As undergraduate students navigate their academic journeys, many come to find mentors who are crucial to providing the guidance, support and encouragement they need for success. These relationships enrich the student experience, not only contributing to higher retention rates but nurturing overall personal development that paves the way for future achievements.
The Jackson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring recognizes the positive impact Case Western Reserve University faculty and staff have on the lives of students. It celebrates faculty and staff who have guided a student; fostered their personal development; challenged the student to reflect, explore and grow as an individual; and supported and/or facilitated their goals and life choices.
The award was established by J. Bruce Jackson (ADL ’52), in honor of Dean Carl F. Wittke, who served as an advisor, mentor and friend to Jackson when he was an undergraduate student at Western Reserve University.
This year’s winners will be recognized during the commencement convocation ceremony on May 14.
Cheryl Cameron
Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine
Whether it’s witnessing a student’s “eureka” moment or celebrating an acceptance into medical school, Assistant Professor Cheryl Cameron describes her work as an instructor and mentor to be simply “amazing.”
“I have been lucky to work with so many brilliant young scientists at the beginning of their careers,” said Cameron, who serves in the School of Medicine’s Department of Nutrition. “I love to share in the joy of their successes and hope I’ve helped them along the way.”
She is honored to have been nominated by students to receive the J. Bruce Jackson MD Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring.
“[Dr. Cameron’s] mentorship has been invaluable, guiding me through complex research projects and helping me develop my skills in systems immunology,” said one student nominator. “She encourages me to step outside my comfort zone and to approach problems with both intellectual curiosity and technical skills, which will be essential in my future career.”
One of Cameron’s proudest moments came this year when an undergraduate student identified a novel pathway with potential implications for mental health while analyzing a systems biology dataset. That discovery earned the student a highly competitive National Institutes of Health undergraduate scholarship.
In Cameron’s view, discovery is the beauty of science; when students start writing research posters and slides she sometimes sees potential gaps and encourages them to keep looking for new perspectives.
“I advise them to go back and try to find a connection between pathways, or if there’s a connection between a pathway and a disease, try to find a therapy to reverse it,” said Cameron. “If we can guide them to something novel, that can be really exciting!”
Cameron’s mentorship includes actively listening to what inspires her students.
“I try to help them identify their gifts, what they are most passionate about,” said Cameron. “And I remind them that science can be a long haul and it is really important to celebrate the successes they have along the way.”