������Ƶ

The annual Graduate Education Honors Banquet honored doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, excellence in academics, innovation and mentorship. The March 19 banquet recognized the outstanding achievements taking place across more than 50 graduate programs and departments.

This year’s banquet brought together what were previously separate celebrations—the Postdoctoral Awards Ceremony and the Graduate School banquet. This change represents the university’s overarching commitment to foster a connected and collaborative scholarly community.

“Those of you being honored have accomplished exceptional achievements through your research and innovative work,” said Andrea Page-McCaw, associate dean for academic affairs in the Graduate School and Stevenson Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology. “As important members of our academic community, you embody a spirit of curiosity and discovery. The impact of your work reaches across our campus and into the broader community. Through your research, mentorship and dedication to advancing knowledge, you are helping shape the future of your disciplines and beyond.”

“A special thanks to all of our students and postdoctoral scholars who joined us this evening. You are an essential part of our academic community, and we are proud to celebrate you and your accomplishments,” said Julián Hillyer, associate dean for academic affairs in the Graduate School and Centennial Professor of Biological Sciences. “And to the faculty in attendance, thank you for your dedication to student and postdoctoral fellow success.”

Graduate School Honors Banquet Student Life Center Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Photo: Anne Rayner

Graduate School Honors Banquet Student Life Center Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Photo: Anne Rayner

Graduate School Honors Banquet Student Life Center Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Photo: Anne Rayner

Graduate School Honors Banquet Student Life Center Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Photo: Anne Rayner

Graduate School Honors Banquet Student Life Center Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Photo: Anne Rayner

Graduate School Honors Banquet Student Life Center Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Photo: Anne Rayner

EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE STUDENT MENTORING AWARD

The Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring award, established in 2022, is presented annually to recognize exceptional mentorship. It reflects Vanderbilt’s commitment to supporting students in achieving their fullest potential, academically and personally. Each year, three recipients are honored.

Maureen Gannon

Maureen Gannon has been at Vanderbilt since 1996. She is a professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, professor of cell and developmental biology, and the inaugural associate dean for faculty development for the School of Medicine. Gannon’s goal is to help each trainee in her lab discern where their talents and passions lie and to give them the resources and opportunities to explore potential careers while in graduate school so that they are prepared for that career upon graduation. One of her colleagues shared: “Dr. Gannon’s mentorship has ‘rippled’ across multiple departments and programs in the School of Medicine. She has been and continues to be an outstanding and highly effective mentor for trainees within her lab, within multiple graduate programs in the Basic Sciences, and across the entire institution.” Her graduate mentees cite that Gannon’s mentorship continues to shape their careers in meaningful ways.

Ilana Horn

Ilana Horn is the Wachtmeister Family Chair of Teaching and Learning. She has been at Vanderbilt since 2009, as a professor of mathematics education, previously serving as the Director of Graduate Studies, and is the only faculty member to advise students across all four areas of study in the Ph.D. program for the Department of Teaching and Learning. Horn views mentoring as a long-term investment by cultivating highly engaged, ethical scholars who will be her future colleagues in the field. One of her graduate student mentees said, “[Dr. Horn’s] high expectations are always paired with encouragement and guidance, making her mentorship both demanding and deeply supportive. Through this balance, Lani helps students grow into confident, independent scholars while modeling integrity and excellence in research, teaching, and service.” Horn noted that mentoring students has been the cornerstone of her scholarly identity.

Neil Osheroff

��

Neil Osheroff holds the John Coniglio Chair in Biochemistry and is professor of biochemistry. He has been at Vanderbilt since 1983 and, over the course of the past 43 years, has mentored dozens of Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students to success in his Osheroff Laboratory. One of his graduate student mentees said, “He sets exceptionally high standards while simultaneously providing the support, encouragement and structure necessary for students to meet and exceed those expectations. Under his mentorship, students do not simply learn how to conduct experiments; they learn how to think as independent scientists, how to communicate clearly and ethically, and how to build careers grounded in excellence and integrity.” Osheroff’s mentorship has profoundly influenced how his former mentees mentor their own students and trainees.

EXCELLENCE IN POSTDOCTORAL MENTORING AWARD

The Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award was established to honor outstanding mentorship. The recipient must demonstrate a willingness to share expertise and advice; services to the community at large, including other mentoring activities; and scholarship within the mentor’s own career, including publications, awards, presentations and honors.

Laurie Cutting��

Laurie Cutting is the Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Special Education. She has been at Vanderbilt since 2009 and exemplifies an exceptional willingness to share guidance and expertise. Cutting provides mentees with opportunities to explore ideas, develop independence and take intellectual risks. She is a systems and design thinker who helps mentees balance short-term goals, intermediate-term plans and long-term visions. Trainees mention one enduring lesson from Cutting’s mentorship, which is how to be “patient yet proactive.” Cutting’s mentorship is grounded in leadership through service and collaboration, with a constant focus on how today’s work can best support the next generations of scientists and learners.

OUTSTANDING DOCTORAL STUDENT AWARDS

The Outstanding Doctoral Student Award recognizes doctoral students who demonstrate exceptional scholarly accomplishments. The awardees were nominated by faculty and selected from across the various colleges and schools for their academic record and the quality of their research, scholarship and creative expression.

Andrea DeFreese

Andrea DeFreese is a doctoral student in the otolaryngology program in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. In her dissertation, DeGreese focuses on using genetics to identify biomarkers of the central auditory system and their impact on cochlear implant outcomes. One professor cited that DeFreese “has six first-author publications and has earned authorship on eleven additional papers.” Another professor remarked that, “simply put, Andie is a once-in-a-generation trainee and scholar. She has been an exemplary doctoral student and demonstrates extraordinary potential to become a leader in the field.” As noted by her mentors, DeFreese demonstrates tremendous potential as she moves forward in her career.

Can Luo��

Can Luo is a doctoral student in the biomedical engineering department, specifically on the computational genomics track. Luo’s research focuses on developing machine learning models to detect complex genomic variations and interpret their functional impact on human health. To date, she has authored seven papers in her lab and is listed as first author on six of those publications. One professor shared that “Can combines intellectual depth, technical rigor and independence at a level that is exceptional even among top doctoral candidates.” Through her excellence in research, mentorship and community engagement, Luo embodies the qualities of the next generation of computational biologists and future leaders.

Nicollette Mitchell

Nicollette Mitchell is a doctoral student in the teaching and learning department at Peabody College. Mitchell’s dissertation focuses on Black women geoscientists, which fills a sizable gap in the literature. Through this work, she is engaging in theory building with an intersectional justice lens. To date, Mitchell has co-authored five peer-reviewed papers published in proceedings for conferences, co-published a peer-reviewed article in AERA Open, co-written an invited chapter for an edited volume and is finalizing three article-length manuscripts. One professor remarked that Mitchell’s “excellence in teaching, research mentorship and campus service reflect her potential as a future tenure-track faculty member in education.” Mitchell brings a strong work ethic, collaborative stance, attention to iterating ideas, openness to and curiosity about feedback, and creativity to her work.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW OF THE YEAR

The Postdoctoral Fellow of the Year award was established to honor a postdoctoral scholar who exemplifies excellence across research, leadership and science.

Kyle David��

KyleDavid is a postdoctoral fellow in biological sciences in the laboratory of Antonis Rokas. David studies evolutionary biology, specifically long-standing macroecological patterns of yeasts and the phenotypic impact of the expansion and contraction of gene families. In addition to having 19 publications in top-tier journals and receiving NSF funding, David is a recipient of the American Society of Naturalists Early Career Investigator Award. He also is a lead developer of a unique outreach program between the Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative and Dismas House, a residential reentry program for Tennessee state prisons.

Julia Garon-Bissonnette

Julia Garon-Bissonnette has an interdisciplinary appointment spanning the departments of psychology and human development and special education. She has co-authored 34 peer-reviewed articles, three book chapters and more than 150 scientific presentations, with an additional nine manuscripts currently under review and seven in preparation. Notably, she was the lead author on a paper that received the 2024 Paper of the Year Award from the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. She was recently awarded the Early Career Research Award from Mental Health & Prevention, reflecting the international visibility and impact of her scholarship. Professors have noted that Garon-Bissonnette serves as an exceptional colleague, mentor and leader; she is intellectually curious, generous with her time and deeply committed to others’ success.

POSTDOCTORAL MENTORING AND TEACHING AWARD

The Postdoctoral Mentoring and Teaching Award recognizes postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate exceptional dedication to mentoring students, supporting trainees and meaningfully contributing to learning environments.

Chelsea Mann

Mann is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Medicine in the laboratory of Neil Osheroff. Mann consistently goes above and beyond to support others in the laboratory and takes great pride in mentoring junior graduate students and undergraduate researchers. She contributes intellectually to the projects of every trainee in the group, offering thoughtful scientific insight and constructive feedback. Equally important, she fosters a supportive and encouraging laboratory environment, ensuring that all members feel valued, empowered and confident in their work. She holds an adjunct professorship at her alma mater, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, and has also contributed to the pre-clerkship curriculum at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, consistently receiving outstanding student evaluations. In addition to her substantial teaching and mentoring commitments, Mann continues to generate high-quality, impactful data that contribute to the development of new antibacterial drugs.

EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AWARD

This award is co-sponsored by the Wond’ry and the Graduate School. The award recognizes one exceptional doctoral candidate’s excellence across scholarship, creativity, innovation and the translation of their research into practical impact.

Julia Steele��

Julia Steele is a doctoral student in the cancer biology program. As explained by her professor, Steele’s research is dedicated to “understanding how antibody-drug conjugates reshape the tumor-immune microenvironment and influence response and resistance to immunotherapy. Steele’s innovative approach—which bridges immunology, molecular engineering, computational modeling and clinical oncology—has generated fundamental insights and will have meaningful impacts going forward. Speaking to Steele’s scholarly excellence, one of her professors noted that her “accomplishments are extraordinary at her career stage and speak to her ability to translate innovation into durable science and institutional value.” Steele is a leader and innovative thinker—exhibiting dedication, adaptability, growth and intellectual independence.

POSTDOCTORAL EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AWARD

The Postdoctoral Excellence in Innovation Award honors postdoctoral scholars who demonstrate exceptional creativity, ingenuity and forward-thinking mindsets in their research.

Fan Feng

Fan Feng is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Medicine under the mentorship of Marcela Brissova. His work bridges cutting-edge artificial intelligence, rigorous data harmonization and deep biological insight, resulting in platforms, analytical pipelines and computational frameworks used by their team and the broader research community to advance disease treatment, prediction and prevention. By adapting and extending modern AI frameworks to domain-specific biological questions, Feng is bringing opportunities for discovery in type 1 diabetes research and positioning the team at the forefront of AI-enabled biomedical science. Feng’s research showcases his creativity and persistence in developing new approaches that will guide future research projects and provide new resources to the broader diabetes research community.

Tin Nguyen

Tin Nguyen is a postdoctoral fellow in the special education department under the mentorship of Laurie Cutting. His research program integrates literacy, systems thinking and neuroscience to understand how��family, school and community environments shape children’s reading development. Nguyen has been extending his predoctoral work by applying network-science methods to visualize and qualify naturalistic oral reading and retell processes, resulting in L.A.N.T.E.R.N. (Language Analysis of Text Retell Network), a research-to-practice platform that streamlines the collection, decoding and interpretation of children’s oral retell data by integrating AI-assisted transcription with network science modeling.��Leveraging Vanderbilt’s and Nashville’s uniquely generative ecosystem that is marked by strong commitments to public education, community partnership, creative arts and social innovation,��Nguyen��has built a research and innovation program that is scientifically rigorous and deeply responsive to community needs.

EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Excellence in Leadership Award honors a graduate student who made a significant impact on their community through service and has inspired others to do the same.

Kyle Enriquez

Kyle Enriquez is a doctoral student in the microbe-host interactions program, as well as the Medical Scientist Training Program.Enriquez has contributed extensively to student governance and peer review—serving on MTSP committees, as treasurer of the American Physician Scientists Association national board, and as a member of its Outreach and Engagement Committee. He was also selected as a Future Leaders Mentoring Fellow by the American Society for Microbiology. Cited by a professor as an “active advocate for trainees,” Enriquez mentors around 20 undergraduates and post-baccalaureates who are interested in physician-scientist careers. By designing near-peer and peer mentoring opportunities, Enriquez is a valuable resource for younger trainees. Beyond campus, Enriquez has led meaningful outreach initiatives for middle school students, which involved developing and executing after-school STEM curricula.

Ximena Leon

Ximena Leon is a doctoral student in the biological sciences program. In tandem with her scholastic achievements, Ximena has launched a full-fledged research program at her former high school. Through this programming, Leon fosters high schoolers’ early interest in data science and computational biology. In addition to learning about the scientific process, participants develop confidence in their abilities, learn marketable coding skills and gain valuable presentation experience. Leon has personally mentored 11 students at the high school, serving as a reliable and inspirational mentor. She invests significant time and energy in this program—driving to Lewisburg for weekly sessions, preparing lectures and supporting students in the development of project ideas. As one professor remarks, “Ximena is, unequivocally and undoubtedly, a leader in her local community and on our campus.”

POSTDOCTORAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

The��Postdoctoral Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding��postdoctoral scholar who��demonstrates��exceptional initiative, mentorship and impact within their research community.

Hyun Bin You

Hyun Bin You is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Nursing. During her time as a postdoctoral scholar, You has demonstrated sustained, hands-on leadership that has strengthened the postdoctoral experience at Vanderbilt. She continues to improve the Vanderbilt postdoc experience through structured peer��support systems, mentoring and inclusive team operations. In addition to holding substantive roles in national societies, she advances science through extensive editorial and reviewing service, as well through training others. You’s leadership style is described as one that is inclusive and approachable, elevating scholars at all stages. Taken together, her contributions reflect high-impact leadership.