The Graduate School has announced the 2025 winners of its professional and student awards. The awards recognize excellence in graduate academics, teaching and professional services.
The winners represent a dynamic community of students, scholars, teachers and administrators at the university.
“The winners are a testament to the quality of teaching, research and support in graduate education that transpires on the Forty Acres,” said Sarah Ades, senior vice provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and dean of the Graduate School. “Each winner has done something extraordinary—the winners have conducted groundbreaking research and inspired others to discover their potential and enabled them to succeed.”
Candidates for the awards are nominated by individuals across campus, and winners are determined by selection committees composed of faculty and staff members and students.
These awards are generously underwritten by the University Co-op, and are presented at the annual Graduate School/University Co-op Awards Banquet each spring.
STUDENT AWARDS
Outstanding Dissertation Awards
The Outstanding Dissertation Awards were established in 1979 to recognize exceptional work and to encourage the highest levels of scholarship, research and writing. The Michael H. Granof Awards represent the university's top dissertations and are given in three categories: Humanities and Fine Arts, Mathematics, Engineering, Phsyical Sciences and Biological Life Sciences, and Social Sciences, Business and Education. The winners receive $10,000.
| Yunina Barbour-Payne Outstanding Dissertation Award in Humanities and Fine Arts Redbone, Blackbones and Other Bones to Pick: Formations of Affrilachian Aesthetics Theatre and Dance, College of Fine Arts Supervisors: Rebecca Rossen, Lisa B. Thompson |
| Ronan Kerr Outstanding Dissertation Award in Mathematics, Engineering, Physical Sciences and Biological Life Sciences The SPYGLASS Program: Mapping the Extensive Star Formation History of the Solar Neighborhood Astronomy, College of Natural Sciences Supervisor: Adam L. Kraus |
| Kevin Moran Outstanding Dissertation Award in Social Sciences, Business and Education Obesogenic Behavioral, Metabolic, and Neuronal Consequences of Adolescent Social Stress in Male Hamsters Psychology, College of Liberal Arts Supervisor: Yvon Delville |
Outstanding Master’s Thesis/Report Award
The Outstanding Master’s Thesis/Report Award was established in 2003 by the Graduate School to recognize exceptional work by master’s students and to encourage the highest levels of scholarship, research and writing. The winner receives $5,000.
| Brody Manquen Lidar at the Margins of the Mediterranean: Evaluating Lidar-based Archaeological Survey in Mediterranean and Cycladic Landscapes Geography and the Environment, College of Liberal Arts Supervisor: Thomas G. Garrison |
Outstanding Graduate Student Academic Employee Award
The William S. Livingston Outstanding Graduate Student Academic Employee Awards honor outstanding performance by graduate student academic employees. The winners receive $5,000.
| Allen Farcas, Teaching Assistant Electrical and Computer Engineering Cockrell School of Engineering Nominated by Radu Marculescu |
| Hannah Neuhauser, Assistant Instructor Musicology/Ethnomusicology College of Fine Arts Nominated by Andrew Dell’Antonio |
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
Graduate coordinators are instrumental to the success of graduate students enrolled at the university. The Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Award recognizes the exemplary service of one coordinator each year. The winner receives $2,000.
| Beth Chichester Senior Academic Coordinator Classics College of Liberal Arts Nominated by Deborah Beck |
Outstanding Graduate Teacher
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award recognizes one faculty member for distinguished graduate teaching—including demonstrated excellence in the classroom or laboratory, mentorship of students and service to students’ thesis and dissertation committees. The winner receives $2,000.
| Caroline Faria Associate Professor Geography and the Environment, African and African Diaspora Studies College of Liberal Arts Nominated by Rebecca Torres |
Outstanding Graduate Adviser
Graduate advisers provide invaluable services to the university and its community of students, faculty and staff members. The Outstanding Graduate Adviser Award recognizes the exemplary service of one adviser each year. The winner receives $2,000.
| Mary Bock Associate Professor Journalism and Media Moody College of Communication Nominated by David Ryfe |
Outstanding Mentoring Awards
The Graduate Student Mentoring and Postdoctoral Scholar Mentoring Awards honor and celebrate faculty members (tenure track, tenure, and professional track) who demonstrate outstanding mentorship of graduate students and/or postdoctoral scholars. The winners receive $2,000.
Graduate Student Mentoring Award
| Fernando Llanos Assistant Professor Linguistics College of Liberal Arts |
Postdoctoral Scholar Mentoring Award
| Patience Epps Professor Linguistics, Anthropology College of Liberal Arts |