GSIE Outstanding Mentor Award

This award acknowledges and honors a person who has demonstrated success at mentoring graduate students at the University of Arkansas. The faculty member chosen to be the Graduate School & International Education’s Outstanding Faculty Mentor will be nominated for the regional award through the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.

The qualifications for nominees are those of the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools. Qualities which are considered in that award include the following:

  • Nominees must have gained distinction as a full-time tenured faculty member and mentor of graduate students (masters or doctoral)on the University of Arkansas campus.
  • Reputation for facilitating student learning by making complex ideas understandable and meaningful to students.
  • Establishment and maintenance of high academic standards.
  • Positive role modeling as a professional, with personal integrity, high ethical standards, and achievable standards for personal excellence.
  • Consistent and ongoing guidance of students regarding resources within and outside the university, conflict resolution, and advocacy for completion of the program of study in a timely manner.
  • Substantial influence on the academic and professional pursuits of students that may include funded research, co-authorship on publications, and co-presentations at national or international conferences.
  • Nominees must have a demonstrated and continuing success as a mentor over a significant portion of the candidate’s career.

Each academic college may nominate up to two faculty members to be considered for the award. Solicitations are made each fall semester by the Associate Dean for the Graduate School.

Previous Winners

  • 2023: Eunjoo Cho, Associate Professorm School of Human Environmental Sciences
  • 2022: Mike Richardson, Professor, Horticulture Department
  • 2021: Ed Bengston, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction
  • 2020: Jeannie Whayne, University Professor of History
  • 2019: Anna Zajicek, Professor of Sociology and Criminology
  • 2017: Douglas Rhoads, University Professor of Biological Sciences