The CSCC Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award is a special recognition given to a DKU professor who has shown extraordinary dedication to mentoring students in the field of contemporary China studies. This award honors faculty who go the extra mile to guide, support, and inspire their students, helping them grow academically, personally, and professionally. The professor who wins this award is seen as a role model for mentorship and serves as an inspiration to others in the academic community. The recipient gets USD500 and a certificate attesting to this award.

Eligibility:

• Full-time DKU professors affiliated with the CSCC (see list here)
• The professor must have been at DKU for at least two years
• The faculty member cannot have received this award in the past two years

Nomination Process:

• Nominations can be made by students, fellow faculty members, or university staff members who have directly observed or experienced the nominee’s mentorship.
• The nominator shall submit a formal letter of nomination highlighting the reasons for the nomination and the impact of the nominee’s mentorship on the nominator or others. The letter should provide specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate the nominee’s exceptional mentoring qualities.
• Nominees may also self-nominate and provide supporting letters from mentees.
• The nomination letter(s) should be submitted as a PDF, addressed to the CSCC Award Committee, and emailed to Ms. Chi Zhang, the program coordinator of the CSCC.
• Nominees will be contacted and asked to submit supporting materials such as a current Vita and a short personal statement addressing their mentoring philosophy, approach, and the significance of mentorship in their academic career.

Important Dates for AY 24/25:

Nomination Letter Submission Deadline: April 18, 2025
Submission of supporting materials: April 21, 2025
Notification of Recipient: The recipient will be announced by the end of the academic year

Criteria for Selection

The recipient is selected by the CSCC Award Committee consisting of faculty representatives from the research clusters and faculty members from Duke University. The recipient of the CSCC Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award will be selected based on the following five criteria:

1. Commitment to Mentoring: The extent to which the faculty member has consistently and effectively engaged in mentoring activities and demonstrated genuine care for the personal and academic development of their mentees.

2. Impact on Student Success: Evidence of the faculty member’s mentoring contributions that have led to positive outcomes in the mentees’ academic performance, research accomplishments, career development, and overall well-being.

3. Accessibility and Approachability: The faculty member’s availability and willingness to provide guidance, support, and constructive feedback to students, creating an inclusive and nurturing mentorship environment.

4. Advocacy and Networking: Demonstrated efforts by the faculty member to advocate for their mentees, helping them build professional networks and connections within and beyond the academic community.

5. Innovation and Adaptability: Recognition of the faculty member’s innovative approaches to mentoring, adapting to the diverse needs of their mentees and fostering an inclusive and empowering mentorship experience.

The CSCC Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award celebrates the invaluable role faculty mentors play in shaping the lives and futures of their students. By recognizing exceptional mentors, we aim to inspire a culture of mentorship excellence and foster an environment where mentorship is celebrated and valued across the academic community.