Meet the 2025 award winners: Justin Davidson and Serena Chen

Justin Davidson and Serena Chen headshots

Fostering excellence in the mentorship of graduate students at Berkeley

Carol D. Soc Distinguished Graduate Student Mentoring Awards, established in 2007, recognize UC Berkeley faculty for their vital role in mentoring graduate students and training future faculty. The awards are funded by the Graduate Division and seek to foster the qualities of excellence in mentorship that are so important to the Berkeley community. The winners are honored annually at an awards ceremony jointly sponsored by the Graduate Assembly and the Graduate Division.

Nominations for the 2026 awards season open in the fall. Please look for the Call for Nominations and get ready to nominate your faculty mentors! Contact Jane Fink (jhfink@berkeley.edu) if you have any questions as you work on your nomination.