The Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentor Award committee is soliciting nominations for the 2015 award. This award was established in memory of Dr. Harshini de Silva, an associate professor of biology, who was noted for her deep dedication to the academic and professional development of graduate students. 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.
All regular members of the graduate faculty at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte are eligible to receive this recognition. Nominees should be distinguished, active scholars in their appropriate fields and should have proved records of continuing interest in the growth and success of their students. Evidence of an outstanding graduate mentor should include activities that demonstrate not only a clear dedication to providing graduate students with the skills and resources that they need to succeed as scholars, but also a sincere and active interest in the well-being of their students. These efforts should be related to past students' professional appointments and accomplishments as scholars.
Although graduate students, past or present, staff, and faculty 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 or if the nominee is a department chair, the nomination should be made by the college dean.
Required nomination materials should be submitted electronically to Annette Parks, Executive Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School, and to include the following:
- A letter of nomination clearly explaining the nominee's qualifications. What sets this individual apart from the ordinary in his or her devotion to graduate students and to graduate education? Also, evidence should be presented that the nominee's commitment to graduate student education goes significantly beyond that of the average, but dedicated member of the graduate faculty.
- A copy of the nominee's curriculum vita highlighting activities conducted with graduate students.
- Up to six letters of support from graduate students, faculty, alumni, and others.
- A statement from the nominee discussing his or her perspective on the role of mentoring in graduate education.
- Additional “Published works” may still be physically dropped off to Annette Parks, Graduate School, (e.g. books, journal articles, etc.).
Nomination materials should be sent electronically no later than 5 p.m. November 7, 2014 to: Annette Parks.
Please direct any questions to dean of the Graduate School, Tom Reynolds, at 7-7248 or tlreynol@uncc.edu.