Award Description

Mentoring offers a vital contribution to academic and professional success. At UNT, we are committed to providing a culture of mentoring excellence in all areas that impact academic life. The Ulys & Vera Knight Faculty Mentor Award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates sustained excellence in mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or other faculty. Mentoring may include support and guidance in the areas of teaching, research, service, academic achievement and/or professional development. Faculty members who have initiated departmental or university-wide mentoring programs or created student and/or faculty development programs are eligible for this recognition. The annual award carries a one-time $2,000 payment and an engraved commemorative gift.

Eligibility

  • Must have served the University of North Texas for a minimum of three (3) years.
  • Must be a full-time faculty member in good standing at the time of the nomination.
  • Must demonstrate continued commitment to faculty-to-faculty and/or faculty-to-student mentoring.

Nomination Procedures

A faculty member who meets the above criteria may be nominated by any UNT faculty or university employee with in-depth knowledge of the accomplishments of the nominee. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Nominators should inform nominees that they are being nominated and may solicit their assistance in preparing the nomination materials.

Submission Process

All nominations should be submitted using the nomination portalIf you have any questions please contact us at Faculty.Success@unt.edu or 940-565-3987.

Selection Process

An award selection committee will represent the faculty at large and the Faculty Senate Mentoring Committee. The Vice Provost for Faculty Success serves as the non-voting chair of the committee. 

Deadline

All completed nomination packets must be received by Faculty Success by 5 p.m. October 9, 2024. See the Call for Nominations for details.

Award Recipients

YEAR FACULTY MEMBER DEPARTMENT

2023-2024

Jannon Fuchs

Biological Sciences

2022-2023

Brian Richardson

Communication Studies

2022-2023

Sushama Dandekar

Chemistry

2021-2022

Alexandra Ponette-González

Geography and the Environment

2020-2021

Mariela Nuñez-Janes

Anthropology

2019-2020

William "Bill" Acree

Chemistry

2018-2019

Kimi Lynn King

Political Science

2017-2018

Raina Joines

English

2016-2017

Yolanda Flores Niemann

Psychology

2015-2016

Teresa Golden

Chemistry

2014-2015

Jennifer Callahan

Psychology

2013-2014

John Ishiyama

Political Science

2012-2013

Bertina Combes

Educational Psychology