UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two members of the Eberly College of Science have been selected to receive the college's Distinguished Faculty Mentoring Award in 2023. The award was created in 2019 to honor faculty members in the college for their outstanding work in mentoring students, postdocs, and faculty. This year's recipients include Wendy Hanna-Rose, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology; and Runze Li, Eberly Family Chair Professor of Statistics.
Wendy Hanna-Rose
Hanna-Rose was nominated for her efforts to engage and mentor graduate students and faculty, especially those from marginalized communities.
“Through her undeniable passion, service and leadership, Dr. Hanna-Rose defines and illuminates the word mentor and leader,” said one nominator.
Notably, Hanna-Rose developed the Changing the Future (CTF) leadership training program for women at Penn State, which is designed to empower participants to create a better future for themselves, their colleagues, their students, and Penn State. Hosted annually since 2019, CTF has graduated a total of 111 tenure-line and non-tenure-line women from across 10 University Park colleges and six Penn State campuses beyond University Park. A total of 24 Eberly College of Science women have benefited from the program and have since become associate department and department heads, a dean, as well as institute and center directors. One nominator called the course “transformational,” and another said the program “gave me space and support to explore and embrace my leadership goals and values” and that it was a “career-changing experience.”
“Wendy deserves enormous credit for making this program such a success,” said a nominator. “As individuals and as a community, we will be reaping the positive benefits for years.”
Beyond her leadership in developing the Changing the Future program, Hanna-Rose co-founded Leading for Advocacy and Action for a Diverse Leadership (LEAADs) at Penn State. LEEADs creates a network of women faculty who advocate for equity and an improved climate for women and marginalized groups across Penn State.
“[Wendy’s] leadership has made our faculty community stronger, more inclusive, more successful, more collaborative, and more recognizable in its impact across the University,” said one nominator.
Hanna-Rose has also been recognized for her teaching, earning the 2018 Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching from Penn State, the 2014 Excellence in Teaching Award from The National Society of Leadership & Success, and the 2007 C.I. Noll Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Eberly College of Science.
Beyond her dedication to teaching and mentoring faculty, Hanna-Rose excels in the mentorship of graduate students. One nominator described her as patient, supportive, and flexible. Another said she “creates sincere and honest connections” and “is able to achieve a high-level of mentoring success because she is knowledgeable of different experiences, values diversity of perspectives, is nonjudgmental, and able to give constructive feedback and criticism.”
“Even as BMB Department Head, Wendy ensured her students have more than enough opportunities to reach her,” said a nominator. “Wendy develops a unique relationship with each of her graduate and undergraduate students. She allows her students to develop into their own scientist.”
Runze Li
Li was recognized for his dedication to mentoring students throughout and beyond their graduate studies. Nominators praised his commitment to understanding the goals and aspirations of each student to provide personalized mentorship.
“He has [provided] exceptional support and advice and is one of the kindest and most patient people that I have met,” said a student nominator. “He has always been there to answer my questions, help with problems I’m struggling with, or point me in the right direction when building my research plan. He has a packed schedule, but he always manages to squeeze out time to meet and answer my questions within a day, even late at night and on weekends.”
One graduate student noted that when they were tasked with teaching an undergraduate course, Li went above and beyond to share advice, audit the class, and provide useful suggestions. Students who have graduated from Penn State under Li’s mentorship have gone on to a diverse range of careers, with several citing his mentorship as important to their success.
“Without his mentoring, I couldn’t imagine myself being in an academic career and pursuing a profession in statistics,” said a former student in a nomination letter. “His mentorship helped me grow not only professionally but also personally.”
According to his students, Li has also solidified himself as an advocate for mental health, with several expressing their gratitude towards him for supporting them as people as well as scientists. His dedication to acknowledging accomplishments and building student confidence in their abilities has built a connected and supportive work environment.
“He is deeply committed to not only student success in their career, but also their well-being — those intangibles that are so important,” said one nominator.
One nominator said that in a group chat with current group members and alumni, they “see the warmth and support he has been delivering to people around him,” and that they are “deeply touched by the way everyone is taking the time to relay their gratitude.”
“Professor Li is the best mentor I’ve ever had,” said a nominator. “He has always been guiding me with his broad knowledge and inspiring me with his enthusiasm. His unwavering encouragement gives me strength, and his kindness has been the driving force that motivates me to strive for better.”