For a list of the 2022 Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars Conference award winners and participants, visit the DEGS website. 

Outstanding Mentorship Award 

In partnership with the Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs in the Pennoni Honors College, the Outstanding Graduate Student Mentorship Awards are presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who have shown an outstanding commitment to mentoring, developing and supporting undergraduate and/or new or junior graduate students. While mentorship occurs in many settings, this award focuses on mentorship in a research or scholarly setting, including remote/online, such as during the STAR Scholars Program.

Graduate College Award Winners

Lena Champlin
PhD Program in Environmental Science
College of Arts and Sciences

Sarah Malik
PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

Katherine Zellner
PhD Program in Information Science
College of Computing and Informatics

Nominees

Abdullah B. Altundas

PhD Program in Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences

Angie Bellanich
MSI Program in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience
College of Computing and Informatics

Katie Bryant
PhD Porgram in Neuroscience
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Hannah Grosman
PhD Program in Cinical Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences

Brian Kim
MS Program in Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences

Hannah Korpel
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Jill Lawrence
PhD Program in Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Benjamin Lefler

PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Nancy Mack

PhD Program in Neuroscience
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Parsa Namakiaraghi
PhD Program in Civil Engineering
College of Engineering

Ivy Ochieng
MS Program in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Jennifer Sandora
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Rachel Sherman

MPH Program in Urban Health
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Barrett Snyder

MS Program in Sport Management
LeBow College of Business

Mithantmon Soe
PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

Geetha Valurouthu
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Dharma Teja Varapula
PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Manali Vora
MPH Program in Epidemiology
Dornsife School of Public Health

Jerica K. Wilson
PhD Program in Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences

Drexel Common Good Award

In partnership with the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, the Drexel Common Good Award is presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who demonstrate academic excellence and who are committed to improving the world around them by making contributions to local, national or global communities through either scholarship, civic engagement, and community building.

Graduate College Award Winners

Andrew Bennett-Jackson
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

George Walley-Sephes Jr
MS Program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Close School of Entrepreneurship

Nominees

Govindi Harricharran
MS Program in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Hemnath Natarajan
MS Program in Business Analytics
LeBow College of Business

Vidya Patil
MPH Program in Epidemiology
Dornsife School of Public Health

Social Change Award for Equity

The Graduate College and Center for Black Culture are proud of the justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts of graduate and professional BIPOC student community in antiracist community engagement, activism, and involvement within and outside of the University community.

Graduate College Award Winners

Jeannine Cook
MFA Program in Creative Writing
College of Arts and Sciences

Karley Schulte
MHS Program in Physician Assistant
College of Nursing and Health Professions

Nominees

Maryann McEvoy
EdD Program in Educational Leadership and Management
School of Education

George Walley-Sephes Jr
MS Program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Close School of Entrepreneurship

Research Excellence Awards

Research Excellence Awards are presented to graduate and professional (master's and doctoral level) students who have completed original, innovative research, scholarship and/or creativity during their career at Drexel.

Graduate College Award Winners

Kelsey G. Csumitta - Post-Candidacy
PhD Program in Clinical Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences

Elizabeth W. Lampe - Pre-Candidacy
PhD Program in Clinical Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences

Pooja S. Kalavagunta - Master’s
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Lorela Ciraku – Most Original & Creative Work
PhD Program in Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Nominees - Post-Candidacy

Kevin G. Aubol
PhD Program in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
College of Nursing and Health Professions

Hussein O. Badr
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Sarah Bennison
PhD Program in Neuroscience
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Jennifer Connors
PhD Program in Microbiology and Immunology
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Joan Cullinane
DBA Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Mohsen Foroughi Sabzevar
PhD Program in Architectural Engineering
College of Engineering

Dustin Fry
PhD Program in Epidemiology
Dornsife School of Public Health

Melissa Kavanaugh
PhD Program in Nutrition Sciences
Collee of Nursing and Health Professions

Reza Kheirollahi
PhD Program in Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering

Tara Li
PhD Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Varun Natu
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Vignesh Perumal
PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

Simar Singh
PhD Program in Clinical Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences

Jerica K. Wilson
PhD Program in Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences

Jintao Zhang
PhD Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Nominees - Master's

Kate Bormann
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Outstanding Dissertation Awards

The Outstanding Dissertation Awards are presented to doctoral-level students who have written original, innovative dissertations that reflect great research and have or are likely to be disseminated widely and have significant impact on the field and society. This award is open to all doctoral-level students who have achieved candidacy and are expected to complete, defend their dissertation, and graduate in the current academic year (prior to September 1, 2022).

Graduate College Award Winners

Olivia Boerman
PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering
School of Biomedical Engineering, Sciences and Health Systems

Rebecca Crochiere
PhD Program in Clinical Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences

Nominees

Mohammadreza Bahadori
PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

Jennifer Connors
PhD Program in Microbiology and Immunology
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Joan Cullinane
DBA Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Melissa Kavanaugh
PhD Program in Nutrition Sciences
College of Nursing and Health Professions

Benjamin Lefler
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Dana Lengel
PhD Program in Neuroscience
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Jonathon Nicholas Lundy
PhD Program in Communication, Culture and Media
College of Arts and Sciences

Sreyashi Mukherjee
PhD Program in Communication, Culture and Media
College of Arts and Sciences

Valerie Raziano
PhD Program in Community Health and Prevention
Dornsife School of Public Health

Allison Schaffer
EdD Program in Educational Leadership and Management
School of Education

Casper Voyles
PhD Program in Community Health and Prevention
Dornsife School of Public Health

Sacha R. Wilson
EdD Program in Educational Leadership and Management
School of Education

Teck-Kah Lim Award

Teck-Kah Lim, PhD, is the former Associate Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics. He served as a dedicated leader in the Office of Graduate Studies, now the Graduate College, for over a decade. The Teck-Kah Lim Graduate Student Excellence Award, established in 2018, is presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who show promise of future meaningful contributions to local, national or global communities as can be gleaned from present academic excellence and achievements in research and/or teaching, as well as outstanding selfless service to peers, and the local community.

Graduate College Award Winner

Kate Bormann
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design 

Nominees

Ari Albanese
PhD Program in Clinical Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences

Greg Albright
PhD Program in Communication, Culture and Media
College of Arts and Sciences

Mark Anayee
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering

Olivia Boerman
PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Pooja Kalavagunta
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards

Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards are presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who serve as Teaching Assistants or Teaching Fellows (TAs/TFs) and who exhibit exemplary commitment to student learning through reflective teaching practices, creative and innovative teaching methods, academic support, leadership and a commitment to their own professional growth and development as an educator.

Graduate College Award Winners

Laura A. Baehr
PhD Program in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
College of Nursing and Health Professions

Cassidy K. Buhler
PhD Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Emily V. Griffith
PhD Program in Environmental Science
College of Arts and Sciences

Anthony W. Howcroft
PhD Program in Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences

Yoonhee Kim
PhD Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Edwin M. McCulley
PhD Program in Epidemiology
Dornsife School of Public Health

Parsa Namakiaraghi
PhD Program in Civil Engineering
College of Engineering

Mohsen Foroughi Sabzevar
PhD Program in Architectural Engineering
College of Engineering

Emine Tekerek
PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

Ardy Wong
PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Continuing Excellence in Teaching Assistance Award

Evan J. Arena 
PhD Program in Physics 
College of Arts and Sciences 

Cameron D. Bale
PhD Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Dominick J. Macaluso 
PhD Program in Mathematics 
College of Arts and Sciences

Greg Schwenk
PhD Program in Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences

Nominees

Mike D'Antuono
PhD Program in Business Administration
LeBow College of Business

Juliet F. DelRio
MFA Program in Creative Writing
College of Arts and Sciences

Julie L. Dunn
MSN Program in Nursing
College of Nursing and Health Professions

Mario Frakulla
PhD Program in Physics
College of Arts and Sciences

Zach Fusfeld
PhD Program in Epidemiology
Dornsife School of Public Health

Sarah K. Gift
PhD Program in Mathematics
College of Arts and Sciences

Amanda G. Johnson
PhD Program in Mathematics
College of Arts and Sciences

Sean C. Lewis
PhD Program in Physics
College of Arts and Sciences

Matthew Mieles
PhD Program in Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences

Jennifer Sandora
MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Barrett Snyder
MS Program in Sport Management
LeBow College of Business

Yassmen Zaki
MPH Program in Epidemiology
Dornsife School of Public Health

Graduate College Recognition Awards

Shivanthi Anandan, PhD (& Team)
Vice Provost, Undergraduate Education
For partnering with the Graduate College and others on the remote fall start in support of international students, work on the Course Catalog, and on the accelerated degree programs project among other key projects.

Alonzo M. Flowers, III, PhD
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Graduate College
Associate Professor, School of Education
For serving as inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Graduate College, inaugural chair of the Diversity Advisory Council (DAC), and advancing DEI initiatives at Drexel.

Joseph Hawk
Executive Director, Assessment and Accreditation
​For the incredible oversight of the Middle States Committee on Higher Education Self-Study and support for ongoing assessment initiatives.

Michele Kutzler, PhD
Associate Dean for Faculty and Professor
Departments of Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology
College of Medicine
For volunteering to chair the Committee on Graduate Academic Affairs (CGAA) of the University Council on Graduate Affairs (UCGA), making recommendations for the improvement graduate programs, policies, procedures, and communications, and developing graduate student handbooks.

James Seward, Jr. (& Team)
Director, Loan Repayment and Collections
For partnering with the Graduate College on resolving challenging graduate students cases. 

The Office of Inter-College Advising (I-CA), including:

Michelle Spina
Director

Aaron Laskey
Assistant Director

​For partnering with the Graduate College on advisor communications, training and development and streamlining academic forms and processes for graduate students and advisors.

The Academic Information and Systems (AIS) Team, specifically:

Sean Brown
Systems Analyst Manager, Curriculum 

Joanne Ott
Systems Analyst, Curriculum 

Chanel Ward-Richardson
Systems Analyst Manager, Student

For partnering with the Graduate College to streamline the graduate minor,  accelerated degree, and E-Forms processes and other University projects.