The University Doctoral Mentoring Award is to honor one tenured faculty member from each academic college for their outstanding mentorship of doctoral students. Please note: each college has a different selection process to identify an award recipient.
The University Doctoral Mentoring Award winners are announced at the annual Faculty Recognition & Awards ceremony. We encourage graduate students, faculty, and administrators to submit nominations. Please send your nominations via email to the department chair by the established deadline.
Eligibility & Nominations Criteria
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Only current or previously employed, tenured, graduate faculty who supervise doctoral students at the University for at least five years are eligible.
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Nominations are accepted from current or former graduate students, faculty members, department chairs, graduate program directors, advisors, and administrators. Individual faculty members may nominate themselves.
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The nominee from each college must be currently supporting graduate education through teaching, service on graduate committees, and sponsorship of student research.
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The nominee must not have received the University Doctoral Mentoring Award during the previous five years.
Letters of Nomination Must Address the Candidate’s Record of Sustained Activity in the Following Categories:
- Guides students in acquiring mastery of a current body of knowledge, development of critical and creative thinking, communication, and multidisciplinary approaches to solving problems.
- Actively guides students' research and academic training, clearly articulates expectations, and holds students and themselves to high standards.
- Actively involves students in professional conferences, presentations, publications, and juried exhibitions.
- Actively seeks financial support for students' graduate study and research.
- Is accessible for advice and assistance, whether the student is in residence, on leave, and is or is not one of theirs.
- Able to help students overcome problems, discord, and barriers.
- They demonstrate an excellent model of professionalism.
- Are assisting students to network with other relevant professionals and faculty.
- Aids students in career preparation and alerts students to career opportunities; helps students secure post-degree employment.
Nominations Process & Schedule
Only electronic submissions will be accepted.
Each college is responsible for establishing its own review committee, college coordinator, and the deadline for nominations. The chair/supervisor certifies faculty eligibility before sending it to the college coordinator
Nomination packets should include the following and be submitted as a single PDF with the following:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Any work done in support of mentees
- Additional work done in collaboration with mentees, including publications, grant proposals, etc.
- Personal statement on mentoring (no more than 1 page, double-spaced)
- Two letters of support from graduated students
- Letter of support from the chair of the department
Nominations and accompanying materials from the deans need to be submitted via email by Friday, January 24, 2025.
The Graduate Associate or Assistant Deans must submit the University Doctoral Mentoring Award winner for their respective colleges to the Graduate School.
- The potential winner's nomination packet must be sent to the Graduate School at graduateschool@odu.edu. Please send the package as one PDF file.
Nominations submitted to the Graduate School: Friday, February 14, 2025.
Awards & Presentation
University Doctoral Mentoring Award winners receive $1,000 and have their names displayed on a plaque in a centralized location. Winners are announced at the annual Faculty Recognition and Awards ceremony.
Past Award Winners
- Vanessa Panfil, College of Arts & Letters, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice
- Jori Beck, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies , Department of Teaching & Learning
- Tina Gustin, School of Nursing
- Charles Sukenik, College of Sciences, Department of Physics
- Marc Ouellette, College of Arts & Letters, English
- Gulsah Kemer, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Counseling
- Cathy Lau-Barraco, College of Sciences, Psychology
- Ruth Triplett, College of Arts & Letters, Sociology & Criminal Justice Department
- Jing Zhang, Strome College of Business, Management
- Sebastian Kuhn, College of Sciences, Physics
- Tony Perez, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Educational Foundations & Leadership Department
- Dr. Kevin DePew, College of Arts & Letters, English
- Dr. Chuanyi Tang, Strome College of Business, Marketing
- Dr. Guijun Wang, College of Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Dr. Karen Sanzo, College of Education & Professional Studies, Educational Foundations & Leadership
- Dr. Daniel Richards, College of Arts & Letters, English
- Dr. John Ford, Strome College of Business, Marketing
- Dr. Wie Yusuf, Strome College of Business, Public Service
- Dr. Mitchell Williams, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Educational Foundations & Leadership
- Dr. Daniel Russell, College of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Science
- Dr. Holly Gaff, College of Sciences, Biological Sciences
- Dr. Regina Karp, College of Arts & Letters, International Studies
- Dr. Ling Li, Strome College of Business, Information & Technology & Decision Sciences
- Dr. Brandon Butler, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Teaching & Learning
- Dr. Sandeep Kumar, Batten College of Engineering & Technology, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Dr. Mariana Szklo-Coxe, College of Health Sciences, Community & Environmental Health
- Dr. Guijun Wang, College of Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Vanessa Panfil, College of Arts & Letters, Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice
- Jori Beck, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies , Department of Teaching & Learning
- Tina Gustin, School of Nursing
- Charles Sukenik, College of Sciences, Department of Physics
- Marc Ouellette, College of Arts & Letters, English
- Gulsah Kemer, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Counseling
- Cathy Lau-Barraco, College of Sciences, Psychology
- Ruth Triplett, College of Arts & Letters, Sociology & Criminal Justice Department
- Jing Zhang, Strome College of Business, Management
- Sebastian Kuhn, College of Sciences, Physics
- Tony Perez, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Educational Foundations & Leadership Department
- Dr. Kevin DePew, College of Arts & Letters, English
- Dr. Chuanyi Tang, Strome College of Business, Marketing
- Dr. Guijun Wang, College of Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Dr. Karen Sanzo, College of Education & Professional Studies, Educational Foundations & Leadership
- Dr. Daniel Richards, College of Arts & Letters, English
- Dr. John Ford, Strome College of Business, Marketing
- Dr. Wie Yusuf, Strome College of Business, Public Service
- Dr. Mitchell Williams, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Educational Foundations & Leadership
- Dr. Daniel Russell, College of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Science
- Dr. Holly Gaff, College of Sciences, Biological Sciences
- Dr. Regina Karp, College of Arts & Letters, International Studies
- Dr. Ling Li, Strome College of Business, Information & Technology & Decision Sciences
- Dr. Brandon Butler, Darden College of Education & Professional Studies, Teaching & Learning
- Dr. Sandeep Kumar, Batten College of Engineering & Technology, Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Dr. Mariana Szklo-Coxe, College of Health Sciences, Community & Environmental Health
- Dr. Guijun Wang, College of Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry