Graduate Mentoring Excellence Award

Research & Graduate Studies established the Graduate Mentoring Excellence Award to honor PSU faculty members who provide outstanding mentorship to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars engaged in research at Portland State University. The award is intended for individuals with at least 10 years of documented accomplishments in graduate research mentoring at PSU. Recipients of this award will have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to creating an environment supportive of graduate student success and mentorship opportunities. The recipient of this honor will receive an award and a $1,500 taxable honorarium. 

Selection Criteria

• Extraordinary commitment and effectiveness as a mentor of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars engaged in research, including activities such as serving on thesis/ dissertation committees, as a Graduate Council member or publication co-author, etc.

• Demonstrated record of success for students in graduate school and postdoctoral scholars in their professional careers (e.g. scholarships/fellowships, grants, awards, career achievements, placement).

• Intellectual leadership reflected in a record of excellence in research and/or creative work, teaching skills, and presentation and publication in the discipline; significant impact and involvement with graduate students to ensure that graduate students and postdoctoral scholars master the content and skills of their discipline.

• Professional responsibility and integrity, modeled in every aspect of their work as a teacher, researcher, and author (clearly articulates expectations and holds graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to high standards; promotes successful and timely completion of students’ degree programs and postdoctoral scholar projects, etc.).

• Support, sensitivity, and respect for students’ and postdoctoral scholars’ personal and professional goals; shares knowledge about discipline norms and integrates graduate students and postdoctoral scholars into the broader culture of the discipline; connects mentees to appropriate intellectual and professional networks; advocates for students and postdoctoral scholars individually or collectively, helping them overcome problems, discord, or barriers; proactively and effectively helps students and postdoctoral scholars with their post-training placement.

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at PSU and beyond; facilitates a mentorship community (whether formal or informal) that enhances or expands mentorship opportunities, particularly for individuals from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented in their fields.

• Length and impact of service to PSU. 

• Administrative effectiveness facilitating smooth transitions for both entering and exiting graduate students and postdoctoral scholars; demonstrated leadership and initiative at the program level to improve mentorship access and quality for graduate students and postdocs, particularly for minoritized students. 

The nomination packets of nominees not selected the previous year will automatically be included for consideration the following year, with letters of support from those outside of PSU and other nomination materials carried forward by the RGS Awards Manager. Current CVs and/or updated primary letters of nomination may be submitted to update these nomination packets. Nominees not selected in two consecutive years must remain out of review for one selection cycle (one year) before regaining eligibility.

Who May Submit Nominations

Nominations should be submitted by faculty, chairs, and/or deans. Only one nomination may be submitted by a department. Nominations will be approved by the deans in concert with nominations for other faculty awards. No more than one awardee will ordinarily be named and no award need be given in any particular year. Complete nominations via the 2024 Research Awards Nomination Form by Monday, November 6, 2023.

Required Nomination Materials 

Complete nomination packets will include the following materials (pdf format preferred): 

• Nominator’s Letter (3 pages maximum)
  The primary nominator’s letter should articulate how the nominee meets the selection criteria listed in this announcement. Nominators may recognize the many forms that mentorship can take. RGS encourages nominations of women, faculty of color, and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines.

• Abbreviated Current Professional Curriculum Vitae (5 pages maximum)
  The CV should include a list of past graduate students/postdoctoral scholars with their placement/position upon leaving Portland State University.

• Additional Letters of Support
  Please provide letters of support from the nominee's former students. Three to five letters are recommended (no more than five, please). Letters of support from former students should describe their experiences and illustrate how the guidance they received from the nominee helped shape their graduate careers.

Selection Process

Nominations will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary selection committee composed of past award recipients, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, associate deans, and faculty. Awardees will be selected by the Dean of the Graduate School based upon the recommendations of this committee.

Recognition

• The award recipient will be celebrated during Research Week: May 6-10, 2024.

• The award recipient will be invited to participate in the selection process to choose next year’s recipient of the Graduate Research Mentoring Award.

All required nomination materials must be submitted via the 2024 Research Awards Nomination Form by Monday, November 6, 2023, in order to be eligible for review (pdf format is preferred for all nomination materials).

For answers to questions about this award or the nomination process, please contact the RGS Awards Manager, Amy Crelly: acrelly@pdx.edu, 503-725-9944 or research@pdx.edu.