Graduate and Faculty/Staff Awards

The Graduate School accepts nominations for graduate and faculty/staff awards year round. The May 2009 awards deadline will be late February '09 with the Selection Committeee meeting and determining awards in Mid March. All nominations must be submitted electronically – via Lotus notes – to Graduate School Finance (from the internet: Graduate_School_Finance@notes.cc.sunysb.edu). Each student nomination should be made under separate email from the Graduate Program Director. If the student nomination cannot be submitted directly by the GPD then he/she must be cc’d on the submission. Nomination of faculty or staff for the Dean’s Awards can be submitted by other faculty or staff and/or current graduate students or graduate alumni. If you have questions or concerns regarding electronic submission, please contact Barbara Byrne at 2-7039.

Award recipients are announced by the Dean in late March and awards presented at the Annual Graduate Awards Ceremony, held each May during commencement week (exact time and location to be announced separately

The list of awards are as follows:

President's Award to Distinguished Doctoral Students

President's Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Doctoral Student

Mildred and Herbert Weisinger Dissertation Fellowship

Madeline Fusco Fellowship Award

Faculty-Staff Dissertation Fellowship Award

Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching by a Faculty Member

Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring by a Faculty Member

Dean's Award for Excellence in Service as a Graduate Program Director

Dean's Award for Excellence in Service to Graduate Education by a Graduate Program Coordinator

To see a list of recent winners, click here.

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PRESIDENT'S AWARD TO DISTINGUISHED DOCTORAL STUDENTS  (top)

Five awards of $500 each will be granted each year at an awards ceremony and reception for recipients and their families during the week preceding commencement. The recipients and their citations will be listed in the commencement program. The awardees will be hooded on stage at the main commencement ceremony as representatives of all Ph.D. recipients. Awardees will be expected to participate in a Graduate School colloquium scheduled during commencement week.

Nominations must include the reason for making the nomination, the student’s C.V., any additional letters in support of the nomination, including one from the advisor, and a brief draft citation. Only those students who have either completed all degree requirements or anticipate the completion of all degree requirements, including the successful defense of their dissertation, in time to be hooded at the May doctoral graduation and hooding ceremony, may be nominated. Please electronically submit each nominee’s profile. Nominations must be made by the student’s Graduate Program Director or Department Chair.

The GCF&AC will consider the following when reviewing nominations:

1. The outstanding merit of the candidate's dissertation and its research base.

2. In the conduct of their doctoral studies, that the student made exceptional contributions in ability or service to the university of such a nature as to warrant special citation.

3. In completing their doctoral studies, the candidate overcame personal or social handicaps of an unusual nature, warranting special recognition.

PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING BY A GRADUATE STUDENT  (top)

The President's Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student will be awarded to outstanding graduate student teachers. Six awards of $500 each will be presented at a ceremony held in May for recipients and their families. Awardees will be expected to participate in an orientation session or colloquium presented to new Teaching Assistants in the following Fall semester.

Each department/program with TAs or GAs involved in teaching may nominate two candidates. Nominations must be made by the student's Graduate Program Director of Department Chair.

The award is open to all full-time graduate students (masters and doctoral) TAs or GAs required to teach. They must have completed at least one academic year of teaching. (Present semester can be included).

Each nomination should include:

1. Positive evidence that the candidate has performed superbly in the classroom.

2. Indications of the candidate's generosity with personal time, accessibility to students and demonstration of a continual concern with the intellectual growth of individual students.

3. The candidate must set high standards for students encouraging academic excellence.

4. The candidate must exhibit innovative means of developing and modifying the course, where applicable.

THE MILDRED AND HERBERT WEISINGER DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP  (top)

The Mildred and Herbert Weisinger Dissertation Fellowship will be awarded to a graduate student who has advanced to candidacy and is working on a dissertation that bears high scholarly promise but might otherwise be delayed without financial assistance. One fellowship of $ 10,000 will be awarded.

Each department/program with graduate students at the dissertation stage may nominate one (1) candidate. Each nomination must be made by the student's Graduate Program Director or Department Chair.

Each nomination should include:

1. A short summary of the nominee's status as a graduate student (e.g., date of admission, year of study, date of advancement to candidacy, expected date of completion of the doctoral degree).

2. Dissertation abstract, or similar summary of the project.

3. Memorandum of nomination indicating evidence both exceptional financial need and the high scholarly promise of the dissertation project.

4. If applicable, indication that the dissertation project has the required approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or DLAR.

5. Letters of recommendation from each: the advisor, department chair and another program faculty member.

THE MADELINE FUSCO FELLOWSHIP AWARD  (top)

An endowment made by Dr. Madeline Fusco, formerly a faculty member in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, provides funding for this dissertation award intended to assist a woman or minority doctoral student with financial need to complete his/her dissertation.

One award, in the amount of $5,000, will be presented.

Each department/program with graduate students at the dissertation stage may nominate one (1) candidate. Each nomination must be made by the student's Graduate Program Director or Department Chair.

Each nomination should include:

1. A short summary of the nominee's status as a graduate student (e.g., date of admission, year of study, date of advancement to candidacy, expected date of completion of the doctoral degree).

2. Memorandum of nomination indicating evidence of financial need.

3. Dissertation abstract, or similar summary of the project.

4. If applicable, indication that the dissertation project has the required approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or DLAR.

5. Letters of recommendation from each: the advisor, department chair and another program faculty member.

FACULTY-STAFF DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP AWARD  (top)

This award, initiated in 2006, is the result of the generosity of Stony Brook faculty and staff who have contributed to campaigns to support graduate fellowships. The award is a dissertation year fellowship intended to recognize an advanced (ABD/G5 status) graduate student whose research project requires fieldwork, archival work or other research efforts which require the student to be away from campus for an extended period.

One award, in the amount of $10,000, will be presented.

Each department/program with graduate students at the dissertation stage may nominate one (1) candidate. Each nomination must be made by the student's Graduate Program Director or Department Chair.

Each nomination should include:

1. A short summary of the nominee's status as a graduate student (e.g., date of admission, year of study, date of advancement to candidacy, expected date of completion of the doctoral degree).

2 Dissertation abstract, or similar summary of the project.

3. If applicable, indication that the dissertation project has the required approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or DLAR.

4. Letters of recommendation from each: the advisor, department chair and another program faculty member.

DEAN’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE TEACHING BY A FACULTY MEMBER  (top)

The Excellence in Teaching Award is designed to recognize excellence and creativity in classroom teaching of graduate students. Innovation in graduate curriculum development and implementation also will be considered. The nominee must have been a faculty member for at least three years at the time of the nomination.

The award will comprise a certificate and a $500 award check. Nominations may be made by faculty, staff or students.

Nominations should include:

1. A letter of nomination
2. Letter of support from the faculty member's Department chair or Graduate Program Director
3. Letter of support from at least one other faculty member
4. Letters of support from at least two graduate students who have a direct knowledge of nominee's teaching
5. OPTIONAL. curriculum vitae; course and teaching evaluations and summary data as appropriate; and, any additional information deemed appropriate by the nominator.

** Letters and evaluations should not be mere testimonials, they should address specific examples of the nominee's teaching creativity, excellence, and dedication.

DEAN’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE MENTORING BY A FACULTY MEMBER  (top)

The Excellence in Mentoring Award is given for outstanding support of a graduate student, or graduate students, from course completion through research and placement. Criteria that may be considered in selecting a nominee include: provision of sound advice with respect to course of study, encouraging the best performance from students, generosity of time or other measures of effort at mentoring, assisting an unlikely or superficially unpromising student through to successful completion and placement, advice and other assistance regarding quality and quantity of student papers or other forms of publication and performance, extraordinary efforts or success with placement. These criteria are not meant to be exhaustive, but instead to suggest activities that might be considered in a nominating letter. The nominee must have been a faculty member for at least three years at the time of the nomination.

The award will comprise a certificate and a $500 award check. Nominations may be made by faculty, staff or students.

Nominations should include :

1. A letter of nomination
2. Letter of support from the faculty member's Department chair or Graduate Program Director
3. Letter of support from at least two graduate students who have a direct knowledge of nominee's mentoring activities.

DEAN’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AS A GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR  (top)

The Excellence in Service Award is given for outstanding service to Graduate Education at Stony Brook by a graduate program director. Criteria for selection may include provision of timely and excellent advice to graduate students about academic, registration, support and placement issues and or generosity of time in working with graduate students. These criteria are not meant to be exhaustive, but instead to suggest activities that might be considered in a nominating letter. The nominee must have been a graduate program director for at least two years at the time of the nomination.

The award will comprise a certificate and a $500 award check. Nominations may be made by faculty, staff or students.

Nomination materials should include :

1. A letter of nomination
2. Letter of support from the faculty member's Department chair
3. Letter of support from graduate program coordinator
4. Letter of support from at least one other faculty member
5. Letter of support from at least two graduate students who have a direct knowledge of nominee's service activities.

DEAN’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO GRADUATE EDUCATION BY A GRADUATE PROGRAM COORDINATOR  (top)

The Excellence in Service Award is given for outstanding service to Graduate Education at Stony Brook by a graduate program coordinator. Criteria for selection may include provision of timely and excellent advice to graduate students about housing, registration, support etc and/or generosity of time in working with graduate students. These criteria are not meant to be exhaustive, but instead to suggest activities that might be considered in a nominating letter. The nominee must have been a staff member supporting graduate education for at least three years at the time of the nomination.

The award will comprise a certificate and a $500 award check. Nominations may be made by faculty, or students.

Nomination materials should include :

1. A letter of nomination
2. Letter of support from the staff member's Department chair or Graduate Program Director
3. Letter of support from at least one other faculty member
4. Letter of support from at least two graduate students who have a direct knowledge of nominee's service activities.

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Recent Winners (top)

Mildred and Herbert Weisinger Dissertation Fellowship

2008:    Richard Tyson Smith, Sociology

2007:    Anna Sher, Sociology

2006:    Matthew Mahler, Sociology

               Maya Shanbhag, Comparative Studies

2005:     Carol Lindquist, Sociology

            Jennifer Matey, Philosophy

2004:     Jenise DePinto, History

            Hwa-Ji Shin, Sociology

Madeline Fusco Dissertation Fellowship Award

2008:    Amy Traver, Sociology

2007:    Eliza Woo, Ecology & Evolution

2006:    Etsuko Maruoka, Sociology

           Sarah Marchesano, History

2005:     Carol Lindquist, Sociology

            Sara Steinberg, Psychology

2004:      Despina Tata, Psychology

            Karen Weiss, Sociology

Faculty-Staff Dissertation Fellowship Award

2008:     Andrea Boffa, History

2007:     Amy Travers, Sociology

2006:     Jesse Young, Anthropological Sciences (first year awarded)

 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching by a Faculty Member

2008:    Not Awarded

2007:    Celia Marshik, English

2006:    Jessica Gurevitch, Ecology and Evolution

2005:     Michael Bender, Computer Science

2004:     Javier Auyero, Sociology

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring by a Faculty Member

2008:    Marvin Goldfried , Psychology

2007:    Paul Gootenberg, History

2006:    Michael Schwartz, Sociology           

2005:    Judith Tanur, Sociology

2004:    Kenneth Feldman, Sociology

2003:    Daniel Klein, Psychology

2002:    William Jungers, Anatomical Sciences (first year awarded) 

 

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service as Graduate Program Director

2008:    Laszlo Mihaly, Physics

2007:    Steila Tsirka, Pharmacology

2006:    Partap Khalsa, Biomedical Engineering

2005:    Brigette Demes, Anthropological Sciences (first year awarded)

Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service to Graduate Education by a Graduate Program Coordinator

2008:    Mary Moran-Luba, Comparative Literature

2007:    Deborah Kloppenburg, Electrical Engineering

2006:   Carron Kaufman, Medical Scientist Training Program

2005:   Anne Marie Dusatko, Biomedical Engineering

2004:   Sarah Battaglia, Hispanic Languages and Literature

          Diane Godden, Chemistry

 

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