John S. Diekhoff Award

Diekhoff committee and winners group photo

For Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring

The John S. Diekhoff Award is presented to four full-time faculty members who make exemplary contributions to the education and development of graduate students at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. The award was created in honor of John Diekhoff, who served in several capacities during his tenure here. From 1956 to 1970, he served as professor of English, chair of the Department of English, dean of Cleveland College, acting dean of the School of Graduate Studies and vice provost of the university.

In 1978, the university created the award to recognize outstanding contributions to the education of graduate students through advising, mentoring, and classroom teaching. Initially, the award was presented to full-time faculty members who serve as outstanding teachers to graduate students, connect them with experts in their discipline, engage them academically, and actively promote their professional development. In 2009, the award was expanded to recognize full-time faculty members who excel in the mentoring of graduate students. Up to four winners will be chosen annually for excellence in teaching and/or mentoring. 

The award is sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies. A committee of graduate students reviews the nominations and recommends the winners.

Join the Diekhoff Committee! We are looking for motivated Graduate Studies students interested in contributing to the selection of this year's John S. Diekhoff Awards for faculty excellence in graduate teaching and mentoring. Committee applications will open in fall 2025.

Review the criteria for nominating facultyFaculty nominations will open in fall 2025.

Congratulations to the 2025 Nominees!

Mark Aulisio Bioethics
Sarah Bagby Biology
Diana Bilimoria Organizational Behavior
Changyong Cao Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Christian Carloni Civil Engineering
Donald Carrier Theater/Acting
Harold Connamacher Computer and Data Sciences
Nicole Crown Biology
Elizabeth Damato Physiology and Biophysics
Mary Dolansky Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing
Frank Ernst Materials Science and Engineering
Julie Exline Psychological Sciences
Agata Exner Radiology
Elina Gertsman Art History and Art
Lynette Hammond Gerido Bioethics
Walt Hunter English
David Hussey Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Leah Jeunnette Bioethics
Mark Joseph Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Chirag Kharangate Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Julia Knopes Bioethics
Sanmukh Kuppannagari Computer and Data Sciences
Erin Lamb Bioethics
Ya-Ting Liao Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
David Lodowski Pharmacology
Thomas Love Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Divita Mathur Chemistry
David Matthiesen Materials Science and Engineering
James McGuffin-Cawley Materials Science and Engineering
Catherine McManus Nutrition
Helen Miranda Genetics and Genome Sciences
Grant O'Connell Nursing
Reshmi Parameswaran Medicine, Pathology, Pediatrics
Shane Parker Chemistry
Andrea Mario Pompeo Romani Physiology and Biophysics
Maggie Popkin Art History and Art
Roger Quinn Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Soumya Ray Computer and Data Sciences
Julie Renner Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Abdus Sattar Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Rebecca Anna Schut Sociology
Abhinendra Singh Macromolecular Science and Engineering
John Paul Stephens Organizational Behavior
Wanda Strychalski Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics
Jessica Taylor Physiology and biophysics
Focco van den Akker Biochemistry
Satish Viswanath Biomedical Engineering
Gillian Weiss History
Christopher Wirth Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Jessica Wojtalik Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Nicholas Ziats Pathology

2024 Winners

Phil Cola holding Diekhoff plaque
Philip Cola - Design & Innovation

Jacqueline Curtis holding Diekhoff plaque
Jacqueline Curtis - Population and Quantitative Health Sciences

Christine Duval holding Diekhoff plaque
Christine Duval - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Xin Qi holding Diekhoff plaque
Xin Qi - Physiology and Biophysics

See the list of all prior winners for the John S. Diekhoff Awards.