Four faculty members at Stony Brook University have been recognized with the 2025 Provost’s Outstanding Mentor Award. The recipients are Suparna Rajaram, Sierra Washington, Ken Weitzman, and Lonnie Wollmuth.
The award is given annually by the Provost’s Office to senior faculty who demonstrate exceptional dedication to mentoring non-tenure track, pre-tenure, and mid-career faculty. It aims to honor those who provide guidance and foster professional growth among their colleagues.
“In recognition of their long service as exemplary mentors and their exceptional commitment to mentoring and supporting the intellectual, creative, scholarly, and professional growth of their faculty mentees, each of these faculty has been nominated and awarded the 2025 Provost’s Outstanding Mentor Award,” said Mónica Bugallo, vice provost for faculty and academic staff development, and professor of electrical and computer engineering.
David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, commented on the significance of mentorship at the university. “Congratulations to Drs. Rajaram, Washington, Weitzman and Wollmuth on being named this year’s Outstanding Mentors by the Office of the Provost. We are truly grateful for their dedication and leadership in supporting their colleagues at Stony Brook and in their respective fields of study,” he said. “Institutional excellence and community strength rest on a foundation of exemplary mentorship. Each of our awardees are role models for all of us as we work to build a community that nurtures, encourages, and guides the success of every member. We owe them a great debt of gratitude and can be inspired in our own work by their dedication to the intellectual and professional growth of others.”
Suparna Rajaram is known for her research on social transmission of memory and collective memory formation. She has served as president of the Association for Psychological Science and authored more than 50 peer-reviewed articles. Nicholas Eaton, professor in the Department of Psychology who nominated Rajaram, stated: “Dr. Rajaram’s dedication to mentoring is unparalleled in its depth, breadth, warmth, shared vulnerability, experience and expertise… Through direct support, active opportunity creation, emotional care, and institutional leadership, she has shaped careers — including my own — far beyond what is typical or expected. She mentors not only to help others succeed but to ensure they feel seen, valued, and sustained as they do.”
Sierra Washington leads Stony Brook Medicine’s global health program in Mozambique through her role as founder of the Center for Global Health Equity. The program involves sending clinicians from Stony Brook to train healthcare professionals at Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique—a country with high maternal mortality rates—while also running a resident exchange initiative that helps develop skills among both local practitioners and Stony Brook faculty.
William M. Burke from Stony Brook’s Renaissance School of Medicine noted: “Dr. Washington embodies many of the qualities of an outstanding mentor: dedication, expertise, and an ability to inspire growth in others… Her mentorship has helped enhance their teaching abilities… she has inspired many in advancing their careers in reproductive and global women’s health.”
Ken Weitzman is affiliated with both the Department of English and Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. He founded Science on Stage—an initiative connecting playwrights with scientists—and actively mentors early-career faculty across disciplines.
Matthew Salzano described his experience: “Through every stage of my promotion process Ken has been a patient…and supportive presence…His guidance has been transformative for me…I know that his mentorship has positively shaped the careers of many others.”
Lonnie Wollmuth directs research on glutamate receptors relevant to learning and memory functions within neurons; he leads Stony Brook’s Center for Nervous System Disorders under its Center for Molecular Medicine umbrella.
Alfredo Fontanini praised him: “As an example…he has helped his mentees benchmark performance toward promotion…He sets ambitious but realistic goals…Lonnie is generous with his time…often meticulously reviewing grant proposals…In cases where faculty had difficulties with funding Lonnie teamed up with them to successfully write collaborative grants.”