PBS honors faculty and students with Wendy Helmer Memorial Graduate Student Award and Faculty/Staff Ally to Graduate Students Award

Gorana GonzalezGorana Gonzalez has received the Wendy Helmer Memorial Graduate Student Award. 
“The Wendy Helmer Memorial Graduate Student Award is a peer-nominated award that is presented to graduate students who positively influence the UMass PBS community. This award recognizes individuals who have actively contributed to an environment that embraces inclusion, community, collaboration, mentorship, and social justice. Just as Wendy did, this award recognizes passionate individuals who challenge the status quo and actively contribute to an environment that embraces inclusion, community, mentorship, and social justice.”

Joel Ginn and Adrian Rivera-RodriquezJoel Ginn and Adrian Rivera-Rodriquez were given honorable mentions by their fellow graduate students for their continual availability to help others in the department and their dedication to justice and equity.

Holly LawsHolly Laws has received the Faculty/Staff Ally to Graduate Students Award.
“The Faculty/Staff Ally to Graduate Students Award is a student-nominated award that is presented annually to a faculty member or staff person in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences who has demonstrated themselves to be a dedicated ally to graduate students. This individual works to foster an environment of collaboration and support and improves the overall quality of life for graduate students in the department. This award recognizes a passionate individual who challenges the status quo and actively contributes to an environment that embraces inclusion, community, mentorship, and social justice.”

This year PBS also had the opportunity to congratulate last year’s winners since there was no in-person ceremony in 2021; Brooke Burrows, Jasmine Dixon, and Mélise Edwards all won the Wendy Helmer Memorial Graduate Student Award, and Tara Mandalaywala, won the Faculty/Staff Ally to Graduate Students Award. Congratulations to all of our winners!

(L-R) Brooke Burrows, Jasmine Dixon, and Mélise Edwards

 

Tara Mandalaywala
Tara Mandalaywala