In recognition of the critically important role that mentors play in supporting undergraduate research and creative activity, the Office of Undergraduate Research offers two annual awards for outstanding mentorship. Each year, a committee of undergraduate students will select one or two faculty recipients and one graduate student recipient of the Mentorship Excellence Award. Awards will be formally presented in April during the Frontiers in Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition.
Outstanding mentors:
- Develop a holistic view of their mentees through sustained interaction and efforts to understand students’ short-term and long-term goals
- Challenge students to take the next steps in their research or creative work, including the presentation of that work in appropriate venues
- Support student inquiry by finding ways to make projects possible and guiding students in pursuing projects safely and ethically
- Provide constructive feedback that focuses on student learning and enables students to see failures as productive learning opportunities
- Work transparently, making their thought process accessible to students and modeling how to grapple with research and creative challenges
- Ensure that students develop an understanding of the field and the broader impact of the work (why) along with relevant knowledge and skills (what, how)
- Connect students to resources, opportunities, and contacts – on campus and beyond – to further students’ projects, networks, and professional development
Mentorship Excellence Award for Faculty
Eligibility
Nominees must currently hold a faculty position (Assistant/Associate/Full Professor) at the University of Connecticut. Faculty based at the Storrs campus, regional campuses, and UConn Health are eligible for nomination.
Only current UConn undergraduate students may submit nominations. A nominator must have worked under the mentorship of the nominee outside of a classroom setting for a minimum of one semester or summer, but need not be working with the nominee at the time of nomination.
The nomination form for the 2025 Faculty Mentorship Excellence Awards will open in February 2025. Nominations will be accepted through March 14, 2025.
Selection
A committee of undergraduate students will review the nominations and select the recipient(s) they consider to best exemplify the characteristics of an outstanding mentor.
Past Honorees
2024: Ryan Talbert & Ashley Helton
2023: Na Zhang & Wendy Mok
2022: Jason Oliver Chang & Sarah Knutie
2021: Bradley Wright & Beth Lawrence
2020: Laura Bunyan & J. Peter Gogarten
2019: Charles W. Mahoney & Seok-Woo Lee
2018: Andrea Voyer & Nicholas Eddy
2017: Virginia Hettinger & Morgan Tingley
2016: Dwight Codr & Etan Markus
2015: George Bollas
Mentorship Excellence Award for Graduate Students
Eligibility
Nominees must currently be pursuing a graduate degree (master’s, Ph.D., or professional degree) at the University of Connecticut. Graduate students based at the Storrs campus, regional campuses, professional schools, and UConn Health are eligible for nomination.
Only current UConn undergraduate students may submit nominations. A nominator must have worked under the mentorship of the nominee outside of a classroom setting for a minimum of one semester or summer, but need not be working with the nominee at the time of nomination.
The nomination form for the 2025 Graduate Student Mentorship Excellence Award will open in February 2025. Nominations will be accepted through March 14, 2025.
Selection
A committee of undergraduate students will review the nominations and select the recipient they consider to best exemplify the characteristics of an outstanding mentor.
Past Honorees
2024: Olivia Corvino
2023: Chelsea Garcia
2022: Mia Kawaida
2021: Jessica Gutiérrez
2020: Samantha E. Lawrence
2019: Elizabeth Knapp
2018: Laura Mickelsen
2017: Amanda Coletti
2016: Samantha Yohn
2015: Christopher Kelly