Acclaimed American poet, educator, civil rights activist, and autobiographer, Maya Angelou, once said that in order to be an effective mentor, one must care. She went on to say that an effective mentor should care about what they know, and care about the person they are sharing it with.
A mentor can serve different purposes on different days, but they are endlessly interested in the quality of the learning experience and the well-being of their mentee. In short, they care.
It has been a long-standing tradition of the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program to pause each year to recognize an outstanding mentor among the many faculty members who serve the Program across the NIH and at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Nominations for this honor come from those who are the fortunate recipients of outstanding mentoring – the mentees.
This year’s nominees were Armin Raznahan, Baris Turkbey, Daniel Reich, Elodie Ghedin, Ludovica Griffanti, Masaki Terabe, Michael Sack, and Robin Stanley.
Dr. Robin Stanley was named the 2024 Outstanding Mentor Award recipient.
Dr. Stanley excels in supporting trainees’ evolving career paths, whether they choose a traditional academic route or not, always remaining fully present and supportive. She actively recognizes and celebrates her trainees’ achievements, big or small. Her personable nature fosters strong mentor-mentee relationships built on trust, which she views as crucial. Robin cares deeply about her trainees’ personal lives, understanding that balance enhances scientific work. Her support during significant life events, such as marriage and starting a family, exemplifies this commitment. She values training young scientists and believes her lab’s legacy is best measured by the scientists it produces. Her dedication to this aspect of her career is remarkable and deserving of this mentoring award.
Congratulations, Dr. Robin Stanley, on this well-deserved honor!