Brandon Receives 2017 Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Brandon Receives 2017 Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Debra Brandon was selected to receive the 2017 Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring from the Duke Graduate School. A committee of senior deans and students representing the major disciplines of the Graduate School selected Brandon from a highly competitive pool of nominees to receive the award, which recognizes graduate faculty who exhibit a consistent record of good mentoring practices.

The award criteria includes:

  • Promotes successful completion of students’ research and degree programs by monitoring progress and offering honest, constructive feedback when needed or sought
  • Commits to advancing students’ long-term professional development—throughout their journey from student to professional—by recognizing and making potential colleagues aware of their natural talents and acquired skills and by integrating students into the broader culture of the discipline
  • Ensures that students master the content and skills of their discipline, including the ability to teach or present that content to professional and non-professional audiences
  • Creates a supportive environment for research and scholarship by fostering mutual respect and demonstrating sincere and active interest in the well-being of the student
  • Maintains accessibility by providing consistently open lines of communication
  • Connects students with the resources necessary to take full advantage of academic and professional opportunities and enables students by helping them to develop their own local and national networks
  • Models a solid record of scholarship marked by excellence in research and teaching skills, research presentation and publication, the ability to obtain funding, and the exercise and nurturing of good mentoring practices
  • Exercises discernment in directing students to appropriate resources and shows a willingness to work collaboratively with other faculty in multiple-mentoring relationships

Dean Paula D. McClain will present Brandon with a $3,000 award at the 2017 Dean’s Awards Reception held in March.

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