Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award

Nominations for the 2024 Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award are closed. 

Deadline: The deadline is typically the first Friday in November. Nominations open in August/September 2024

Contact:  Christi Skerlak, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School 

The Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award was established in memory of Dr. Harshini V. de Silva, an associate professor of biology. She was noted for her dedication to graduate students' academic and professional development. Each year, the Chancellor’s Office and the Graduate School present this award to a full-time member of the graduate faculty who evinces these qualities of outstanding graduate mentoring.

The recipient will be honored at a ceremony held on the UNC Charlotte campus in the early spring with an award of a crystal obelisk, a framed citation, and a cash prize.   

Nominations Process:

Although graduate students, past or present, and faculty/staff members of the University may recommend members of the graduate faculty for this award, nominations should come from chairs of academic departments of UNC Charlotte. If the nominee is a department chair, the nomination should be made by the college dean. 

Nominations remain eligible for consideration for two years. The nominator should submit a memo in the second year stating the nominee agrees to be considered for the next round. Please submit the second-year memo to cskerlak@charlotte.edu. 

Nomination materials should include the following:

Criteria:

All regular graduate faculty members (tenured/tenure-track) at UNC Charlotte are eligible to receive this recognition. Nominees should be distinguished, active scholars in their appropriate fields and have proven records of continuing interest in the growth and success of their students. Evidence of an outstanding graduate mentor should include activities that demonstrate a clear dedication to providing graduate students with the skills and resources needed to succeed as scholars and a sincere and active interest in the well-being of their students.  These efforts should be related to past students' professional appointments and academic accomplishments.

Selection Process:

The deadline for nominations is currently closed. Nomination material is submitted electronically by completing the online nomination form.  Optional "published works" (e.g., books, journal articles, etc.) may be delivered to Christi Skerlak in the Graduate School, Reese 527.  

The selection committee is comprised of UNC Charlotte faculty and a GPSG student representative. 

Award recipients are announced in early spring. 

Please direct any questions to Dr. Pinku Mukherjee, Interim Dean of the Graduate School, at pmukherj@charlotte.edu.

RECIPIENTS