV) Research Center, Transportation Tech Policy
• Dean Tantillo, Professor, Chemistry
• Archana Venkatesan, Professor, Religion

Graduate programs nominated faculty members who displayed outstanding excellence in advising and mentoring of their graduate students. As part of the nomination process, these Graduate programs highlighted faculty for their service to the program, commitment to advising and mentoring, and positive impact on graduate students and colleagues. This was an optional recognition program and graduate programs participated at will. The award recipients received a letter of recognition from the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies that can be included in merit and promotion files or to document their service for grant applications or organizations.

This award is one of many new initiatives Graduate Studies has developed to showcase and promote positive advising and mentoring experiences. 

Elizabeth Sturdy, Director of Mentoring and Academic Success Initiatives at Graduate Studies, feels the awards recognize faculty who have provided exceptional support during the pandemic. 

“This past year revealed the vital importance of mentoring graduate students through crises,” said Sturdy. “Faculty play such a critical role in supporting graduate student well-being and we wanted to recognize all of our faculty mentors who were so committed this year to serving students." 

Advising and mentoring efforts enhance graduate student retention and well-being, allowing graduate students to successfully navigate and thrive in graduate programs. 

"It was clear—in reading the nomination letters—just how many faculty made a profound difference this past year and how much mentorship impacts graduate student success,” said Sturdy. “I want to join the graduate programs in extending thanks and gratitude for all the support these faculty have provided.” 

For more information on Graduate Studies' mentoring resources, awards, and programs, visit the mentoring website.