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.
Krista Benson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies
Krista Benson is an innovative scholar and educator whose dedication to undergraduate mentorship exemplifies GVSU’s commitment to inclusive excellence and transformative undergraduate education. Since joining in 2019, Benson has mentored students across Honors projects, McNair Scholars, Institutional Review Board-approved research, and interdisciplinary capstones, using a “kitchen-table” approach that invites students to see themselves as knowledge producers. Benson’s mentorship style is centered on accessibility, compassion, and intellectual rigor, with special attention for first-generation, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent students. Under Benson’s guidance, students have co-authored book chapters, presented nationally, and pursued advanced graduate study.
Andrew Lantz, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
Andrew Lantz is an exemplary scholar and educator whose dedication to undergraduate mentorship exemplifies GVSU’s mission to empower learners and enrich society. Since joining GVSU in 2007, Lantz has mentored more than 30 undergraduate researchers, guiding them through high-impact projects that emphasize both scientific rigor and personal growth. His approach of guided independence has helped build student confidence through emphasizing ownership of their research. Under his mentorship, students have co-authored publications, presented at conferences, and successfully transitioned to the next chapters in their lives beyond GVSU.
AWARD INFORMATION
The Faculty Research and Innovations Center 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 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.
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 Nomination Packet Cover 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. No additional documents will be accepted. Please see Accessing Adobe Products for GVSU Faculty & Staff for information on the software for creating and compiling PDF documents.
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 FRIC by November 1st.
REVIEW PROCESS
The Faculty Research and Development Committee, with representation from the Undergraduate Research Council, will review all candidates, and FRIC will forward the names of recipients to the Provost by December 15th. FRIC will inform the recipients of the award and will inform nominees who are not selected. Recipient(s) will receive $500. An individual faculty member may not receive the award more than once.