Mentors, Students, Community Members Recognized at Graduate Student Community Awards
Ioana Patringenaru | June 1, 2009
The Graduate Student Association hosted its second annual Graduate Student Community Awards Reception May 29 at the Student Services Center. The event aimed to celebrate the work and achievements of graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners, whose support for graduate and professional students at UCSD has proven indispensable over the past year. Participants included Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and Vice Chancellor Penny Rue.
A group picture of the award recipients, except Uli Muller and Erik Engleson, who were not present at the ceremony. (Photo / Amy Davenport and Ben Migliori, *heliotrope photography)
Here is a list of this year’s award recipients, with a brief description of their achievements, provided by Graduate Student Association member Melanie Zauscher.
Faculty Community Building Award
Uli Muller, a faculty member in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, was nominated by graduate students for his annual efforts to organize a regular retreat combining graduate students spread in different labs across campus and designed to feature their research work in progress. The event also serves as one of the very best professional development opportunities of its kind for physical chemists on campus, students said.
Faculty Mentoring Award
Emeritus Professor Norman Andersen from the department of psychology received several kind words from his nominators. “[Anderson] is a true renaissance man and encourages the same in our graduate students,” nominators wrote. “Dr. Anderson is a rare breed of mentor, an inspiration to us all and the provider of many wonderful opportunities.”
Assistant Professor Kim Rubenstein, from theatre and dance, is an invaluable teacher and a tireless and willing mentor who spends untold and innumerable hours outside of class meeting with students, nominators wrote. She hosts events in her home frequently. She is always around at one rehearsal or another, always willing to talk, always full of insight and inspiration, students said.
Faculty Teaching Award
Assistant Professor Thomas Roemer, from the Rady School of Management, is able to make even Quantitative Analysis fun, one student wrote. “Three hours in his class went by fast because of his enthusiasm, engagement and…connections with the students,” the student wrote. “In short, he is the best teaching professor I have had.”
Staff Community Building Award
Dale Masterson and Sonia Rosas, respectively the director and student affairs officer of Engineering Student Services, have been instrumental in helping support the start of the Jacobs School of Engineering Graduate Student Council, students wrote. They donated their time, even outside of normal working hours, to help organize meetings and provide guidance on how to perform many tasks. “As a result of their hard work, the JGSC is a growing part of the Jacobs School of Engineering community and has a bright future,” students said.
Outstanding Graduate Student Support Staff Award
Ria Del Rosario, a faculty assistant in the Division of Biological Sciences, was described by graduate students as a “saving grace.” She is thorough in every job that she does; and if she can’t help you, she’ll find someone who can, the students said. She is “general facilitator for all things confusing and/or bureaucratic,” another student said.
Graduate Student Leadership Award
Benjamin Balthasar, from the department of literature, was described as a “tireless advocate of graduate student interests throughout his time at UC San Diego.” The list of his involvements in campus organizations is a long one. Among his contributions, he has led the call for defense of free speech on campus, organized students in support of the core principles of the Dimensions of Culture writing program and facilitated the healthy expression of opposition to the transitional housing policy. “His unflinching commitment to the principles that define the graduate student community deserve recognition,” nominators wrote.
Nancy Egan, from the department of history, was similarly lauded for her long-term commitment. “Beginning with her dedication and work as a liaison for UCSD grad students and teaching assistants and the TA Union, Nancy has served as a resource, counselor, and watchdog for all her classmates and fellow teachers,” nominators wrote. She attended meetings and dispersed information about changes in contracts and policies regarding TAs. She spearheaded the petition to voice graduate student dismay about the sudden change in housing policies.
Graduate Student Community Building Award
Jessica Godin, from the department of electrical and computer engineering, served for the past year as the first chair of the Jacobs Graduate Student Council. She wrote the organization’s constitution and was responsible for much of its success. As one of her colleagues put it, recent social activity at the Jacobs School has been “unprecedented and in [large] part due to Jessica’s efforts and leadership.” To quote another: “Jessica is a natural leader and it has been truly a pleasure working with her.”
Alumni Award
Erik Engelson, who received his bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego in 1982 and an master’s degree two years later, was the driving force behind the revamp of the graduate student lounge in the department of bioengineering. Chronicling the story of Engelson’s recent involvement with the bioengineering department, one nominator wrote: “In 1993 the department of bioengineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering opened its doors to a new building—the Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall. With the dedication of this building, Engelson made a significant financial gift to create a dedicated Graduate Student Lounge and challenged his fellow alumni to raise additional funds. He said his motivation to support the lounge was the need to convey to students how important they are to the department and university as a whole. He also intended the lounge to serve as a networking venue to further collaborations between students, faculty, industry partners and venture partners. Most importantly, Engelson wanted to create a true sense of community for the bioengineering department.”
Community Member Award
Stephen Lawler, at Porter's Pub, is recognized for contributing multiple community-building events at the Pub, including karaoke, Open-Mic nights, live entertainment and weekly Graduate Appreciation Days.
|