The American Historical Association
Announces
A Call for Nominations for the
Nancy Lyman Roelker Mentorship Award

 

About the Award
This award was established to honor teachers of history who taught, guided, and inspired their students in a way that changed their lives. Mentoring is as important to the discipline of history as fine scholarship and good teaching. The ideal mentor is forthright, supportive, and constructively critical, committed to the student as a person, regardless of age or career goals.

While it is difficult to formulate a precise definition of this multifaceted process, there are some essential elements:

  • belief in the value of the study of history and commitment to and love of teaching it to students regardless of age or career goals;
  • consistent personal commitment by the mentor to the student as a person;
  • honesty and integrity of the mentor;
  • mentor's contribution to the process of mentoring as a one-to-one partnership in learning that is comfortable to both, that is likely to endure and develop beyond the initial context as each learns from, gives to, and shares with the other, enriching both professional and personal lives.

The Nancy Lyman Roelker Mentorship Award is given on a three-year cycle: graduate mentors (including combined graduate and undergraduate teaching); secondary school teachers, and undergraduate mentors (both two-and four-year colleges). The 2009 award is for graduate mentors and carries a cash award.

Application Process
Nominations should include:

1. A completed cover sheet and check list.

2. A minimum of five letters supporting the nomination. These letters can be from students, former students, parents, colleagues, and others. There is no set proportion or formula on the "right" mix of letters. Individuals organizing nominations should solicit a cross selection as appropriate to address the essential elements noted above. Maximum length of letters is 2 pages.

3. The nominee's vita highlighting educational experience and student mentoring (publications and professional activities should be summarized in no more than 2 pages). Maximum length of c.v. should be 5 pages.

Mail to:
Roelker Mentorship Award
American Historical Association
400 A Street S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003

Cover sheet and checklist, all letters supporting the nomination, and vita must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2009.

The 2009 award will be announced at the January 2010, AHA annual meeting in San Diego. Questions should be addressed to the Roelker Prize Administrator at the address given above, or by e-mail addressed to prizes.

Last Updated: August 6, 2008 3:16 PM