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2006 Award - Call for Nominations

In a letter to President Mark Emmert, Dean Elizabeth L. Feetham announces the Distinguished Mentor Award recipient for 2005.

A list of previous recipients is made available here.

 Telephone: (206)543-5900
Fax: (206)685-3234

February 16, 2005

Dr. Mark Emmert
President
301 Gerberding Hall
Box 351230

Dear Mark:

Thank you for notifying Professor Lesley Olswang that she has been selected as the recipient of the 2005 Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award.  This letter is to convey the background information upon which the selection was made.  The selection committee reviewed over 300 letters of nomination for 68 members of the University of Washington Graduate Faculty.   In addition to myself, the ad hoc committee that reviewed the nominations included:

·         Associate Dean Johnnella Butler

·         Professor Noel Weiss (Professor, Epidemiology, 1999 award recipient)

·         Marwa Maziad (graduate student representative, Anthropology)

·         Professor David Notkin (Chair, Computer Science and Engineering, 2000 Award recipient)

·         Professor Judith Howard (Chair, Women Studies and Professor of Sociology, 2001 award recipient)

·         Professor Raimonda Modiano (Professor, English and Comparative Literature, 2004 award recipient)

A number of the nominees received multiple letters expressing glowing praise for their mentors. In the course of the committee’s deliberations, three candidates emerged as being uniquely worthy of recognition.  In addition to Professor Olswang, the finalists for the award were Professor Gerry Philipsen (Communication), Professor Joel Migdal (Professor, International Studies), and Professor Lewayne Gilchrist (School of Social Work).

The call for nominations noted that, “...the relationship between a graduate student and a faculty advisor is one that can have a profound lifelong influence on both parties.  At its best, this mentoring relationship inspires and gives confidence to the student while providing the faculty member with a valued colleague.”  Professor Olswang has been nominated for several years for the Distinguished Mentor Award and last year she was one of those given “honorable mention.”

The enclosed letters nominating Professor Olswang demonstrate the admiration her students have for her as a teacher, a mentor, and a human being.  I have excerpted below a few of quotes from the letters: 

·         “She managed to simultaneously challenge and respect my thinking in such a way that rather than being daunted by her gently worded criticisms, I felt encouraged and validated.  There are not many mentors who have this gift.”

·         “Lesley has always made me feel like I matter to her and treated me as if my work is important to her.”

·         “I feel valued as her student, and supported in my career, as she has invited me numerous times to sit in on meetings with other faculty and researchers she collaborates with.  She is including me at all levels of grant writing and publications, and has shared her drafts of papers with me to review.  She will also, at times, suggest other faculty I should meet or work with, to further my research interests.  The result of her communication style for me, is that I feel fully supported. I enjoy coming to work and to our meetings even when I know they will always be challenging, and I feel that she is intentionally and successfully guiding me to think as a researcher and mentor.

·         “Quite simply, being a mentor is woven into Dr. Olswang at all levels.  She does not adopt the persona of mentor for specific occasions.  Rather, the daily experiences of university life continually tap into her skills—teaching, challenging, supporting, prodding, encouraging, modeling for, and exciting others.  Mentoring is the daily business of Dr. Olswang.”

·         “Her ability to instill confidence and pride in her students is one of the qualities that set her far apart from other professors that I have known.”

·         “She encouraged me to take risks, try new things and explore new ways of looking at old questions.  She was always there to champion me when other faculty didn’t support my journey.  We continued to meet on an ongoing basis and she was always available to listen, share and offer help when needed.  She also brought me back to reality when I needed it.  Her high expectations and belief in me never wavered even when I was floundering and trying to find my way.  She provided me with all of the tools I needed to have a successful academic and research career and guided me through the journey every step of the way.

·         “As my mentor in graduate school, Lesley Olswang offered not only trusted wisdom, honesty, attentive listening, and clear professional convictions, but also a genuine interest in me as a person.”

·         “Lesley has always focused on being balanced and she constantly encourages the students (and the faculty) in our department to do what they must to stay balanced.  She understands the need to remember that life is short and every moment must be savored.  She lives by that principle and inspires the rest of us to do so as well.”

·         “She was, looking back, what I now consider the epitome of a mentor:  inspiring, available, committed, enthusiastic, informed and caring.  She showed me that it was possible for women to combine family and profession, that research was critical to the health of a discipline, and that combining research and clinical interests was a needed and appropriate direction for many.”

·         “From day one, Lesley spoke of the need for balance in academia, research and life.  Dr. Olswang encouraged all students to approach the graduate existence in a holistic manner.  She didn’t tell us how to do it—she lived it.  She showed a genuine interest in each student as a person, researcher, friend, scientist, athlete, artist, etc.  Our goals were her goals.  I can’t imagine a more pure and effective form of mentoring.”

Each year the members of the selection committee have been inspired by the letters written on behalf of the nominees and gratified to see the strength of graduate education on this campus.  It is a difficult decision to select only one person for the award, but the committee agreed that Professor Olswang is deserving of this year’s Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award. 

Yours sincerely,

Elizabeth L. Feetham
Acting Dean

Enclosures

cc:        David Thorud, Acting Provost

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