Dr. Devon T. Wade Mentorship, Service, and Advocacy Award

The Dr. Devon T. Wade Mentorship, Service, and Advocacy Award is to be presented annually during the GSAS Convocation Ceremony to a master’s or doctoral student in any Arts and Sciences discipline who most exemplifies a commitment to community-building and mentoring as demonstrated by the late Dr. Devon T. Wade. Recipients will receive a $1,500 prize in recognition of their achievements.

The award was established in 2018 in honor of the life and work of Dr. Devon T. Wade. Wade enrolled in the PhD program in sociology at Columbia University in 2011 and came to be recognized as being among the University’s most gifted doctoral students. Wade’s dissertation research focused on stigma, trauma, and discipline in the school setting. Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts of Sciences awarded the doctoral degree to Devon Wade posthumously in spring 2018, in recognition of his scholarly achievements and of the impact he made on others through his research, mentorship, service, and advocacy. Dr. Wade was passionate about teaching and creating inclusive learning environments, and advocating for those who experience marginalization in society. In his work he was particularly focused on the collateral consequences of incarceration on individuals and communities. Dr. Wade was also deeply devoted to building networks of support and mentorship for students from groups that historically have been underrepresented in the academy. He was a founding member of the Columbia University Graduate Students of Color Alliance (SoCA). 

The purpose of the Dr. Devon T. Wade Mentorship and Service Award is to recognize Columbia University graduate students in Arts and Sciences departments whose work reflects Dr. Wade’s exceptional commitment to scholarship, mentorship, service, and advocacy. To be considered for this award, students must be nominated by a current Columbia University affiliate (self-nominations are accepted), and the nomination must be supported by at least one letter of endorsement. Letters must address the evaluation criteria delineated in the award description, and may address any of the priority criteria as they apply. 

See the Devon T. Wade web page for a full description of eligibility criteria and nomination instructions.