Beyond120 Research Mentorship Award in Humanities
Since 2021, Beyond120 has been annually recognizing one CLAS faculty member with the Undergraduate Research Mentorship in Humanities Award. This award was created to celebrate the excellent work of our humanities faculty in supporting undergraduate research. With this award, we want to shine a spotlight on faculty whose mentorship actively promotes diversity and equity in research and adopts a holistic mentoring approach that fosters both personal and professional growth in students. Recipients receive a plaque, one thousand dollars, and a feature along with their student mentee on the Beyond120 website and social media. A call-for-nominations is sent out to student mentees in the college every spring.
Emrah Sahin
2024 Research Mentorship Award in Humanities Recipient
Beyond120 recognizes Dr. Emrah Sahin for exceptional mentorship in undergraduate research. In nominating Dr. Sahin, his students Sanay Tufekci and Lara Caglayan wrote movingly of his dedication to fostering their growth as scholars and encouraging their research and professional development. Both students additionally praised Dr. Sahin for supporting their involvement in major research projects focusing on Turkey and the Ottoman Empire and inspiring them to forge deep personal and intellectual connections to Turkish language, culture, and history.
Dr. Sahin, a Full Instructional Professor in the Center for European Studies, has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching and mentorship throughout his career. He has twice been named as the CLAS Teacher of the Year and has engaged hundreds of students in his courses on Turkey, Europe, US-Middle Eastern relations, religious violence, Islam, migration, and more. A transnational historian, Dr. Sahin’s research focuses on how political forces relate to social exchanges within and beyond borders. His recent book Faithful Encounters: Authorities and American Missionaries in the Ottoman Empire examines how Muslims treated non-Muslims in the Ottoman Empire.
Sharon Wright Austin
2023 Research Mentorship Award in Humanities Recipient
Beyond120 recognizes Dr. Sharon Wright Austin for exceptional mentorship in undergraduate research. Nominated by her student Sophia De La Cruz, Dr. Austin has acted as a model of courage and demonstrated an outstanding commitment to political and social advocacy and supporting student growth through her teaching, research, mentorship.
Dr. Sharon Wright Austin is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida. She has published many scholarly articles and three books with research focusing on African-American women’s political behavior, African-American mayoral elections, and rural African-American political activism. Dr. Austin is also a member of the editorial team for the American Political Science Review. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Austin, Sophia has became a Reubin Askew Research Scholar and earned the CLAS Scholars undergraduate research award and the Haskell research award.
“She cares extremely deeply about her students, is willing to go above and beyond to ensure they have access to life-altering enrichment opportunities, and also is respected by academics, scholars and activists across the nation as an expert in her field.”
– Sophia De La Cruz
Jaime Ahlberg
2022 Research Mentorship Award in Humanities Recipient
Beyond120 recognizes Dr. Jaime Ahlberg for exceptional mentorship in undergraduate research. Nominated by her student Aimee Clesi, Dr. Ahlberg has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to educational justice, inclusivity, and fostering student growth through her teaching, research, and mentorship. Dr. Ahlberg is an Associate Professor in the department of philosophy, specializing in social and political philosophy and ethical theory. Among other research topics, Dr. Ahlberg has published multiple scholarly articles on educational justice and inclusive education and is currently working on a project on schooling and disability with co-author Dr. Catherine Gavin Loss. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Ahlberg, Aimee has earned a Haskell Fellowship, R.M. Hare Undergraduate Essay Prize, Robert Long Essay Prize, university nominations for the Beinecke, Truman, Marshall, and UK Fulbright Open awards, and a Rhodes Scholarship.
“I believe her dedication to philosophy, devotion to her students, and willingness to go the extra mile in everything she does speaks for itself. She is the kind of professor–and the professor–I hope all UF students meet.”
– Aimee Clesi
Manoucheka Celeste
Assistant Professor in the African American Studies Program and the Center for Women’s Studies, Gender, and Sexualities
Manoucheka Celeste
2021 Research Mentorship Award in Humanities Recipient
Congratulations to Dr. Manoucheka Celeste for receiving the Beyond120 Research Mentorship Award in Humanities. At the time of receiving the award, Dr. Celeste held appointments as Associate Professor with the Center for Gender, Sexualities & Women’s Studies Research, Associate Professor with the African American Studies Program, and Affiliate Faculty with the Center for Latin American Studies and the Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship. She was nominated by third-year undergraduate student Julianna Panton, a McNair Scholar, CLAS Scholar, and Beyond120 Scholarship recipient. In addition to being an intentional mentor, Dr. Celeste is an award-winning author, educator, and esteemed colleague.
“Dr. Celeste is a great mentor because she is very driven, passionate, approachable, and genuine. Having Dr. Celeste as a mentor has positively impacted my experience at UF because she has introduced me to various research, networking, and personal growth opportunities.”
– Julianna Panton