The Graduate School, with assistance from the President’s Office, sponsors this annual award in order to recognize outstanding mentoring of graduate students by faculty.
The relationship between a graduate student and a faculty advisor is one that 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
- Actively recruits a diverse body of students
- Actively seeks financial support for students’ graduate study and research, particularly for students with greater need
- Demonstrates an understanding of students’ economic, personal, and social struggles as graduate students
- Engages and supports students from varied and diverse backgrounds and who belong to groups that are underrepresented in their field
- Communicates effectively with students and is interested in their personal and professional development, in addition to their development as students
- Is accessible for advice and assistance, whether student is in residence, on leave, is or is not ‘one of theirs’
- Clearly articulates expectations and holds students to high standards
- Opens students’ minds to new concepts and values
- Provides intellectual leadership and a good model of professionalism
- Respects students’ goals and encourages students to work towards them
- Acts as an advocate, helping students to overcome problems, discord, and economic, social, and cultural barriers
- Actively involves a varied and diverse body of students in teaching, research, publications, training, and professional conferences
- Helps students to ‘network’ with other relevant professionals and faculty
- Assists students with career preparation and alerts students to career opportunities; helps students secure post-degree employment
- Provides assistance with post-degree professional work
- Has a positive impact on the graduate student culture within the department, program, or school