Recognizing Graduate Mentors

A blue circle with wheat medallions on the left and right sides and the words Ever Better Graduate Mentor in the middle.

Ever Better Graduate Mentor Recognition Program

The Ever Better Graduate Mentor program is an initiative by Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) for the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS) and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences (Hajim). The program honors those who provide exceptional support to our graduate community. We aim to celebrate mentors who have distinguished themselves by significantly advancing students’ academic, professional, and holistic development.

Who is a Mentor?

Mentorship comes in many forms. At the University, a mentor can be anyone in our community who has made a positive impact on your journey. This includes:

  • Faculty advisors and PIs
  • Staff members
  • Postdoctoral scholars
  • Peer mentors (other graduate students)

A mentor is eligible for recognition if:

  • The mentor is a member of SAS or Hajim
    OR
  • The nominating student is a graduate student in SAS or Hajim

Honorees will be featured in the GEPA Connection newsletter and celebrated during Graduate Research Day. In addition, each mentor will receive a formal letter and a certificate of recognition from the dean of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs for the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences.

Nominate a Mentor

Do you have a mentor who has gone above and beyond for you? Help us recognize their contributions by submitting a nomination.

What you will need to provide:

  1. Mentor’s name, email address, and department.
  2. Your name and email address.
  3. Mentor’s relationship to you.
  4. A brief paragraph (approximately 200 words) explaining how this person has been valuable to your academic or professional development.

Previous Honorees

School of Arts & Sciences
  • Caroline Warrick-Schkolnik, PhD Student, English
  • Ariel Saracho, PhD Student, Economics
  • Isobel Heck, Assistant Professor, Psychology
  • Andrew Eliot, Professor, Psychology
  • Revathy Rajan, PhD Student, Chemistry
  • Ellen Matson, Professor, Chemistry
  • Lorna Maier, Academic Administrator, Visual and Cultural Studies
  • Nestor Tulagan, Assistant Professor, Developmental Psychology
  • Carl Mueller, Professor, Mathematics
  • Llerena Searle, Associate Professor, Anthropology
  • Deepak Sonker, PhD student, Biomedical Engineering
  • Marvin Doyley, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences
  • Jeibo Luo, Professor, Computer Science
  • Astrid Müller, Assistant Professor, Chemical & Sustainability Engineering
  • Roman Sobolewski, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Yasemin Basdogan, Chemical & Sustainability Engineering
  • Kevin Ling, PhD Student, Biomedical Engineering
  • Ibrahim Mohammad, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Sasanka Munasinghe, PhD Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Joan Adamo, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Zhiyao Duan, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Victoria Hansen, Staff Scientist, Center for Musculoskeletal Research
  • Laura Stamm, Assistant Professor, Health Humanities and Bioethics
Eleven people standing in an arch infant of three banners and windows.

Graduate Research Day

2026 Ever Better Graduate Mentors

Some of the 2026 Ever Better Graduate Mentors at Graduate Research Day. From left to right: Dr. Zhiyao Duan, Revathy Rajan, Dr. Roman Sobolewski, Dr. Astrid Müller, Dr. Yasemin Basdogan, Dr. Joan Adamo, Dr. Carl Mueller, Kevin Ling, Dr. Isobel Heck, Dr. Andrew Eliot, Dr. Victoria Hansen.

What Students are Saying About Their Mentors

Completely Changed the Experience

“As a first-generation college graduate facing significant family challenges, I had expected pursuing graduate studies in the US to be incredibly overwhelming. However, Andy has completely changed the experience for me.”

Patience and Care

“Not only is she academically rigorous and skilled, she is also able to teach me, my peers, and our undergraduate research assistants complex concepts with patience and care.”

Always Kind, Enthusiastic, and Thorough

“Even though he's a busy grad student working towards wrapping up his thesis, he was always kind, enthusiastic, and thorough. Somehow he moved quickly and was decisive, but never made me feel rushed in our conversations.”

Gave Me Confidence

“Not only did she help me with my writing but also gave me confidence when applying for graduate school. I owe my looking into the English program, application, and acceptance to her.”

Tailors His Approach

“He understands that mentorship is not one-size-fits-all. He takes the time to learn the strengths and individual needs of each of his mentees and tailors his approach accordingly”

Made All the Difference

“She has become more than a mentor—she is a friend and a support system who makes my academic journey feel less isolating. Her willingness to listen, encourage, and advocate for me has made all the difference in my graduate experience.”

Questions?

Contact Information

For questions regarding the nomination process or the recognition program, please contact us at ASEGEPA@rochester.edu.