June Corman

The Faculty of Graduate Studies presented professors June Corman and David Gabriel with the 2012 Graduate Mentorship Awards as part of the recent seventh annual Mapping the New Knowledges Graduate Student Research Conference.

Corman and Gabriel were among 13 nominations submitted by graduate students to recognize individual supervisors for their support and commitment to the graduate experience.

Mike Plyley, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, paid tribute to all of the nominees, describing each of them as “selfless researchers and teachers who believe in students and in graduate education.”

David Gabriel

“Being nominated means a great deal – it means that your students wish to recognize your efforts in their training and overall development, and appreciate the efforts you make day in and day out,” said Plyley.

“For the Faculty, these awards represent an important tradition as they bring much deserved recognition to the critical role of graduate supervision and mentorship – the biggest single investment that we make in our graduate students.”

Also nominated were:
• Michael Ashton, Faculty of Social Sciences
• Anteneh Ayanso, Faculty of Business
• Robert Dimand, Faculty of Social Sciences
• Diane Mack, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
• John McNamara, Faculty of Social Sciences
• John Novak, Faculty of Education
• Tim O’Connell, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
• Sandra Peters, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
• Cristina Santos, Faculty of Humanities
• Philip Sullivan, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
• Philip Wilson, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Corman was selected in the category for supervisors of master’s students only. Among letters of support for her nomination, one student wrote: “I attribute much of my academic growth to her compassionate mentorship, willingness to provide academic counselling, and experience as an accomplished researcher.”

Gabriel was selected in the category for supervisor of both master’s and PhD students. One student described Gabriel’s guidance as incorporating “learning with humour and enthusiasm. His mentorship has molded many students into prospering academics while allowing them to remember who they are and why they chose this path.”

More than 90 graduate students, from all six academic Faculties, gave oral and poster presentations at the seventh annual conference, which is held by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Office of Research Services and the Graduate Students’ Association.