2019-2020 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor and Master’s Thesis Awards

It is my distinct pleasure to inform you that we have selected the recipients of the 2019–2020 Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award and the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Awards.

Dr. Debra Monroe, Professor in the Department of English, is the recipient of The Graduate College Outstanding Mentor Award.  This award recognizes a faculty member who has had extraordinary success in mentoring graduate students.  Congratulations to Dr. Monroe for her excellent work!  I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Monroe’s colleagues and former students, who submitted very thoughtfully written letters which described in detail the tremendous positive impact of Dr. Monroe’s mentorship on her students’ careers. 

Amanda L. Driscoe, who earned a Master of Science with a Major in Population and Conservation Biology, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Life and Biological Sciences.  Her thesis, “Host Plant Associations and Spatial Autocorrelation as Drivers of Genetic Differentiation among Populations of a Regionally Host-specific Insect Herbivore”, was directed by Dr. James R. Ott, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology.  Congratulations to Amanda for her outstanding research!

Tiffany Rainey, who earned a Master of Arts with a Major in Rhetoric and Composition, is the recipient of The Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award in the Social Sciences, Education, and Business.   Her thesis, “Her Own Voice: Coming Out in Academia with Bipolar Disorder”, was directed by Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Professor in the Department of English.  Congratulations to Tiffany for her outstanding research!

As the winners of these competitions, Dr. Monroe will receive $2,500 to be paid into her research account, while Amanda and Tiffany will each receive $500.  All three will be recognized at The Graduate College’s award ceremony next April.  The Graduate College has also entered them into the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ respective competitions.

The Graduate College has also nominated Dr. Michelle Lane, Professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences and graduate advisor for the master’s program in Human Nutrition, for the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education in the Southern Region Award.

 I would also like to acknowledge the following members of the graduate community: Drs. Jackson and Ott, for their exemplary mentorship and commitment to their students; and the faculty members, Graduate House members, and Graduate College deans who served on the award committees.  It was indeed inspiring to read about the excellent research and mentoring which is happening on our campus.  And to the entire graduate faculty, I thank you all for your steadfast commitment to graduate education on our campus. 

If you have questions about this award, feel free to contact Dr. Andrea Golato via email at agolato@txstate.edu.