Distinguished Undergraduate Mentoring Award
The Distinguished Undergraduate Mentoring Award honors the practice of mentoring undergraduate scholarly activity, and recognizes demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate researchers.
2025 Recipient
Erin Carrier, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computing
Joined Grand Valley State University in 2019
Erin Carrier develops solutions to high-performance computing challenges across diverse interdisciplinary applications. Her student-centered mentorship inspires confidence through rigorous scientific inquiry, and her effectiveness is reflected in the success of her trainees. As a champion of undergraduate research, Erin leads by example and has made lasting contributions to the university by expanding student access to impactful research opportunities through four years of service on the Undergraduate Research Council, which she currently chairs. In the words of one of her former trainees, "Erin brings out the best in her students, and motivates them to aspire to do the same for others."
Robert Hollister, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
Joined Grand Valley State University in 2004
Robert Hollister studies the high arctic ecosystem in Alaska. Since 2007, he has taken a team of undergraduate and graduate students to apply classroom knowledge through field observations and research. This is supported by significant infrastructure he developed through internal and external funding opportunities. Of the 34 students Bob has mentored 20 have pursued graduate studies, and nearly all of the students published or presented with him. As a former student that is now biology faculty at another PUI noted, his and his peers’ success was a “direct result of Bob’s ability and willingness to work side-by-side with undergraduate students”.
About the Award
AWARD INFORMATION
The Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence is pleased to sponsor an award designed to honor the practice of mentoring undergraduate scholarly activity. The award is intended to recognize demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate researchers, to encourage mentoring relationships with undergraduate students, and to convey the campus' high regard for such contributions made by the tenured/tenure-track faculty of the academic and research community. In addition to the honor of being designated a CSCE Distinguished Faculty Mentor, recipients are awarded $500. Nominations for the Award are solicited from deans, department chairs, faculty colleagues, alumni, and current research students.
The criteria used in nominations and evaluations of nominees are: significant contribution to advancing undergraduate research and scholarship on at GVSU; demonstrated commitment to undergraduate research through specific examples such as peer-reviewed publications involving undergraduates, student presentations, showings, or performances; and evidence for the continuing success of mentored students in the research/creative endeavor (where the students are now).
ELIGIBILITY
All tenured and tenure-track faculty members who have been employed at GVSU a minimum of 3 years.
How to Nominate
NOMINATE
Each college may nominate a faculty member for this University-wide award. The recipient will be recognized as a distinguished mentor. The Faculty Award Committee for each college will select one faculty member (except CLAS, which selects up to seven, and Seidman College of Business, which selects up to two) to be considered for the award. Faculty Award Committee members are selected by the Dean. Faculty Award Committee membership will be a minimum of three faculty. Nominations for the award may come from college dean, department chair, and faculty colleagues. Self-nominations are not accepted.
NOMINATION PACKET MATERIALS
Packets with missing items will not be reviewed. Nomination packets must include:
- Completed Declaration Page
- Statement of mentoring philosophy from nominee in regards to undergraduate research and creative practice.
- Three letters of support from colleagues who have knowledge of the nominee’s ability as a teacher/scholar. One letter of support shall be from the department chair of the nominee’s unit, one shall be from a recent research student, and the third may be from a faculty colleague, advanced degree alumnus, or other individual who can comment on the nominee’s qualifications.
- Listing of mentored undergraduates – name, project, publications (designating as peer or non-peer reviewed) and current position of student.
- A current Curriculum Vitae.
** Please note: ONLY the above stated documents, combined into a single PDF, will be accepted as a completed nomination packet. No additional documents will be accepted.
DEADLINE
Yearly on November 1st. The nominee’s unit is responsible for obtaining pertinent data and providing the required information. Please check with your Dean for any deadline requiring you to submit to the Dean's office for review and signatures prior to being sent to CSCE by November 1st.
REVIEW PROCESS
The Faculty Research and Development Committee, with representation from the Undergraduate Research Council, will review all candidates, and CSCE will forward the names of recipients to the Provost and recipients' Dean by December 15th. The Dean's office will inform the receipient of the award. CSCE will inform nominees who are not selected. Only one award will be made each year. The recipient will receive $500. An individual faculty member may not receive the award more than once.