Peer Mentor Award winners announced

The Graduate Student Peer Mentor Awards recognize graduate students who exhibit stellar mentorship qualities.

The 2022 Peer Mentor Award winners are:

• Alexandra Lakind
• Christopher Hulshof
• Caroline Hensley

Alexandra Lakind

Alexandra Lakind is a joint PhD candidate in the School of Education and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. In addition to working on a dissertation focusing on the politicization of the child in climate activism, Lakind has initiated numerous public-facing arts and humanities projects both on and off campus. This work has been supported by Water@UW–Madison; the Wisconsin Center for Education Research; the Center for the Humanities; the Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies; and the Center for Culture, History, and Environment, among others. Within these projects, Lakind devised pathways for undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students to engage. A dedication to mutual respect and enjoyment bolstered meaningful peer mentorship that allowed these projects to flourish and evolve.

Christopher Hulshof

Chris is a PhD student in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research focuses broadly on Cold War History, Empire, Southeast Asia, and U.S. Foreign Relations. Chris holds an MA in Southeast Asian Studies from UW–Madison, an MA in History from UW–Madison, and a BA in History from the University of California, Berkeley. He has held several RAships and PAships in Madison in addition to his work with multiple academic organizations both on and off campus. He is also the UW–Madison representative for the Graduate Education & Training in Southeast Asia (GETSEA) consortium. Chris is currently TAing his fifth course for the Department of History and has acted as both a Graduate Student and a TA mentor for numerous incoming students in the department. Prior to graduate school, Chris worked in numerous fields including politics, entrepreneurship, K-12 education, and corporate management.

Caroline Hensley

Caroline Hensley is a PhD candidate in the English program in literary studies. Her research examines how contemporary transnational literatures engage with notions of health and disability in the context of ongoing colonial and imperial relations. She serves as the co-chair of the English Graduate Student Association, which aims to support graduate students’ professional goals and inclusive community-building. Additionally, in both a past role as the Mellon-Morgridge Fellow for the Constellations program on “Health and Inequality,” and in her current role as the Career Advisor for the English major, Caroline closely mentors undergraduates. Her advising practice is centered around encouraging interdisciplinary thought and making employment pathways more accessible and equitable. She is deeply energized by these conversations with students about how they envision using their humanities training to address social concerns and embark upon fulfilling careers.