The IU Indianapolis Graduate Mentoring Center Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award is given to encourage and recognize outstanding mentoring of graduate and professional students and identify best practices for graduate mentoring at IU Indianapolis.
Nominees must be current or retired graduate faculty at IU Indianapolis and all nominations must be completed by midnight February 15, 2025. The award will be presented during the Elite 50 celebration dinner on April 7, 2025.
The recipient of the 2025 IU Indianapolis Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Mentor award given by the Graduate Mentoring Center is Dr. James Marrs, Professor of Biology in the School of Science. Dr. Marrs was nominated by two graduate students who spoke of his holistic mentoring, personalized support, and deep commitment to students, among other attributes.
The following excerpts were taken from their nominations:
“He balances professionalism with a deeply human approach, creating an environment where I have grown academically and personally. He takes the time to understand my goals and challenges, offering research guidance, career advice, and emotional support. His encouragement has been invaluable, especially during difficult moments when I questioned my abilities.”
“A key element of his approach is the "mentorship roadmap" he develops with each student. Early on, Dr. Marrs engages in goalsetting discussions, helping students outline short-term and long-term objectives. He then tailors their experiences in the lab to align with these goals; whether that means encouraging them to take on leadership roles, helping them refine grant applications, or introducing them to collaborators in their field.”
The recipient of the 2024 IUPUI Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Mentor award is Dr. Jennifer Embree (Jeni), Chief Wellness Officer, Clinical Professor of Nursing, and Clinical Nurse Specialist at IU School of Nursing. Dr. Embree currently leads the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Health System’s Track at IU School of Nursing. Board certified in nursing leadership and as a critical care clinical nurse specialist, Dr. Embree teaches writing for publication, leadership, informatics, and strategy, finance, and human resources in the DNP Executive Leadership, Population Health, and MSN Leadership in Health Systems’ Programs.
Dr. Embree is also a Research Scientist at Eskenazi Health.
Dr. Embree’s current research focuses on quality of nursing work life, safe staffing, developing faculty and staff wellness, nurse coaching for advocacy and policy, Professional Identity in Nursing, and enhancing a civil work environment. Dr. Embree is passionate about wellness programs and initiatives she facilitates to holistically support nursing faculty, staff, and student wellbeing at the intersection with diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. She facilitates the development of nurse leaders who inspire cultural change in health care organizations.
In her nomination application, students said the following:
“Dr. Embree is an outstanding mentor due to her exceptional dedication, personalized guidance, and unwavering commitment to nurturing the professional growth of her students. Her mentorship transcends traditional academic boundaries, as she invests deeply in the holistic development of each individual.”
“Dr. Embree is passionate about what she does. She inspires passion in her students and creates excitement when we are feeling beaten down, burnt out or feel like giving up. Dr. Embree encourages all of us to reach our maximum potential which has definitely fostered talent within the nursing profession that otherwise may not have pursued a higher nursing degree.”
The recipient of the 2023 IUPUI Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Mentor award is Dr. Katrenia Reed- Hughes (Dr. K), Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership in the Department of Technology Leadership and Communication at the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology. Dr. Reed-Hughes is a founding member of the Midwest Experiences in Mentoring Excellence (MEME) collaborative, and a Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) trained facilitator. Dr. Reed-Hughes’ research focuses on culturally responsive mentoring, and project management as career trajectory catalyst for marginalized population workforce development. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) she has been invited to present internationally on culturally responsive mentoring, project management self-efficacy, and building bridges between higher education and industry with intentional relationship-based communities. Dr. Reed-Hughes’ lived experience growing up in a sharecropper village in rural southeast Missouri affords her a unique perspective on building resilience to help sustain people during difficult times. Whether functioning in the role of mentor, advocate, educator, scholar or colleague, her primary motivation remains constant. She meets people where they are to help them articulate and realize their dreams. Dr. Reed-Hughes’ view of learning to successfully address life’s challenges is inspired by Nelson Mandela’s words, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
The recipient of the 2022 IUPUI Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Mentor award was Professor Genevieve G. Shaker, Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Adjunct Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI. Professor Shaker’s research focuses on fundraising and fundraisers, workplace philanthropy, philanthropy education, and higher education advancement—including faculty work and the public good as well as philanthropic practices within higher education.
Her nominations spoke of her personalized mentoring, collaborative nature, and constructive feedback. One nominator wrote: “She seeks to build a personal relationship based on her genuine commitment to the person, their interests and their competence. She works on developing new skills and she especially seeks to demonstrate that continual efforts are what pay off. Every setback is a learning point, every attempt, even if it is not successful, helps to define objectives more clearly. She sees work as a collaborative effort.”
Dr. Matthew Allen, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development and Professor of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology in the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Allen studies the tissue-level mechanisms responsible for musculoskeletal intergrity in health and disease, and how pharmaceutical intevention influences skeletal properties.His nomination lauded his personilized mentoring, mentoring beyond his own lab, and innovative approaches to mentoring:
"Dr. Matt Allen persistently advocates and supports his mentees with their professional development and well-being at the core of his holistic mentoring approach. Dr. Allen is keenly aware that mentoring students should not occur with one-size-fits-all approach, and he draws upon his own experiences and training to develop an environment that fosters scientific creativity and independence strengthening his trainees' ability to perform successfully in science and academia."
Professor Carrie Hagan, Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Civil Practice Clinic at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Professor Hagan directs two clinics: the Civil Practice Clinic and the Interdisciplinary Law and Social Work Clinic. She has published locally, internationally on her work involving interdisciplinary partnerships and coordinating skill sets between law and social work.
One student who nominated Professor Hagan said, "She understands how an individual student's intersectional identity--race, gender, identity, sexuality, class, status, etc--might impact their lived experience as a law student. She meets us where we are and treats us like whole human beings." Another nominator mentioned, "Professor Hagan takes time to understand students' strengths and push them to grow. Importantly, she encourages students to use these strengths and newly acquired skills to serve the Indianapolis community. This is a powerful combination, and one that both nurtures students during a vulnerable time and inspires them to push beyond the traditional understanding of what a law degree can do for the society"
Professor Hagan's mentoring influenced her students in a profound way. Another student mentioned, "Through the Civil Practice Clinic, Professor Hagan allowed a group of Students, including myself, to file a brief with the Supreme Court of Indiana on a pending matter before the court. Because of her assistance, passion, and guidance, we are now participating in oral argument in front of the Supreme Coury on February 20. The clinic students, myself included, could never imgaine this opportunity in our lifetimes, let alone while in law school. This simply never would have been possible without Professor Hagan and I'm certain the experience will be well worth the cost of my education."
Dr. Melissa Cyders, Department of Psychology in the School of Science at IUI. Dr. Cyders is an assiociate professor who studies how impulsivity and its neurocognitive underpinnings influence a wide range of risk-taking behaviors, including alcohol use, substance abuse, and sexual risk-taking. One of the students who recommended Dr. Cyders stated that her mentorship is, "Let me listen to your needs and let's find a way to make it happen." Another student said that, "Her role has been critical in helping me put my skills to test and learn what i am capable of achieving professionally." One of our faculty reviewers mentioned that "Her students publish prolifically under her, which argues strongly for her postive influence." Notably, Dr. Cyders also provides time to help students, even some who are not under her direct mentorship, complete applications for advanced education and job opportunities.
Dr. Jason Meyer is in the Department of Biology in the School of Science at IUI. Dr. Meyer is an associate professor who uses human induced pluripotent stem cells for studies of nervous system development and disease. One of Dr. Meyer's students commented, "Dr. Meyer has encouraged me to attend numerous conferences over the course of my education and as such, I have presented my work at over 30 local, regional and international conferences. He continually pushes me forward and never allows me to be complacent with my research on myself. It is this positive attitude, encouragement and dedication that has helped me realize my full potential as a scientist."
