Division 20
American Psychological Association
 Adult Development
and Aging

 


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APA Division 20 Mentorship Awards in Aging

 

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: RRF Mentorship Awards

All materials must be submitted electronically by May 1, 2008.

Division 20 and the Retirement Research Foundation are sponsoring two Mentorship Awards in 2007.
  • The Master Mentor award ($5,000) shall be presented to an established figure in the field who has had a significant impact on the development of the careers of students and junior colleagues in the psychology of adult development and aging. This will be an individual who has been a full professor for at least 10 years. The Master Mentor award will be based on the mentoring qualities (see below) represented by that individual as well as the breadth and depth of the individual's impact on the field. The winner will be someone who has not only had personal influence on the field, but someone whose students have also begun to have some influence as well.
  • The Mentor award ($3000) shall be presented to an individual who has consistently provided support, guidance, and strong direction to undergraduate and graduate students in aging and adult development. This individual might be someone who resides at a liberal arts institution or college that focuses on undergraduate education or it may be an individual at a Ph.D.-granting institution who is at an earlier stage of career development than the Master Mentor. This award will be given to the individual who has been most actively committed to mentoring and who best exemplifies the qualities identified with strong, effective mentoring (see below).

 * Individuals who applied previously for the Division 20 Mentorship Awards may carry over their complete application to this year by writing a letter (one copy only) requesting resubmission of the previous application. This letter must be received by May 1, 2008. All materials must be submitted electronically.

Nominations may be made personally by the nominee or by someone else, and the nomination packet should include:

1) a letter of nomination, sent electronically, describing the individual's impact and role as a mentor (emailed by May 1, 2008 to bsmall@cas.usf.edu with the subject line: RRF MENTOR AWARD; (other items are due May 1, 2008; all of these items must be sent electronically as well).
2) a complete list of undergraduate and graduate students and/or junior colleagues who have been mentored by that person, along with current affiliations
3) a vita for the nominee (including legal tax address and social security number)
4) letters of reference for the mentor, written by students, former students, and/or junior colleagues (include 3 to 5; preference is given to letters by individuals who are no longer under the direct supervision of the nominee)
5) a description of the nominee's mentoring activities (e.g., undergraduate and/or graduate instruction, training grants, research mentoring, curricular development, training programs, awards for mentees, etc.)

Letters of reference for both mentoring awards should include the following information: a) a description of the nature of the mentoring relationship (when, where, level of training); b) a vita or resume for the student or junior colleague writing the reference; and c) an explanation of the role played by the mentor in facilitating the student or colleague's development as a scholar and professional.

Letters of reference may include, but are not limited to, discussion of the following behaviors that have been identified with successful mentoring:

  • helping the student to select and work toward appropriate goals
  • providing critical feedback on individual work and on progress in general
  • providing support at all times, especially encouragement and assistance in the face of difficulties
  • assisting students in applying for awards, grants, and other funding
  • assisting students in building social network connections, both with individuals and within organizations that are important in the field
  • serving as a role model and leader for teaching, research, and academic and public service appropriate to the discipline
  • providing general advice with respect to professional development, especially in the areas of future advancement (e.g., graduate school, postdoctoral study, faculty positions), awards, and publications
  • treating the student/colleague with respect, spending time with them, providing open communication lines, and gradually moving the student into the role of colleague as the student advances
All materials should be e-mailed (preferably bundled into one email ) to:

Brent Small
bsmall@cas.usf.edu

Please type, “RRF MENTOR AWARD”  on the subject line of the email

All materials will be reviewed by three scholars selected from the current and past Division 20 presidents, the president-elect, and members of the Division 20 Awards Committee.

All materials must be received by May 1, 2008.

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