The School of Graduate Studies celebrated the winners of its 2025-2026 Merit and Achievement Awards during the annual Spring Awards Ceremony on May 14, 2026. The ceremony honored graduate students, graduate faculty members, and staff whose work makes the quality and distinction of graduate education at Rutgers possible. The awards recognize excellence in research and scholarship, teaching and mentoring, leadership, outreach, service, and student support across academic disciplines and within specific fields.
Kathleen Scotto, vice dean of the School of Graduate Studies, delivered opening and closing remarks, and Mark Robson, dean of the School of Graduate Studies, presented the awards. Dean Robson thanked attendees for joining SGS in celebrating the awardees’ “remarkable achievements.”
The Excellence in Student Support Award, which recognizes staff members who have made significant contributions to graduate education at Rutgers, was presented to Denise Laible-Brucato of Oceanography and Kathryn Rizzi of History.
The Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award, which recognizes graduate faculty who have made significant contributions to graduate education, was presented to Dr. Melissa Aronczyk of communication, information, and media studies and Dr. Spencer Knapp of chemistry and chemical biology.
Three graduate students received the Excellence in Leadership and Teaching Award, which recognizes significant contributions to undergraduate and graduate education at Rutgers: Maggie Albright-Pierce of Psychology, advised by Dr. Shana Cole; Alissa Persad of Civil and Environmental Engineering, advised by Husam Najm; and Grayson Tung of Entomology, advised by Dr. Dina Fonseca.
Nainika Paul of Political Science, advised by Dr. Elena Gambino, received the Excellence in Outreach and Service Award, which recognizes SGS graduate students who have made significant contributions to organizations outside Rutgers University.
The Outstanding Master’s Student Award, which recognizes excellence in master’s research and scholarship across the disciplines, was presented to Ishita Chakraborty of Biomedical Sciences in Newark, Pierre Cornilliat of Economics, Audrey Gray of Art History, and Varun Vekaria of Computer Science.
The Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, which recognizes excellence in doctoral research and scholarship, was presented to Chelsea Cary of Toxicology, advised by Dr. Phoebe Stapleton; Yulia Cherniavskaia of History, advised by Dr. Jochen Hellbeck; Weinan Wang of Electrical and Computer Engineering, advised by Dr. Laleh Najafizadeh; and Grace Wetzel of Psychology, advised by Dr. Diana Sanchez.
Samuel Desind of Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Cancer in Newark, advised by Dr. Carol Lutz, received the Stanley S. Bergen Medal of Excellence, which celebrates exceptional scholarly achievements across the biomedical sciences.
Isabella Weiss of Art History, advised by Dr. Laura Weigert, received the Harvey Waterman Medal of Excellence, which celebrates exceptional scholarly achievements across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
Jorden Sanders of literatures in English, advised by Dr. Maurice Wallace, received the Distinguished Scholarly Achievement Award, the School of Graduate Studies’ most prestigious honor. The award is presented to a student who demonstrates the highest possible level of academic excellence and achievement and celebrates extraordinary research and scholarship.
The ceremony also recognized the graduate faculty members who served on the awards selection committees and contributed to the review process.
These awardees represent the many forms of care, rigor, creativity, and commitment that make exceptional graduate education possible. Graduate education depends on individual achievement, and on the mentors who challenge and support students, the staff members who help them navigate complex systems, and the peers and colleagues who build intellectual communities where ambitious work can grow.
Their accomplishments also reflect what is strongest about the School of Graduate Studies; a shared commitment to helping graduate students develop as scholars, teachers, researchers, professionals, and members of wider communities. Through their scholarship, mentoring, leadership, service, and daily support of others, this year’s honorees help create the conditions in which graduate students can thrive at Rutgers and carry their work beyond the university.