Thirty-two U-M faculty members received university awards this fall in recognition of their notable contributions in the areas of teaching, mentoring, service and scholarship. The recipients were honored at a Faculty Awards Celebration on Nov. 11.
The Research Faculty Mentor Award honors people who hold at least a 60% appointment at the rank of research professor or research scientist, research associate professor or associate research scientist. Selection criteria include demonstrated excellence in mentoring research faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and/or undergraduate students, as well as evidence of fostering academic growth and career development and creating an inclusive and supportive environment for mentees of all backgrounds. The recipients are:
Robin T. Jacob
Research professor, Marsal Family School of Education; and research professor, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research
Jacob has made mentorship central to her scholarly mission, guiding dozens of students, junior faculty, research staff and postdoctoral fellows over nearly two decades at U-M. She earned a B.A. from Indiana University (1992), an M.A. from the University of Maryland (1995) and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago (2002). Her individualized mentoring approach addresses career development, professional challenges and work-life balance. Recognizing a need for structured support for junior faculty at the Survey Research Center, she created monthly workshops on writing productivity, networking and grant development. She also co-founded the ASPIRE program with the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, offering summer research training to undergraduates from Spelman and Morehouse colleges. Her commitment to equity, inclusion and sustained professional relationships has earned praise from mentees who describe her influence as transformative.
Full story was in the University Record. The information for the story was written and provided by the Office of University Development and compiled by Genevieve Monsma of The University Record.
