The Graduate School Mentoring Awards recognize graduate programs, faculty mentors and doctoral students whose practice exemplifies the Foundational Values for Graduate Student and Faculty Mentoring Relationships and who make exceptional efforts to sustain the rights and fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring and Advising.
Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award
Nejadhashemi, Amirpouyan
Professor Amirpouyan Nejadhashemi in the Departments of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences exemplifies all of the foundational values of this award, namely a commitment to: respect and care; professionalism, ethics and integrity; and the professional and personal growth and independence of the student. Dr. Nejadhashemi has mentored 30 graduate students to successful completion of their degrees and is currently mentoring 5 Ph.D. students. He's also served on over 26 graduate student committees and mentored 18 postdocs and visiting scholars. A letter co-authored by 34 former and current students and postdocs documents Dr. Nejadhashemi's deep caring, passion and long-term commitment to his mentees broad professional success and personal wellness. They said "He mentors a very diverse group of students and integrates every one of us so that we feel supported, motivated, willing and excited to work as a team." His commitment to excellence extends beyond his own team. As the Biosystems Engineering Graduate Director he led changes in the program requirements and management that focused on tracking and promoting student progress and success. Dr. Nejadhashemi's mentoring skills have been noticed by his department where he serves as a role model and mentor for faculty colleagues, especially on topics related to graduate student success and mentoring.
Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award
Burgess, Terrance
Assistant Professor Terrance Burgess in the Department of Teacher Education exemplifies all of the foundational values of this award, namely a commitment to: respect and care; professionalism, ethics and integrity; and the professional and personal growth and independence of the student. Several doctoral students provided numerous examples of how Prof. Burgess has met each of the foundational values. Two graduate student nominators stated, "Dr. Burgess seamlessly integrates his knowledge of his students with his knowledge of the field, allowing him to simultaneously facilitate meaningful connections that prioritize both our wellbeing and opportunities for professional growth and development." Students mentored by Dr. Burgess shared how he approaches mentoring as a reciprocal relationship, positioning himself as learning with and from his students, and stated they strive to be like him. A senior professor stated, "He makes hidden strategies explicit, provides a model of active engagement in justice-oriented community-based research, and demonstrates what it looks like to be an exceptionally professional colleague advancing students' growth".
Outstanding Doctoral Student Mentor Award
Genoese, Francesca
Ms. Francesca Genoese is a PhD student in the Kinesiology program where she has formally mentored 11 masters students, a medical student, 6 undergraduate research assistants and 10 undergraduate teaching assistants. A group of these students nominated Francesca and supplied multiple examples of how "her leadership, open-communication, inclusiveness, and support of student wellness is above and beyond those mentorship values outlined by the university" in MSU's Mentoring Guidelines. In addition to the formal mentoring she's done within MSU's Athletic Injury and Rehabilitation lab, she also informally mentors a wide-variety of students within the Kinesiology department including clinically-orientated athletic training students. It was noted that "What is amazing about Francesca is that she can understand the different needs between her various types of students and provide them with the exact type of mentoring they need for their specific career stage." In addition to her effectiveness in mentoring individuals she has also participated in several activities with the College of Education Early Success Scholars program as well as served as the Graduate Student Liaison for the Kinesiology Undergraduate Organization and served on the Exercise is Medicine on Campus Graduate Student panel.
Outstanding Graduate Program Community Award
Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
The Ecology, Evolution and Behavior (EEB) program is a dual-degree (PhD) and specialization (MS) program that accepts students from over 15 departments ranging from Computer Science to Plant Biology to Psychology. The EEB program is interdisciplinary in nature and as one PhD candidate stated "EEB has been integral in my graduate career by providing a diverse and welcoming community of peers and mentors, professional development opportunities, and the financial resources to help me succeed during my time at MSU". The EEB program proactively works to meet their students' educational and professional development needs in several ways. For example, the EEB handbook comprehensively explains what is required for the EEB degree and clearly states this is in addition to a student's home department requirements. They have an active Graduate Group that organizes a bi-weekly Student Colloquia series as well as hosts social events. The EEB DEI committee hosts the Envision EEB program which brings college students from historically excluded backgrounds to campus for 3-days to learn about graduate school and network with potential advisors. There is an annual Research Symposium led by the EEB Presidential Postdoctoral Scholars where EEB members can present their research to the community. The EEB program also provides financial resources to graduate students in various ways, including fellowships such as the Professional Horizons Grant that supports professional development activities.
