Communication professors Margaret McLaughlin (pictured, above left) and Sarah Banet-Weiser (below left) and journalism professor Bryce Nelson (below right) were each recently awarded a USC-Mellon Award for Excellence in Mentoring. Banet-Weiser and McLaughlin won in the "Faculty Mentoring Graduate Students" category and Nelson won in the "Faculty Mentoring Undergraduate Students" category.

"Mentoring is probably the most rewarding aspect of my academic life," McLaughlin says. "Some of my happiest moments have come when the students get that first publication, first interview and first job offer."

In fact, McLaughlin's gift for mentoring seems to be contagious. Her first Ph.D. student was selected to receive a mentoring award from the International Communication Association. Speaking as a teacher whose students are now teachers, she says, "I like thinking about all those grandstudents!"

In part, Nelson was given the award for his mentoring of USC candidates for international fellowships, including Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright. Nelson has served as Chair of the Provost's Committee on National and International Graduate Fellowships and as USC's Rhodes Scholarship representative for two decades. Reed Doucette, a USC senior, was one of the 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholars picked nation-wide in November.  In 2007, students won nine Fulbright scholarships, a USC record.

The USC-Mellon Awards Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, April 22 at USC's University Club from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

USC-Mellon Mentoring Award for Excellence in Mentoring