Each year, the Graduate School recognizes the important contributions of graduate faculty to the excellence of graduate education at the University with the Outstanding Graduate Director Award.
See deadlines for nominating faculty for awards.
Outstanding Graduate Director Award
The Award for Outstanding Graduate Director recognizes the exemplary service of the University’s graduate directors. Selection criteria includes:
- oversight of recruitment, admissions, and student progress-to-degree in a manner that facilitates program goals
- smooth day-to-day operations (e.g. oversight of funding appointments such that students receive offers and funding on time)
- oversight of the graduate program’s written documents (e.g. graduate student files, Graduate School Manual)
- attention to “continual improvement” as documented by quantitative program indicators (e.g. increased retention; reduced time-to-degree; increased number of quality applicants or admitted or enrolled students; increased average GRE/GMAT of applicants or admitted students)
- innovations that are approved and sustained by the department or program (e.g. mentoring system, career and professional development focus, new certificates or tracks)
Nominees must have served as Graduate Director for at least two calendar years as of the nomination deadline. Nominations are restricted to Graduate Directors currently serving, or just having completed an appointment as Graduate Director. Normally nominations of faculty whose work as a Graduate Director substituted for other tasks expected as part of a normal faculty workload will not qualify for the award.
The nomination dossier must contain:
- a letter of endorsement from the Chair of the department
- letters of endorsement from at least two other faculty members
- a letter of endorsement from the president of the department’s graduate student organization. The letter should include a survey of graduate student opinion
- a summary of accomplishments as Graduate Director (1 inch margins, 12 pt. font; not to exceed 4 pages)
- a current curriculum vitae of the nominee
- a narrative paragraph (100-150 words) highlighting the nominee’s achievements in a manner suitable for distribution to Inside Binghamton University.
Submit nominations electronically to the Graduate School by the deadline listed in the awards calendar.
Recent Awardees
Graduate Director
2023 - 24 - Loretta Mason-Williams, Community Research and Action
2022 - 23 - Manoj Agarwal, Data Analytics; Suzy Lee, Human Rights
2021-22 - Hiroki Sayama, Systems Science and Industrial Engineering
2020-21 - Kathleen Sterling, Anthropology; David Jenkins, Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies
2019-20 - Jeroen Gerrits, Comparative Literature
2018-19 - Leslie Gates, Sociology
2017-18 - Nicole Rouhana, Nursing; Elizabeth Mellin, Community Research and Action
2016-17 - Gretchen Mahler, Biomedical Engineering
2015-16 - Qiqing Yu, Mathematical Sciences
2014-15 - Mohammad Khasawneh, Systems Science and Industrial Engineering
2013-14 - Leslie Lander, Computer Science
2012-13 - Mark Fowler, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2010-11 - Nancy Um, Art History
2009-10 - Theresa Grabo, Decker School of Nursing
2008-09 - Andrew Walkling, Theatre
2007-08 - Lisa Tessman, Philosophy
2006-07 - George Bobinski, School of Management; James Constable, Electrical and Computer Engineering
2005-06 - Thomas A. P. Sinclair, Public Administration
2004-05 - Joyce Ferrario, Decker School of Nursing
