News Release

New award honors mentoring relationship
between UNC faculty, doctoral students

CHAPEL HILL – When University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student Connell Cunningham Jr. was in his third year of graduate school, he thought it might be best to leave with a master’s degree, rather than pursue his doctoral degree. His faculty mentor, Dr. Gary Glish, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of chemistry, had a different take on the situation.

"I recall walking into Gary’s office … and asking to leave school with my master’s degree," Cunningham said. "The response from Gary was a simple statement, ‘You don’t have to leave…because I have faith in you.’ From that simple statement, I started to believe that I, too, had the same faith in myself."

This student’s experience is indicative of the partnership between Carolina faculty and doctoral students. They often work side by side on important research endeavors, and many faculty members are committed to guiding their graduate students through the challenges of doctoral training. To honor the extraordinary performance and achievement of faculty who mentor doctoral students, the administrative board of the Graduate School has created the Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring.

The award will be presented during the doctoral hooding ceremony on May 13 in Memorial Hall. The deadline for nominations is April 1. Nomination forms and other eligibility requirements are at http://www.gradschool.unc.edu/awards/mentoring_award.doc.

"The hooding ceremony is a fitting occasion to present this award considering the purpose of the ceremony, which celebrates the end of doctoral training and also celebrates the special bond that is formed between doctoral students and faculty," said Dr. Linda Dykstra, dean of the Graduate School.

All graduate students who receive their doctoral degrees between August 2005 and May 2006 can nominate their faculty mentor for this award. Regular members of the university’s graduate faculty who have successfully guided at least one student through the completion of their doctoral training are eligible for the award.

Recently graduated doctoral student Rose Stremlau said her faculty mentor, Dr. Theda Perdue, Atlanta term professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of history, had a mission from Stremlau’s first day as a student.

"From the beginning of my time at Carolina, Theda began shaping me into a professional rather than treating me as a student. In other words, I was trained to be a colleague from day one," Stremlau said.

Stremlau, now a visiting professor at Wake Forest University, added, "I do think that Theda has accomplished her goal. I am ready to stand on my own two feet as a professional scholar."

Cunningham and Stremlau plan to attend the doctoral hooding ceremony with their advisers. Cunningham said he knows he will stay in touch with his adviser after graduation.

"I look forward to keeping in touch with Gary. He has been an excellent mentor, and I know he will remain a good friend," Cunningham said.

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Graduate School contact: Deb Makemson, (919) 843-3494 or makemson@email.unc.edu