September 5, 2024

Each year, STAR Scholars nominate mentors who have gone above and beyond for the Outstanding Mentor of the Year award. This year, two faculty mentors were selected from the nominees to receive recognition for their outstanding mentorship. Congratulations to both of our Outstanding Mentors, and thank you for guiding and supporting our STAR Scholars!

Jill Moses, MFA, is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of English and Philosophy and the Assistant Director of the First-Year Writing Program. In addition, she teaches Academic and Career Exploration classes in the First-Year Exploratory Studies Program at Goodwin. Her passion is to encourage and connect with students, especially first-generation college students (since she is first-generation herself). Jill likes to develop curriculum, and to explore poetry, creative writing, and expository writing in innovative ways. Jill is also the faculty advisor to the student-led Women’s Empowerment Club.

This summer, Prof. Moses mentored Khristina Cabrera, an English major whose STAR project focused on Filipina identities. In her nomination letter, Khristina wrote, “As a poet herself, Professor Moses also understood my passion for the intersectionality of research and creativity. Originally, I was under the misconception that because STAR is a research program, I should sacrifice my imagination to only write in academic jargon. She reminded me that creativity is a large part of who I am, and thanks to her encouragement, I have been writing a series of experimental essays that aren't limited by conventional bounds. This has included creative non-fiction about my experience as a Filipina-American and poetry in the voices of Filipina feminist leaders. Professor Moses taught me that research doesn’t need to look a certain way, and that hiding away one’s inherent creativity does more harm than good. [...] As this program comes to an end, I can confidently say that Professor Moses helped me embrace my identity as a writer."

Edward Kim, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Drexel University. He graduated from Lehigh University in 2013 with a PhD in computer science. He has a MSE and BSE from the University of Pennsylvania in the areas of computer graphics and game technology and computer science. Dr. Kim performs research in the area of computer vision, sparse coding, neuromorphic computing, medical image processing, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, and game development. Kim was the recipient of the 2019 NSF CAREER Award in Robust Intelligence.

Dr. Kim mentored two STAR Scholars this summer, Shams Abrar and Bhavika Choudhary, both computer science majors. In their joint nomination letter, Shams wrote, “One of the most remarkable aspects of Dr. Kim’s mentorship is his ability to guide without micromanaging. He has an exceptional talent for fostering independence, encouraging me to explore and solve problems on my own. Rather than holding my hand throughout the journey, he provided the tools, resources, and confidence needed to tackle the research independently. This approach not only boosted my self-reliance but also allowed me to develop critical thinking skills that will serve me well beyond my time as a STAR Scholar.”

Bhavika shared, “Dr. Kim invested in my professional development. He took the time to understand my career aspirations and encouraged me to present at conferences and even consider writing a paper based on my research. His passion for his field was evident not only in the breadth of his knowledge but also in the variety of innovative projects he was involved in. This passion was contagious and further fueled my enthusiasm for the subject. Dr. Kim has had a lasting impact on my academic journey, so much so that I now plan on remaining involved in research throughout my time at Drexel (and beyond). His mentorship was more than just guidance; it was a partnership in learning that equipped me with the skills, confidence, and inspiration to continue pursuing research.”