Biology Professor Mary Anne Nelson was named today by the White House and President Barack Obama as one of 22 individuals and organizations to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). Colleagues, administrators, and students from their home institutions nominate candidates for the Presidential Mentoring Award.
Photo: Mary Anne Nelson
This Presidential Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to mentoring students and increasing the participation of minorities, women and disabled students in science, mathematics and engineering. An additional 87 recipients received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
“I'm very honored to have been recognized for my efforts in mentoring undergraduates and graduate students in the sciences,” said Nelson, who is also program director for the Minority Access to Research Careers or MARC. “However, it feels like the award should go to the students, not to me! It's been a real privilege and also lots of fun to work with these students. It's hard to put into words the joy of watching them progress as they embark on their research experience, and then go on to impressive careers.”
Nelson’s research interests center around sexual development in Neurospora crassa, the control of gene expression during development, fungal genomics. Nelson also directs the Neurospora Genome Project (NGP), which represents an effort to obtain partial or complete nucleotide sequences from a large number of cDNA clones derived from conidial, mycelial, unfertilized sexual and perithecial libraries of N. crassa.
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, awarded each year since 1996 to individuals or organizations, recognizes the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering and who belong to minorities that are underrepresented in those fields.
The awards were created to recognize the critical importance of mentors in the academic and personal development of students and colleagues who are underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The mentoring can involve students at any grade level from elementary through graduate school.
By offering their time, encouragement and expertise to these students, mentors help ensure that the next generation of scientists and engineers will better reflect the diversity of the United States. The awardees serve as leaders in the national effort to develop fully the Nation's human resources in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
"There is no higher calling than furthering the educational advancement of our nation’s young people and encouraging and inspiring our next generation of leaders," President Obama said. "These awards represent a heartfelt salute of appreciation to a remarkable group of individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others and in doing so have helped us all."
In addition to being honored at the White House in the fall, recipients receive awards of $10,000 from the National Science Foundation to advance their mentoring efforts. They also receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for a White House awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and science agency leaders.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at July 9, 2009 05:14 PM