Faculty Mentor Award

Nominations

The Graduate and Professional Student Organization is proud to announce the Indiana Bloomington Faculty Mentor Awards, 2009. All graduate and professional students are invited to give their support to faculty members that they feel deserve special recognition for exemplary behavior.

Nominations should be in the form of a letter. The letter(s) should be emailed to gpsolink@indiana.edu between Monday, January 12 and Friday, March 20, 2009. All nominees, graduate and professional students, and faculty as well as the award recipient, will be invited to attend an Award Ceremony.

Faculty Award Guidelines:

• Faculty must be current/have retired within the 2008/2009 academic year.
• Student must be current/have graduated within the last year (Graduate Class of 2008)
• The award encompasses tenured and non-tenured faculty, including lecturers and adjuncts. Faculty status is not factored into the committee’s decision.
• This is an award from the Graduate Student body of the IU-B campus: candidates nominated must be faculty of the IU-B campus.
• The winners will be determined by a committee of graduate students (2 excom, 3 GPSO reps)
• All nominated faculty will be issued a certificate of nomination from the GPSO.
• Any student is free to nominate as many people as they would like. The quantity of letters received for a particular faculty member does not increase or decrease their chances of being selected.
• Letters will be read only for the purpose of the GPSO Faculty Mentor Award and will not be disseminated for general access.
• Nominations from students within GPSO-inactive departments will not be eligible. If you are not certain if your department is currently eligible, contact the Chair of the GPSO Awards Committee by email at gpsofnds@indiana.edu.
• Letters should be no longer than 300 words.

Examples of what can serve as nomination criteria:

• Fosters the long-term development of students.
• Is active and vocal in administrative and professional matters, such as assistance with publishing and grant writing, conference presentations, post-doctoral opportunities and job placement.
• Encourages students to develop individual talents and strengths by providing support and guidance in their research.
• Helps students acquire the skills and resources necessary to succeed as professionals in their fields.
• Sponsors students and their work both on and off campus, including supporting student attendance and participation at conferences.
• Assists with alumni contacts, furnishes specific job information tailored to the student’s strengths/regional preferences.

Letters of recommendation need provide the following criteria:

1. Information about your faculty mentor, including description of why they are deserving of this award.
2. A brief summary about yourself, including program of study, years in the program and any other information that may aid the selection committee in understanding the impact your mentor has had on your life/ academic/ professional development.

Nomination letters can be emailed to:

gpsofnds@indiana.edu
Subj: Faculty Mentor Award

All nominations must be received by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 20, 2009.

Please direct questions about the Faculty Mentor Award to:
gpsofnds@indiana.edu, Subj: Faculty Mentor Award

Past Recipients

2009 Recipient

This year's recipient of the Faculty Mentor Award is Professor Andrea Walton. She has been chosen as the best mentor from among 18 faculty members who were nominated by a total of 41 graduate students. Professor Walton received nominations from 3 students and former IU students.

Walton, Associate Professor of Education and Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies (School of Liberal Arts) was recognized by GPSO members and others at the University Graduate School Awards Ceremony on April 17nd. The award is made annually to an IU faculty member who best demonstrates the quality of guiding graduate students through their studies and research activities.

Professor Walton was described by her students as a matchmaker in helping one choose a dissertation topic or a cheerleader for one's academic progress. One student writes, "she was the sole reason I stayed at IU to work on a doctorate, she has been a steady cheerleader of my research and academic efforts and she has served as both an academic and professional advisor".