Nelson Award

The Darrell W. Nelson Excellence in Graduate Student Advising Award has been established as part of the Awards Program in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. In honor of former IANR Agricultural Research Division Dean Darrell W. Nelson, the award acknowledges many of the traits exemplified by Dean Nelson.

• Excellent scientist
• Successful graduate student mentoring
• Provided encouragement and incentives for graduate teaching
• Emphasized the importance of graduate education for our state
• Distinguished scholarly and creative activity
• Helpful in providing career guidance
• Assisted in successful placement for graduate students.

A plaque and $1,000 stipend will accompany this award. The recipient will be recognized at the Distinguished Fellowship Award Luncheon held in the Fall.

Eligibility

1. Nominees must be on the Graduate Faculty in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
2. Evaluations will be made on the basis of demonstrated excellence and lasting impact in the following areas:
   • Successful graduate research mentoring, as evidenced by a pattern of research collaboration and co-authored publications with graduate students;
   • Distinguished scholarly/creative activity
   • Successful instructional performance
   • Innovative pedagogy
   • Special advising or mentoring efforts, including but not limited to, assistance with the development of career goals and successful job placement

Nominations

Nominations will be accepted from students, faculty, administrators, staff, parents, alumni and friends. Eligible faculty members may nominate themselves. Submission deadline is 5:00 pm, Friday, March 31, 2023. Each nomination must include:

1. One completed nomination form
2. A letter of nomination no more than three pages
3. Three letters of endorsement written by graduates of the nominee or active graduate students
4. One letter from a peer graduate faculty member (if nomination is prepared by a faculty peer, this item can be omitted)
5. Candidate's resume or curriculum vita - limited to 10, one-sided pages. No videos, binders, or other materials will be accepted