Mentoring Awards

Please note that we have updated the nomination process into two separate steps:

1. The Dean/Associate Dean/Chair will nominate the faculty member using this form to submit the name of the nominee and a letter of support,
   
2. Then, OUR will contact the nominee and request they submit the complete nomination packet.

Nominees must include the following in their packet:

1. Two-page vita highlighting undergraduate research mentoring activities while at UWF.
2. List of mentees, including name, dates, project title, and current position, if possible.
3. List of publications and presentations with undergraduate student authors and student research awards, honors, or scholarships. It is suggested that you provide this information via the   Publications, Presentations, and Scholarly End Products Template.
4. A one-page narrative from the nominee should include a discussion of mentoring philosophy, types of research and scholarship with context from the discipline's conventions, and how the mentor serves as a role model for building productive and transformative student-mentor relationships within their department, college, and/or discipline community. The narrative should focus on the relationship between the mentor and their mentees.
5. A response from the nominee to the following prompt: Please discuss the effort it takes in your discipline to involve students in research and the breadth of different research topics/' projects in which your undergraduate students engage.
6. Two letters of support from current or former student mentees. These can be solicited by the nominating Dean or Chair or by the nominee. Alternatively, OUR can contact mentees to request a letter of support. Please send names and current contact information for at least three mentees in order of preference to our@uwf.edu no later than September 30, 2024.

Step 1: Chairs and Deans should submit nominations using the form linked below:

 

Step 2: Nominees should submit application materials using the form linked below:

2024 OUR Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Awards Application (application will be live starting September 23, 2024).

If the nominee prefers not to use the application form, complete nomination packets can be emailed directly to the Office of Undergraduate Research at our@uwf.edu.

OUR is pleased to open the call for Faculty Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring Awards nominations. Nominations from Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Chairs are requested. These awards serve to recognize faculty that exemplify UWF's commitment to the undergraduate research experience and convey the University's high regard for faculty contributions outside of the traditional classroom.

Award recipient's records should include a demonstration of mentoring undergraduate student research and scholarship that results in research "end products," such as peer-reviewed publications with student co-authors, student presentations, or performances. In addition to basic discipline skills, these accomplished mentors also contribute to student's professional development and success beyond graduation. Finally, award recipients should serve as role models to other faculty on how best to support research and scholarship on campus.

We anticipate making two awards (one Early Career Award for faculty with fewer than seven years in an academic setting and one Senior Career Award for faculty with seven or more years in an academic setting, including at least four years at UWF) of $1,500 (before tax). Awards will be presented to recognize exemplary undergraduate research mentoring, focusing on the mentoring relationship. Award candidates must be nominated by a College Dean Associate/Assistant Dean or a Department Chair.

Nomination with Letter of Support Deadline: Friday, September 20, 2024

Nominees Application Packet Deadline: Monday, October 21, 2024

The selection committee will include the Director of OUR, and at least one faculty member from each college or school. Evaluations and discussions by the committee will highlight mentoring activities included on the Mentor Award Nomination Review Rubric. The Director of OUR will make final decisions.

Award recipients will be announced on Thursday, November 21, 2024.

Spring 2024

Early Career Award: Dr. Hakki Erhan Sevil, Intelligent Systems and Robotics.

Senior Career Award: Dr. Karen Barnes, Chemistry

Director’s Choice Award: Xuan Tran, Commerce

Director’s Choice Award: Alexis Janosik, Biology

2023

Early Career Award: Dr. Samantha Seals, Mathematics and Statistics

Senior Career Award: Dr. Tanay Kesharwani, Chemistry

Director’s Choice Award: Dr. Frank Gilliam, Biology

2022

Early Career Award: Dr. Jeff Simpson, Movement Sciences and Health

Senior Career Award: Valerie George, Art, and Design

Director’s Choice Award: Dr. Rodney Guttmann, Biology

2021

Early Career Award: Dr. Susan Piacenza, Biology

Senior Career Award: Dr. Timothy Royappa, Chemistry

Director’s Choice Award: Willie Tubbs, Communication

2020

Early Career Award: Dr. Phillip Schmutz, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Senior Career Award: Dr. Jane Caffrey, Biology & Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation

Director's Choice Award: Dr. Jamin Wells, History

2019

Early Career Award: Carrie Fonder, Art

Senior Career Award: Dr. Karen Molek, Chemistry

2018

Early Career Awards: Dr. Peter Memiah, Public Health; Dr. Alexis Janosik, Biology

Senior Career Award: no awards given in this category

2017

Early Career Award: Dr. Tanay Kesharwani, Chemistry

Senior Career Award: Dr. Jason Ortegren, Earth and Environmental Science