2010 AAAS Mentor Awards seeks nominations by July 31, 2010

Dear Colleagues, 

We are now seeking nominations for the 2010 AAAS Mentor Awards.  All nominations are due by July 31, 2010. The two categories of the AAAS Mentor Awards, the Lifetime Mentor Award and the Mentor Award, honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the science and engineering PhD workforce. These groups include: women of all racial or ethnic groups; African American, Native American, and Hispanic men; and people with disabilities. 

The recipient of the 2009 AAAS Mentor Award is Luis A. Colón, of the University at Buffalo (UB), for his deep commitment to advancing diversity in the chemical sciences, leading to an increase in Hispanic American PhDs in chemistry. He joined the faculty at the UB in 1993 as the first Hispanic member of the graduate program in the Department of Chemistry. Soon after, he voluntarily began recruiting talented students, particularly from the Hispanic population, into the program and the sciences.  Dr. Colón also initiated and coordinated efforts that have increased the participation of underrepresented minority groups in summer research experiences at UB and has been involved in many activities at the university and national levels, that foster the participation of underrepresented populations in science. Dr. Colón has also been an advocate for women in the chemical sciences, mentoring 15 women during their graduate careers, and is involved in projects recruiting Hispanic STEM students for the entire university. Many of the students he has mentored have gone on to pursue advanced degrees. 

The recipient of the 2009 AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award is Diola Bagayoko, Southern University System Distinguished Professor of Physics and Chair of the Department of Physics at the Southern University at Baton Rouge (SUBR), for his extraordinary efforts to significantly increase the number of African American PhDs in Physics and Chemistry. Dr. Bagayoko is credited with the creation and expansion of the Timbuktu Academy based at SUBR, a resource center for encouraging students to pursue PhDs across a wide range of STEM fields and academic levels. Based upon experience gained through years of mentoring, Dr. Bagayoko established the academy, a unique program designed to reach pre-college and undergraduate students in STEM fields. Dr. Bagayoko is also well-known for his ability to reach undergraduate students on a personal level and his efforts to promote the advancement of education and research.  In 1996, Dr. Bagayoko became one of the first recipients of the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring.   

For more information and to download the nomination form please visit the website at: http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/mentor/ .  The new application PDF can be  downloaded and filled out electronically for increased efficiency and accuracy. Enhanced tables and clarifying language help to highlight the spirit of the award, PhD completion and institutional  change in underrepresented groups. 

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Brittany Taggart at btaggart@aaas.org