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Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award

The Graduate School, with assistance from the President’s Office, sponsors this annual award to recognize outstanding faculty mentoring of graduate students.  

The relationship between a graduate student and a faculty advisor can have a profound, lifelong influence on both parties. At its best, this mentoring relationship inspires and gives confidence to the student while providing the faculty member with a valued colleague.  

The Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award allows us to honor those members of the faculty who exemplify excellence in graduate education. A single award, accompanied by $5,000 in discretionary funds that may be used to support the awardee’s scholarly activities, is given and presented at the annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony in conjunction with other University-wide awards. 

More about the Landolt Awards

Criteria Used in Evaluating Nominees

  1. Actively recruits and supports students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and fosters an environment where all students can thrive academically and professionally. 
  2. Actively seeks financial support for students’ graduate study and research, particularly for students with greater need. 
  3. Provides holistic support by understanding and addressing students’ academic, economic, personal and social challenges. 
  4. Engages and supports students with varied experiences, perspective and academic interests.   
  5. Communicates effectively with students and is interested in their personal and professional development, in addition to their development as students. 
  6. Is accessible for advice and assistance, whether the student is in residence, on leave, is or is not “one of theirs”. 
  7. Clearly articulates expectations and holds students to high standards. 
  8. Opens students’ minds to new concepts and values. 
  9. Provides intellectual leadership and a good model of professionalism. 
  10. Respects students’ goals and encourages students to work towards them. 
  11. Acts as an advocate, helping students to overcome academic, professional, and personal challenges.   
  12. Actively involves students from a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in teaching, research, publications, training, and professional conferences, ensuring equitable access to opportunities and fostering an inclusive academic environment.    
  13. Helps students to ‘network’ with other relevant professionals and faculty. 
  14. Assists students with career preparation and alerts students to career opportunities; helps students secure post-degree employment. 
  15. Provides assistance with post-degree professional work.   
  16. Has a positive impact on the graduate student culture within the department, program, or school.