2022 Donna Harrington Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Doctoral Students

The 2022 Donna Harrington Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Doctoral Students is given to a faculty member at a GADE member organization who has made extraordinary and sustained contributions to the scholarly development of social work doctoral students. This award recognizes that mentoring is an essential component of doctoral education and that mentoring helps to shape the future direction of the field of social work. Faculty distinguished by this award display a strong commitment to, and effectiveness in, mentoring social work doctoral students.

The 2018 GADE board voted to rename the GADE award for excellence in mentoring doctoral students to honor Dr. Donna Harrington, a leader in doctoral education and was especially known for being an exemplary mentor of doctoral students. Dr. Harrington was the recipient of the 2018 GADE award for excellence in mentoring doctoral students.

The winner of the Donna Harrington Award for Excellence in Mentoring will be presented with a certificate and a $1,000 award at the annual GADE Reception at SSWR in Washington, D.C. (January 12-16, 2022). GADE is unable to pay for SSWR membership fees, travel costs, or conference registration.

Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE)

The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE) was established over 25 years ago to provide a forum for sharing ideas and strategies among doctoral programs in social work, and for strengthening efforts at enhancing doctoral education. The membership, comprised of directors of established social work and social welfare doctoral programs located in accredited universities, has established two awards for faculty educational leadership and mentoring. The Donna Harrington Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Doctoral Students Award recognizes faculty members who have made significant contributions to the mentoring of doctoral students in social work.

Award Criteria

• Extraordinary, sustained commitment to mentoring of doctoral students
• Effectiveness in mentoring doctoral students with a demonstrated record of mentoring success
• Demonstrated commitment to creating an environment supportive and inclusive of diverse doctoral students from under-represented communities
• Innovativeness in mentoring

Eligibility Criteria

• The nominee must be a faculty member at a GADE member organization

Nomination Procedures

Self-nominations are NOT appropriate for this award. Nominations may come from a Dean, Ph.D. Program Director, Faculty Member, or Current/Former Doctoral Student of the nominee.

The nomination packet must include the following:

• Cover page
  • Name of the nominee
  • Contact information for the nominee (i.e., phone and e-mail address)
  • Current position of the nominee

• A letter of nomination from a Dean/Director, Ph.D. Program Director, or Current/Former Doctoral Student of a current GADE member school outlining how the nominee meets the Award Criteria (signed letter)
• CV of awardee
• A one-page summary of nominee’s activities in doctoral student mentoring written by the nominee

The nomination may also include:

• Up to 2 letters of support by administrators, faculty, students, or other social work professionals
• Samples of mentoring materials developed by the nominee, if appropriate

A single .pdf file including all required elements must be submitted electronically via e-mail attachment.  

Submission: Nominations should be submitted to the GADE Award Subcommittee at: [email protected]
The email Subject Line should read: 2022 Donna Harrington Award for Excellence in Mentoring of Doctoral Students

DEADLINE:  September 15, 2021

Application Processing: The GADE Award Subcommittee will review all nominations. Nominees will be informed of the final decision on or before November 15, 2021.