Announcing the 2026 Faculty, Graduate Student, and Staff Award Winners

Graduate Mentoring Award

This award honors a faculty member who goes above and beyond as a supportive mentor and role model in graduate students' educational and career development.

This year's recipient is Chris Monk!

One nominator wrote: “What stands out most about Dr. Monk's mentorship is the care and consistency he brings to supporting his students. He has met with me almost weekly throughout my entire PhD, even during the summer months, and is extremely responsive to emails, such as requests for recommendation letters, feedback, and other forms of support. His feedback on manuscripts, statements, abstracts, and other written work is not only timely, but also deeply thoughtful, encouraging me to think more critically about how I frame ideas, communicate findings, and develop my style.”

 Congratulations, Chris!

Wilbert McKeachie Award for Excellence in Lecture-Based Teaching

This award is presented to a faculty member recognized for outstanding teaching in the traditional lecture format.

This year's recipient is Monique Ward!

One student stated, “Dr. Ward is a passionate and dedicated instructor to her 300+ undergraduate students each semester. She is a strong leader of a teaching team which most often includes 3-5 novice GSI’s. Much like her devotion to the education of her students, her mentorship to instructors in training is unparalleled. Both inquisitive undergraduate and graduate students alike are met with empathy, respect and an open office door.”
 
Congratulations, Monique!

J. Frank Yates Award for Excellence in Seminar-Based Teaching

This award is presented to a faculty member recognized for outstanding teaching in smaller, more interactive courses.

This year's recipient is Sara McClelland!

One student stated, “Dr. McClelland created a crucial component of interdisciplinary graduate training – both within and outside Psychology – qualitative research methods. Her courses are especially important as the broader field elevates and recognizes the importance of rigorous, methodologically-driven qualitative work. She not only pioneered these innovative courses over the last eight years, she has also brought UM’s graduate program national recognition for her teaching and mentorship in these areas.”
 
Congratulations, Sara!

Excellence in Mentoring Award

This award is presented to a graduate student who is recognized by undergraduate students for outstanding training and support of undergraduate research assistants.

This year's recipient is Rupsha Panda!

One student stated, “What makes Rupsha a truly exceptional mentor is not just the time she dedicates, but the environment she creates. She is someone I have always been able to go to with questions without fear of judgment. She fosters a space where learning feels collaborative rather than hierarchical, and where mistakes are treated as part of the process rather than something to be embarrassed by. Because of this, I have grown not only as a researcher, but also in my confidence in my own abilities.”
 
Congratulations, Rupsha!

Chris Peterson Staff Excellence Award

The Chris Peterson Staff Excellence Award, named after a beloved faculty member who passed away in 2012, is intended to honor a Psychology staff member for outstanding service to the department by living Chris’s motto “Other people matter, period."

This year's recipient is Lisa Boehr!

One nominator stated, “Lisa is a tremendous force for good in the department. She provides invaluable, high-level support for faculty and administrators and does so with a dispositional kindness and patience that helps facilitate harmonious progress on important tasks. She has impeccable organizational and diplomatic skills. She's a delight to have around and the department would be worse without her.”

Congratulations, Lisa!

John Jonides Star Staff Award for Exemplary Service

This award is presented by the Management Group – which includes the Chair, Associate Chairs, Chief Administrator, Director of Student Services, and Facilities Manager – and given to the staff member who is recognized for exemplary service including outstanding leadership, innovation, and collaboration.

This year's recipient is Jaime Howe!

One member of the Management Group stated, “Jaime collaborates across every area of our department—HR, SAA, the Business Office, the Administrative Team, Facilities, and provides faculty and student support. Her leadership is essential to nearly every major departmental event, from the Homecoming Picnic and department colloquiums to retirement symposia and graduate student recruitment weekend, ensuring each event is not only successful but genuinely memorable for everyone involved.

Over the past year, as University reimbursement and travel/flight policies have changed, many of us have relied on her expertise and steady guidance. She greets everyone with a warm smile and an unwavering willingness to help. Simply put, she is a true joy to work with."

Congratulations, Jaime! 

John Jonides Outstanding Research Staff Award

This award is designed to honor a research staff member who is recognized for exceptional service in advancing the research mission of the Psychology Department. 

This year's recipient is Allison LaMonica!

Here is a quote from one of the nominations we received: “We suddenly lost our data manager and needed someone to step in. Jumping into this role was particularly challenging since the previous data manager left abruptly and thus there wasn't really anyone to train the new person. But Allison was undaunted by this challenge and quickly jumped over to running data management. She now leads a bigger team.  Moreover, across all of these tasks, I want to emphasize that she is incredibly mature, professional, and well organized. I am a very organized person and she puts me to shame.”

Congratulations, Allison!