In recognition of the pivotal role that mentors play in supporting undergraduate research and creative activity, the Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Mentorship Excellence Awards. These awards recognize two faculty members – one in a STEM field, and one in a non-STEM field – and one graduate student who exemplify the ways in which outstanding mentors challenge and support their students, enabling them to take intellectual risks and achieve milestones they might not have initially envisioned being able to reach.
Please join us in congratulating Alexander Dupuy, Shareen Hertel, and Cheyenne Summers on their selection as this year’s Mentorship Excellence Award recipients. The awards were presented on May 1, 2026 during the Teaching, Advising, and Mentoring Awards ceremony hosted by the Office of Provost.
Alexander Dupuy, Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Professor Dupuy was nominated by Krish Bhuva ’27 (ENG). The following text is excerpted from his nomination.
Before working with Professor Dupuy, I approached engineering in a more surface-level, procedural way. Through countless conversations, he has pushed me to focus on the subtleties, how small variables, gradients, and second-order effects can drive outcomes in complex systems. He consistently makes his thinking visible, breaking down how he approaches problems so that I can build real intuition rather than just follow steps.
Dr. Dupuy also strikes a rare balance between guidance and independence. He does not simply answer questions; he challenges me to justify my assumptions, refine my ideas, and take ownership of my work. At the same time, he is always available. No matter how busy he is, he has consistently made time to sit down with me and work through my questions, whether they are highly technical or something I am still trying to understand at a basic level. That accessibility has been critical to my growth. Beyond research, Dr. Dupuy has played a major role in my professional development. He has connected me with opportunities, supported my transition into entrepreneurship, and provided mentorship that extends far beyond the lab. His investment in my success is not limited to academic outcomes; he actively works to position me for long-term growth. Through his mentorship, I have developed not only stronger technical skills but also the confidence to take on complex, ambiguous challenges and pursue ambitious goals.
Shareen Hertel, Professor, Professor, Political Science & Wiktor Osiatyński Chair of Human Rights
Professor Hertel was nominated by Bridget Quiroga ’26 (CLAS). The following text is excerpted from her nomination.
Professor Hertel has proven herself to be an excellent mentor, and I am incredibly grateful to have had someone like her advise me throughout my academic experience at UConn. Despite only formally agreeing to advise my honors thesis, Professor Hertel has gone above and beyond to help me achieve my academic and professional goals. She has suggested courses for me to take based off of my interests, connected me with numerous professors within and outside of UConn for professional interviews and advice, sent me research panels and events to attend, offered guidance on different post-graduate Master’s programs and jobs, written me numerous letters of recommendations, and nominated me for the Cohen Scholarship at UConn.
Professor Hertel is always aware of exactly when and how her students need her support – and is more than happy to provide it. When I told her I was struggling to find internships for the summer, she immediately drafted an email full of opportunities I had never heard of. After weeks of discussing with her my shift in post-graduate plans from law to social work, I found an email in my inbox one evening of Professor Hertel forwarding me a social work info session occurring on campus and connecting me to her colleague in charge of it. These are only two examples of the many efforts Professor Hertel has made to ensure her mentees achieve their goals.
Cheyenne Summers, Ph.D., Animal Science
Cheyenne Summers was nominated by a number of her students. The following text is excerpted from their nominations.
Cheyenne has influenced my experience with undergraduate research greatly by fostering a welcoming and kind environment, always offering encouragement and her desire to pass on her skills and knowledge to those interested in her project. She has extended opportunities for involvement to me without obligation to do so, which not only gave me a stronger incentive to want to be involved, but also made me believe that I had the potential to achieve greater things beyond my own expectations.
Cheyenne always goes above and beyond with her mentorship. An example of this was when she spent a whole evening with me figuring out how to troubleshoot a lab protocol I was struggling with for weeks. This lab protocol had nothing to do with any of her work, yet she still spent the time learning and training me. She found it important for me to gain confidence in the lab regardless of the number of failed experiments I encountered. This was just one example of many, in which she would guide and mentor my experiments. Even when her own experiments in the lab would take an unexpected turn, she would shift it into a learning opportunity, say, “yay science” and strategize. Cheyenne is always encouraging my research ideas in the lab, celebrating the small wins, and providing a ton of feedback on my presentation skills.
Congratulations to the 2026 award recipients! The Office of Undergraduate Research thanks the undergraduate students who nominated their faculty and graduate student mentors as well as the Peer Research Ambassadors who served on this year’s selection committee.
