Outstanding Mentoring

The College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Award for Outstanding Mentoring recognizes one faculty member for excellence in the mentorship of undergraduate and/or graduate students. This award recognizes contributions to students’ professional and personal development through guidance, support, and motivation for students to pursue their interests and passions while navigating personal circumstances.

2024 Winner — Thomas LaVanchy

 

Given the quality of mentoring and teaching that Dr. LaVanchy has demonstrated since joining OSU in 2019, he is an outstanding candidate for this award. Dr. LaVanchy has been incredibly valuable to the geography department in the way that he has recruited and nurtured underrepresented and marginalized students. His nominators said that he is a model for how we should all approach mentoring at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, Dr. LaVanchy’s students are successful, tackling important global challenges and developing the confidence and skills to leave OSU and transition to other pursuits. Those have included graduate school, academia, and beyond.

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