Andrew Pieper strives to influence his students far beyond their days at 杏吧视频 School of Medicine. As the Rebecca E. Barchas, MD, Professor in Translational Psychiatry, Pieper views mentorship as a key component of the academic experience.
鈥淚 still carry my previous mentors around in my head and look to them for guidance; I hope to provide this same lasting benefit to others,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t is a joy and privilege to help young scientists achieve the training they are seeking to launch their careers.鈥
Pieper鈥檚 person-centered approach toward mentoring, positive outlook and generosity of his time have not gone unnoticed. He鈥檒l be recognized with the John S. Diekhoff Award for Graduate Mentoring this year, an honor he will receive during the School of Graduate Studies鈥 diploma ceremony Friday, May 19.
鈥淒r. Pieper is an extremely compassionate mentor who takes great care to consider students' general well-being in the context of their progress,鈥 said one student nominator.
Another student said, 鈥淗e has been instrumental in my scientific, professional and personal development. He helped me network with collaborators and experts in my field, passed along opportunities to give lectures, presentations and write reviews, tirelessly edited my grants and is always available when I need him.鈥
Pieper is humbled by the honor.
鈥淚 feel truly honored and fortunate to have been nominated and selected for this prestigious recognition,鈥 he said.
Pieper expects his graduate student advisees to adhere to the values of honesty, integrity, disciplined innovation, optimism and generosity鈥攁nd he leads by example. When he was invited to present his lab鈥檚 work at the International Research Conference on Neurodegenerative Diseases, he brought his students along and gave them the opportunity to present their work themselves to help them gain experience, make connections in the scientific community and receive the recognition they deserved for their hard and innovative work.
Beyond these efforts, Pieper is committed to building and reinforcing diversity, equity and inclusion in science鈥攕eizing opportunities for advocacy throughout his career including delivering a lecture to the U.S. Congress. He also launched a summer research experience to promote diversification of the scientific and medical community pipeline to underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and has since expanded the program for those who identify as LGBTQ+.
When Pieper accepts the Diekhoff Award May 19, he plans to mark the occasion by taking his lab out for a celebratory dinner.
About the award
The Diekhoff Award honors John S. Diekhoff, a distinguished scholar, teacher, mentor and administrator who served 杏吧视频 in several capacities during his tenure from 1956 to 1970: 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.
The Diekhoff Award, established in 1978, recognizes outstanding contributions to the education of graduate students through advising and classroom teaching. The annual award is presented to two faculty members who epitomize what it means to teach graduate students: to connect them with experts in their discipline, engage them academically in a forthright and collegial manner, and actively promote their professional development. In 2009, the Diekhoff Award was expanded to recognize two additional full-time faculty members who excel in the mentoring of graduate students. A committee of graduate studies students reviews the nominations and recommends winners.
