Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

Congratulations to the 2025 Award Recipients!

This year the committee has awarded two outstanding mentors. The Awardee for the 2025-2026 Kerri Mowen Award goes to Dr. Haylee DeLuca Bishop and Dr. Kimberly Vanderbilt.

Past Kerri Mowen Award Recipients

• 2025-2026
  • Dr. Halyee DeLuca Bishop
  • Dr. Kimberly Vanderbilt

  
  
• 2024-2025
  • Dr. Dennis Kolosov    
  • Dr. Nahid Majd  
  • 2024 Kerri Mowen Flyer

  

  Dr. Dennis Kolosov has been an exemplary research mentor who demonstrates thoughtful self-reflection to help students achieve their research and professional goals. Since 2021, Dr. Kolosov has mentored 33 students, most belonging to groups underrepresented in STEM. Dr. Kolosov provides meaningful career-advancing opportunities such as co-authorship on publications and conference presentations. A recent graduate was offered >$1M in fellowships and 12 PhD acceptances; six trainees are in PhD programs to date, and four more are currently in the process of applying. In his time at CSUSM, Dr. Kolosov has two publications with student co-authors with nine more in review or in preparation. By using structured mentoring tools, Dr. Kolosov creates an inclusive environment that enhances students' sense of belonging, which is reflected in his students’ glowing feedback. Finally, Dr. Kolosov demonstrates that he is a student of improving his mentoring abilities by participating in professional development such as Advancing Inclusive Mentoring certifications. 

  Dr. Nahid Majd has been a staunch advocate for student research in Computer Science since starting her CSUSM position in 2014. Dr. Majd has mentored 40 students in research: a remarkable 24 graduate students in their master’s theses and 14 undergraduate students, many of whom were funded through selective programs such as CSUSM Summer Scholars and the Learning Aligned Employment Program. Dr. Majd fosters diversity by mentoring students from underrepresented groups in STEM, resulting in recognition and awards for first-generation, Hispanic, and female students. Her mentorship has led to successful outcomes, with many students advancing to graduate programs or securing competitive industry positions (e.g., Apple, Qualcomm) closely related to their research work. Dr. Majd has enhanced the research environment at CSUSM through securing grants from the Department of Homeland Security, guiding multiple research projects, facilitating presentations at premier national and international conferences, and providing leadership through coordinating the computer science graduate program
• 2023-2024
  • Dr. Alex Huynh
  • The 2023 Awardee was announced during the Student Poster Showcase on November 28, 2023.

  

• 2022-2023
  • Elinne Becket, PhD
  • Marisol Clark-Ibañez, PhD

  

• 2021-2022
  • Deanna Schmidt, PhD
  • Christina Simokat, MA
• 2020-2021
  Richard Armenta, PhD
• 2019-2020
  Arun Sethuraman, PhD
• 2018-2019
  • Lucy HG Solomon, MFA
  • Robert Iafe, PhD
• 2017-2018
  Kim Pulvers, PhD, MPH
• 2016-2017
  Kimberly D’Anna-Hernandez, PhD

Nominations

The Kerri Mowen Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Faculty Mentor Award honors individuals who, during their time at California State University San Marcos, have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in increasing the participation of undergraduate students in research and creative activities above and beyond the classroom. The award recognizes faculty (including lecturers) who have mentored and guided a considerable number of students in research or creative activities, and/or faculty who have impacted the environment of the department, college, or university to significantly increase the number and diversity of students engaged in research and creative activities.

Know someone who provides extraordinary guidance, support, and inspiration mentoring undergraduates in research and/or scholarly activities? Nominate them for The Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award. This award recognizes faculty who actively engage undergraduates in research experiences/scholarly activities, consistently provide opportunities to promote student success, and offer unbridled support and assistance on admission and matriculation to graduate programs, or in securing a professional career.

• Rubric

Nomination Process

Letters of nomination may be submitted by faculty, staff, students, or community partners. Self-nominations are accepted. Letters of nomination should describe how the nominee reflects the award's intent, including scholarship, mentoring effectiveness, and community building. Nomination letters should be submitted electronically to the committee through the Office of Graduate Studies and Research: ogsr@csusm.edu. Please include the name of the nominee and the award in the email’s subject line. Ex. "First Last Name, Kerri Mowen Excellence Award." Nomination letters are due Monday, October 20, 2025, by 11:59pm.

Nominated faculty will be contacted by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research and encouraged to accept the nomination. Accepting the nomination requires the faculty member to submit an electronic dossier to the committee by Monday, November 3, 2025, by 11:59pm. The nominee will provide: 

• A narrative summary of the actions that form the basis of the nomination, including the number and diversity of undergraduate students mentored (and graduate students if relevant), description of depth/quality of mentoring activities, and description of student success (500 word maximum). 
  • A complete curriculum vitae 
  • An optional appendix of up to three (3) items of supporting evidence with a combined maximum of 10 pages. Evidence of the candidate’s impact on student success may include (but is not limited to): lists of students in graduate school or who have secured positions reflective of their work with the mentor at CSUSM; exemplars of students’ presentations or publications (first/representative page of publication is acceptable), exhibits, or awards; statements of impact from students; etc.