Graduate Faculty Awards
Purpose
Recognize six faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to graduate education. Each award includes $1,000 and a plaque.
Award Categories & Descriptions
Honors a faculty member who has served as a Graduate Program Director for at least two semesters (including summers) and demonstrated exceptional leadership in managing graduate programs, teaching and mentoring, supporting students, and fostering a culture of academic excellence and inclusivity.
Recognizes faculty who teach and mentor in professional graduate programs and who exhibit excellence in preparing students for their chosen career path, integrating theory with practice, and promoting professional development.
Honors faculty who demonstrate exceptional teaching, advising, and mentorship within on-campus master’s programs. This award recognizes innovation in instruction, commitment to student success, and the creation of an engaging and supportive learning environment that fosters academic and professional growth.
Honors STEM faculty who provide exceptional dissertation mentorship, foster scholarly growth, and support students in achieving academic and professional success.
Recognizes faculty in social science disciplines who excel in guiding graduate students through dissertation research, teaching, and professional development, while promoting intellectual engagement and career readiness.
Celebrates faculty in humanities who demonstrate extraordinary generosity of spirit in mentoring, supporting creative and scholarly dissertation work, and helping students thrive academically and professionally.
Eligibility
- Faculty who teach, advise, or mentor graduate students in any discipline.
- Program Directors must have served at least 2 semesters (including summers).
Nomination Deadline:
April 15, 2026 is the deadline for the 2026 awards.
Who Can Nominate?
- Deans
- Graduate Program Directors
- Department Chairs
- Graduate Student Association Representatives
- Graduate Faculty
Nomination Packet (Upload as PDF)
- Online Cover Sheet (Nominee & Nominator info)
- Your nominating letter should be a maximum 2-3 pages. The letter may incorporate statements of support from students, administrators, and/or colleagues (only one letter per nominee will be reviewed). It should explain why contributions are exceptional, include mentoring and/or teaching impact, and describe how the nominee fosters student success and professional development. Some potential points to touch on:
- Graduate student outcomes such as number of students graduated and career placement outcomes
- Advocacy/inclusivity efforts
- Evidence of innovation in teaching or mentoring
- Contributions to program development
- Other awards or recognition related to graduate education (e.g., awards from professional organizations)
- Please fill out this online form to initiate your nomination. You will receive an email with a file upload request.
Selection Process
- Reviewed by a committee of Associate Deans for Graduate Education and a current graduate student.
- Recommendations go to the Dean of the Graduate School for final selection.
- Recipients notified in Summer; awards presented in Fall at the annual Graduate School Awards Banquet