Women's Faculty Caucus Distinguished Mentor Award

Mary Miles

The Women’s Faculty Caucus Distinguished Mentor Award is presented to Mary Miles, a professor in the Department of Food Systems, Nutrition and Kinesiology in the College of Education, Health and Human Development. The award recognizes extraordinary efforts by a faculty member in mentoring female students, staff, research associates and faculty, and carries a $2,000 honorarium.

In addition to her professorship, Miles serves as associate dean of research and program leader for the kinesiology undergraduate major. She has established an exceptional track record in mentorship at MSU, working individually with junior faculty as they establish their professional goals and cultivate confidence. Many of her mentees have advanced through tenure and promotion processes while securing competitive research funding and contributing significant scholarly work in their fields.

Miles has also worked to enhance opportunities for women in the broader academic community. She served on the Mentoring Women to Fellowship committee of the American College of Sports Medicine, which champions initiatives that benefit the development of women scholars on a national scale.

MSU assistant professors mentored by Miles submitted letters supporting her nomination. Sarah Mendoza, in the Department of Counseling, wrote, “Her mentorship style is characterized by depth, as she devotes considerable time to meaningful interactions, and breadth, as she mentors multiple proteges across disciplines.”

Ji Hyun Lee, in the Department of Human Development and Community Health, described Miles’ guidance as empowering.

“Dr. Miles introduced me to networking opportunities and connected me with other professionals in the field, building a network that has been invaluable in advancing my career,” Lee wrote. “I wholeheartedly believe that her mentorship has not only strengthened individual careers but has also fostered a collaborative and supportive environment for women in research.”