Five Carleton University professors were recognized with a Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award during a ceremony held on campus on April 7, 2026.
Graduate students from across all disciplines submitted nomination letters in support of their supervisors, highlighting the meaningful impact these faculty members have had on their academic journeys as well as their personal development.
This award recognizes professors who demonstrate exceptional dedication to graduate education through their roles as supervisors and research mentors. Sponsored by the Office of the Vice-President (Research, Innovation and International) and Graduate Studies, the award underscores the significant and lasting influence that strong mentorship can have on graduate student success.
This Year’s Recipients
Below are the recipients (in alphabetical order), along with selected excerpts from their students’ nomination letters:
Shireen Hassim, Canada Research Chair in Gender and African Politics
- “Shireen advises and guides with integrity and consistency. Her expectations are clear, her commitments unwavering, and her support steadfast. In a system where graduate students often feel invisible or expendable, Shireen’s mentorship communicates something profoundly different: that our ideas matter, our struggles are legitimate, and our growth is worth sustained investment.”
- “Throughout my time working with her, Prof. Hassim has shown me, in countless ways, what it means to be an exceptional mentor. Her guidance is always detailed and thoughtful, tailored to my challenges and questions, and she continually fosters a supportive environment that makes me feel truly seen and valued. Her belief in me has made a real difference in my journey.”
- “Prof. Hassim’s sponsorship of my participation in the doctoral workshop at Makerere University (gave me) the opportunity to workshop my doctoral research with senior scholars and doctoral colleagues, receive detailed, constructive feedback and, most importantly, build lasting professional networks with doctoral colleagues (who have) become an important part of my academic and professional development.”