(photo courtesy of Edward Delgado-Romero)
Dr. Edward A. Delgado-Romero, a recipient of the Graduate School’s 2024 Outstanding Mentoring Award for graduate students, tells us a little about his experience and success as a mentor.
When asked what makes a good mentor, Delgado-Romero, stated that “accessibility, focusing on positive motivation (combating anxiety and perfectionism), and the willingness to guide first generation folks or people who are members of underrepresented groups who are pioneers in their families” are the most important things. He added that choosing to engage with your mentor is extremely important and is more effective when one “finds what motivates them.”
(photo courtesy of Edward Delgado-Romero)
“Mentorship can be a career-long relationship, so it’s worth investing in these relationships.” – Edward Delgado-Romero
“For example, I still talk to my dissertation chair, and I keep up with the majority of my graduates. It’s been fun taking this journey with over 50 students.”
As the Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Services at the Mary Frances Early College of Education, Delgado-Romero has focused on college-wide programs that foster mentorship, leadership, and meaningful relationships between students and faculty. He also challenges his own mentorship skills by taking classes and participating in seminars that are focused on growth and development for mentors.
(photo courtesy of Edward Delgado-Romero)
Delgado-Romero is a first generation American and son of Colombian Immigrants. He founded la Clinica in LaK’ech, a free psychological clinic for Spanish speakers. The clinic has trained Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology graduate students, Master of Social Work interns, and undergraduates. He is also a founder of the National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA), a past president of NLPA, and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Association for Hispanic Higher Education. His awards include the UGA Engaged Scholar in 2021.
The University of Georgia Graduate School is proud to have faculty like Edward A. Delgado-Romero who are so focused on student success and relationship building.
The Graduate School’s Outstanding Mentoring Award recognizes excellence in a variety of mentoring functions. This award encourages and rewards innovation and effectiveness in mentoring graduate students during their educational experience. Two awards are given each year to current members of the Graduate Program Faculty. Awards in Professional/Applied Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences are given in even years. Awards in Humanities/Fine & Applied Arts and Life/Physical Sciences are given in odd years. Faculty are nominated by graduate students, and finalists for the award are asked to submit documentation of their mentoring activities. Learn more here.
