For a list of the 2025 Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars (DEGS) Conference award winners and participants, visit the DEGS website.

Outstanding Mentorship Award

In partnership with Undergraduate Research & Enrichment Programs in the Pennoni Honors College, the Outstanding Graduate Student Mentorship Awards are presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who have shown an outstanding commitment to mentoring, developing and supporting undergraduate and/or new or junior graduate students. While mentorship occurs in many settings, this award focuses on mentorship in a research or scholarly setting, including remote/online, such as during the STAR Scholars Program.

Office of Graduate Studies Award Winners

Hansoo Chang

PhD Program in Applied Cognitive and Brain Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences

Josette Graves

MS Program in Medical Science

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Riley G. Young

PhD Program in Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Nominees

Luisa Abadia

PhD Program in Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Yash Athreya
MS Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

John Bird

PhD Program in Economics

LeBow College of Business

Brody Carpenter

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Laura D'Adamo

PhD Program in Psychology

College of Arts and Sciences

Anette Eilertsen-Dillon

MBA Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Grace Giddings

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Jagger Godarzi

MD Program in Medicine

College of Medicine

Emily Griffith

PhD Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Earth Systems

College of Arts and Sciences

Beth Kern

PhD Program in Biological Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences

Destinee Monsterio

MS Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Akari Seiner

PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Riya Shah

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Osmaan Shahid

MD Program in Medicine

College of Medicine

Lucie Stein

MS Program in Pathologist Assistant

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Andre Tayamen

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

John Timlin

PhD Program in Communication, Culture and Media

College of Arts and Sciences
 

Jason Wheeler

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Drexel Common Good Award

In partnership with the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, the Drexel Common Good Award is presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who demonstrate academic excellence and who are committed to improving the world around them by making contributions to local, national or global communities through either scholarship, civic engagement, and community building.

Office of Graduate Studies Award Winners

Yasmine Azzi

MD Program in Medicine

College of Medicine

Charis Cochran

PhD Program in Electrical Engineering

College of Engineering

Luwam Gebrekristos

PhD Program in Epidemiology

Dornsife School of Public Health

Nominees

Edmond Kubi Appiah

MPH Program in Epidemiology

Dornsife School of Public Health

Bridie Eckel

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Vershawn Hansen

MD Program in Medicine

College of Medicine

David Romanofski

EdD Program in Educational Leadership and Management

School of Education

Research Excellence Awards

Research Excellence Awards are presented to graduate and professional (master's and doctoral level) students who have completed original, innovative research, scholarship and/or creativity during their career at Drexel.

Office of Graduate Studies Award Winners

Xizhi Tan - Post-Candidacy

PhD Program in Computer Science

College of Computing and Informatics

Essien Oku Essien - Pre-Candidacy
PhD Program in Communication, Culture and Media
College of Arts and Sciences

Brody Carpenter - Most Original & Creative Work

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Nominees - Post-Candidacy

Laura D'Adamo

PhD Program in Psychology

College of Arts and Sciences

Brady Eckert

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Xinge Li

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Torin McFarland

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Ashley Opalka

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Triumf H. Qosej

DBA Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Katelyn Reeb

PhD Program in Pharmacology and Physiology

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine
 

Mohammad Saleh Refahi

PhD Program in Electrical Engineering

College of Engineering

David Romanofski

EdD Program in Educational Leadership and Management

School of Education

Amir Sadighi

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

Riya Shah

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Kateryna Shevchuk

PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Patrick Smith

PhD Program in Community Health and Prevention

Dornsife School of Public Health

Natalie Smolin

PhD Program in Biomedical Science

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Yifan Wang

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Fangqian Wu

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Nominees - Pre-Candidacy

Alireza Ashkpour

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

Wenqiang Huang

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Nominees - Most Original & Creative Work

Shadman Khan

MS Program in Accounting

LeBow College of Business

Adam Walter

PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Outstanding Dissertation Awards

The Outstanding Dissertation Awards are presented to doctoral-level students who have written original, innovative dissertations that reflect great research and have or are likely to be disseminated widely and have significant impact on the field and society. This award is open to all doctoral-level students who have achieved candidacy and are expected to complete, defend their dissertation, and graduate in the current academic year (prior to September 7, 2025).

Office of Graduate Studies Award Winners

Elizabeth Lampe

PhD Program in Psychology

College of Arts and Sciences

Kateryna Shevchuk

PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Nominees

Sarah Gift

PhD Program in Mathematics

College of Arts and Sciences

Madison LaBella

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Torin McFarland

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Thomas Palazzolo

PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

David Romanofski

EdD Program in Educational Leadership and Management

School of Education

Amir Sadighi

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

Qingyue Sun

PhD Program in Communication, Culture and Media

College of Arts and Sciences

Xizhi Tan

PhD Program in Computer Science

College of Computing and Informatics

Adam Walter

PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Teck-Kah Lim Award

Teck-Kah Lim, PhD, is the former Associate Vice Provost of Graduate Studies and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics. He served as a dedicated leader in the Office of Graduate Studies, now the Graduate College, for over a decade. The Teck-Kah Lim Graduate Student Excellence Award, established in 2018, is presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who show promise of future meaningful contributions to local, national or global communities as can be gleaned from present academic excellence and achievements in research and/or teaching, as well as outstanding selfless service to peers, and the local community.

Graduate College Award Winner

Natalie Smolin

PhD Program in Business Administration

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Nominees

Leigh Taylor Flynn

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies

College of Medicine

Shadman Khan

MS Program in Accounting

LeBow College of Business

Torin McFarland

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Madison Raposa

PhD Program in Environmental and Occupational Health

Dornsife School of Public Health

Riya Shah

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Kateryna Shevchuk

PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Yifan Wang

PhD Program in Business Administration

LeBow College of Business

Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards

Teaching Assistant Excellence Awards are presented to graduate and professional students (master's and/or doctoral level) who serve as Teaching Assistants or Teaching Fellows (TAs/TFs) and who exhibit exemplary commitment to student learning through reflective teaching practices, creative and innovative teaching methods, academic support, leadership and a commitment to their own professional growth and development as an educator.

Office of Graduate Studies Award Winners

Tara Doherty

MSN Program in Nursing Education

College of Nursing and Health Professions

Ali Ghadimzadeh Alamdari

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

Sobhan Honarvar

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

Yuki Lam

PhD Program in Chemistry

College of Arts and Sciences

Noah Lamb

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Andrew Lockhart

PhD Program in Neuroscience

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine

Ian Olivant

MS Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Kimberly Smith

MS Program in Interior Architecture and Design

Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Summer C. Tompkins

MS Program in Epidemiology

Dornsife School of Public Health

Jiaqi Xiang

PhD Program in Biomedical Science

School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Nominees

Yash Athreya

MS Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Vibha Belle

MS Program in Interior Architecture

Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Krista Beucler

MFA Program in Creative Writing

College of Arts and Sciences

Nathan Branson

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Kendall Butler

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Essien Oku Essien

PhD Program in Communication, Culture and Media

College of Arts and Sciences

Elle Fried

MSN Program in Nursing Education

College of Nursing and Health Professions

William Griffith

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Caroline Hayes

MS Program in Psychology

College of Arts and Sciences

Gavin Hearne

PhD Program in Electrical Engineering

College of Engineering

Jesse Isadore

MFA Program in Creative Writing

College of Arts and Sciences

Autumn Kelly

MS Program in Materials Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

Stephen Kupchella

PhD Program in Biological Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences

Daphne Liu

PhD Program in Biostatistics

Dornsife School of Public Health

Francesca Mucciaccio

PhD Program in Epidemiology

Dornsife School of Public Health

Vahid Rad

PhD Program in Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering

Ive-Anwuli Ralph-Uyalor

PhD Program in Biological Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences

Osmaan Shahid

MD Program in Medicine

College of Medicine

Ross Sonnenblick

PhD Program in Psychology

College of Arts and Sciences

Mehrangiz Taheri

PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering

College of Engineering

Emily Taub

MS Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Matthew Velardi

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Klein Zeyuan Wang

PhD Program in Physics

College of Arts and Sciences

Fangqian Wu

PhD Program in Economics
School of Economics

LeBow College of Business

​Graduate Student Association Awards

Guardian Award Winners

Presented to those who have shown exceptional support for the GSA through collaboration, engagement and advocacy, making them invaluable partners in promoting graduate student success.

Linda Moran
Director of Public Safety Administration

Tsz Kwok, EdD '16
Director of Academic Administration and International Student Engagement
Adjunct Faculty Member
Westphal College of Media Arts and Design

Most Collaborative Graduate Student Organization

The award recognizes a student organization for exemplary collaboration within the Drexel community, highlighting their active engagement, partnerships with the GSA and other organizations, and commitment to enhancing graduate student life.

Maternal and Child Health Student Organization (MCHSO)

Community Impact Award

Presented to a student organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to service, outreach and social responsibility. Through impactful initiatives, they have addressed community needs and created meaningful, positive change beyond the campus.

Drexel Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (DGWiSE)

Office of Graduate Studies Special Recognition

Anne Converse Willkomm, MFA
Associate Dean
Office of Graduate Studies
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Communications
College of Arts and Sciences