Published on May 1, 2026

By: Alivia Roach 

Mentors play a vital role in the undergraduate research experience at the University of Missouri. They help students turn curiosity into meaningful discoveries that contribute to their fields, while also providing guidance, advice and support throughout their academic journey.  

Each year, the Office of Undergraduate Research shines a spotlight on exceptional mentors and the meaningful impact they have made in their fields by awarding the Office of Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Award, an award that is completely based on student nominations. Awards like the Mentor of the Year are not just about achievements on paper—they’re driven by the voices of the students who work alongside these mentors every day. 

Student nominations reveal the genuine, personal connections behind each selection, highlighting not only research excellence but the mentorship, guidance and inspiration that truly set these individuals apart. This year, the awardees are mentors Dr. Fang Wang and Dr. Deborah Finke.  

Dr. Wang is an associate teaching professor and the director of both the undergraduate studies for the Department of Engineering and Information Technology and the Collaborative Research Environments for Extended Reality (CREXR) Lab. Her current research focuses on virtual and augmented reality, game and mobile application in healthcare and education and engineering simulation software development.  

Nominations from students describe not only how dedicated she is to her work, but how she makes diligent efforts to create a space for her students to “grow intellectually and pursue ambitious opportunities and meaningfully contributions to interdisciplinary research,” Olivia Franken, Dr. Wang’s student nominator said.  

With Dr. Wang’s insightful guidance, undergraduate researchers feel supported in the midst of difficult course work and busy lives. In the environment she has curated, students feel a sense of “trust, accessibility and deep commitment,” Franken said. She encourages students to remain curious, to ask hard questions and grow independently as scholars.   

With these opportunities to grow inside the classroom, student researchers feel supported to pursue opportunities outside of the classroom and successfully contribute in ways that further their own education and future. Students attribute many of their accomplishments to Dr. Wang’s commitment to her students’ progress.    

“Dr. Wang’s mentorship has profoundly shaped my development as a researcher,” Franken said.  

“Most mentoring happens in small, everyday moments, and you don’t always know how it’s landing until much later. So, to hear directly from students that it made a difference really stays with me,” Dr. Wang said. “It’s made me more intentional about how I mentor. I’ve found myself reflecting more on what students take away from the experience, both in terms of the skills, techniques and knowledge they develop through research, and how they grow in confidence and see themselves. I feel lucky to work with students who are engaged and willing to put themselves out there, which makes a real difference.” 

The second awardee, Dr. Deborah Finke, has also accumulated much recognition from her student researchers, and is known for her “positive, energetic spirit” in the classroom.  

Dr. Finke is the director of the Division of Plant Science and Technology under the Undergraduate Programs, with her research emphasis in Ecosystems and the Environment and has the goal to better understand how environmental change influences the interactions of species.  

Students like Ryn Kreitz appreciate Dr. Finke’s active involvement with her students’ projects, as well as her genuine curiosity and down-to-earth mentorship style.   

In her nomination, Kreitz emphasized that “Dr. Finke has proved to be someone who is compassionate and patient, curating a caring back and forth about my personal wellbeing alongside our conversations about my intense research duties and class expectations during mentor meetings.” Kreitz credits her “acceptance into the McNair Scholar’s program paired with the mentorship of Dr. Finke has changed the course of my life.” 

Dr. Finke often goes the extra mile for her students to assist them at their field sites, sometimes driving hours to work with them and help with their research. Students don’t have to feel alone or helpless when working through their research because of her thoughtful and supportive mentorship.   

“Her excitement about research involvement and curiosity towards the projects of her students are highly contagious. These attributes combined with her upbeat, down to earth and supportive mentorship style make her an incredible mentor,” Kreitz said. 

Due to her guidance, undergraduate researchers are able to learn profound aspects unfamiliar to them about academia and their research, enhancing them as researchers and future professionals. With her support, compassion and patience, students feel confident to pursue ambitious goals and can accomplish capacities they didn’t think possible.  

“Being nominated by my own student makes this award even more meaningful. I’m lucky that I’ve had the opportunity to mentor many bright, creative and passionate students over the years, and I’ve learned something from each of them. This award is really a celebration of their hard work and accomplishments,” Dr. Finke said. “Research mentoring is a collaborative relationship that takes an investment on both sides to be successful. It’s a real honor that my student felt supported enough to nominate me.”  

Both nominees truly exemplify the spirit of these research mentor awards, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to guiding discovery, fostering curiosity and elevating the next generation of scholars. Through their mentorship, they continue to inspire students to reach higher, think deeper and achieve the most from their undergraduate experiences.