Carolyn Colvin, James Gloer, Padmini Srinivasan, and Kathy Schuh earned top recognition from The University of Iowa Graduate College for excellence in mentoring graduate students.
The professors were nominated by their students and colleagues and honored during a ceremony Dec. 7, 2010 at the University of Iowa Levitt Center for University Advancement.
Outstanding Mentor Award
Colvin received the Graduate College Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award in social sciences. She is professor of teaching and learning in the College of Education. Gloer, professor of chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), and Srinivasan, professor of computer science in CLAS, won the outstanding mentor award in mathematical/physical sciences/engineering. Each award carries a $2,500 prize.
“Mentoring is an invisible activity that needs to be done well,” Colvin said. “When tuition is rising and there’s greater pressure to get students through Ph.D. and M.A. programs and into jobs, we need to take this training more seriously.”
Special Recognition Award
The Special Recognition Award for Mentoring in social sciences went to Schuh, professor of educational psychology in the College of Education. This award includes a $500 prize.
Colvin, a UI faculty member since 1991, is described by her students and colleagues as someone who treats her students as intellectual equals and sets a glowing example of how to pursue high-quality research that emanates from service.
Most notable is Colvin’s service through her adult literacy program in West Liberty. Colvin and her student volunteers help adult speakers of English as a second language meet basic needs, such as passing the citizenship test.
Through this once-a-week program, Colvin establishes a bond with her graduate students as they address literacy concerns of real-world importance for their adult students.
Colvin said, “The most important thing many of the students say to me is, ‘When I work with immigrant parents, I will think about them differently.’ They’re not going to be dismissive of immigrant parents.”
Gloer, a UI faculty member since 1984, is never ‘’too busy’’ for his students. However, he doesn’t believe in managing every aspect of their academic lives.
“My philosophy is to be there whenever they need help as opposed to looking over their shoulder and pushing them really hard,” Gloer said.
Srinivasan, a UI faculty member since 1989, displays seemingly infinite patience with students who are struggling, says UI Department of Management Sciences Professor Nick Street.
She never closes the door on a student who hasn’t realized his or her potential.
“They are like my eyes. I have them work as a group, so a student may help another student find something of interest that I haven’t seen yet,” Srinivasan said.