2011 outstanding doctoral mentors

Pat Lauderdale

Pat Lauderdale is a professor of justice and the former director of the ASU Ph.D./J.D. program in Justice Studies, Law, and the Social Sciences. His teaching and research interests include comparative law, indigenous jurisprudence, racialization, diversity, global indigenous struggles and international terrorism.

He has authored and co-authored over 150 conference papers, journal articles and book chapters and 11 books. His seminal book Law and Society (with James Inverarity and Barry Feld) has been translated into Japanese.

Dr. Lauderdale received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and joined ASU in 1981. He has been a National President of Phi Theta Kappa Honorary Society, a Fulbright Senior Specialist, and a Woodrow Wilson Scholar. He was recently appointed as a visiting scholar at the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity at Stanford University.

Dr. Lauderdale is particularly sought as a mentor by students who are members of underrepresented minorities or international students. Students laud him as sensitive to their needs and yet inspirational in his encouragement to go beyond what they may perceive as limitations. He provides support to graduation and beyond, becoming a lifetime mentor and friend who will provide guidance throughout their professional careers.

For more information, see Pat Lauderdale's ASU directory profile.

Accolades from Dr. Lauderdale's students and colleagues

Dr. Lauderdale is an exemplary mentor of doctoral students, as evidenced by his students’ consistent success in completing their degrees in a timely fashion, obtaining academic positions at well-respected institutions, and through their later achievements….Dr. Lauderdale is especially sought after by students who are members of underrepresented minorities or international students. He has developed an excellent reputation as someone who is respectful of others and sensitive to cultural differences and styles." Marjorie S. Zatz, Professor and Director, Justice and Social Inquiry, School of Social Transformation, Arizona State University

"If it were not for Dr. Lauderdale, I would not have earned my Ph.D. As a Native American woman and the first in my extended family to graduate with any educational degree….Dr. Lauderdale helped me, beyond the call of duty, to guide me through the numerous rough spots. He continues to mentor/inspire me, providing great insight and intellectualism."
Dr. Barbara A. Gray, Tribal Court Attorney/Administrator, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe

Mentoring philosophy

My perspective on mentoring reflects the lessons I learned from my home in Comanche County, Oklahoma…Read more about Pat Lauderdale’s mentoring philosophy…

Cecilia Menjívar

Cecilia Menjivar's is a Cowden Distinguished Professor. Her research interests focus on family dynamics and race, ethnicity and migration, specifically the social worlds of individuals who live in hostile and violent environments.

Dr. Menjivar’s second area of research interest lies in Latin America, particularly in Central America. She writes about the effects of multiple forms of violence on the social world of Ladinas and indigenous women.

Dr. Menjivar has authored, co-authored or edited numerous publications, including five books, and over 100 articles, professional journals, book chapters and other papers.  Her new book is Enduring Violence: Ladina Women's Lives in Guatemala.

The words her students most often use to describe her are: integrity, commitment, focus, determination and tirelessness. They further describe her as a selfless advocate for her graduate students from their first day through graduation and the job search.

Dr. Menjivar graduated from the University of California at Davis and joined ASU in 1996 as an assistant professor in the School of Justice Studies. For more information, see Cecilia Menjívar's ASU directory profile.

Accolades from Dr. Menjívar's students and colleagues

"Dr. Menjivar has long been an advocate for her graduate students….She is giving of her time, she makes opportunities available to them, and she cares about their professional and personal development. Despite her busy schedule, she makes herself available and her students are successful because of her and her efforts. She is a leader in the field and she shares that expertise with her students." Richard Fabes, Ph.D., Dee and John Whiteman Distinguished Professor, Founding Director, School of Social and Family Dynamics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University

"It was through her skill and sage advice that I was able to finish my dissertation ahead of my peers and…have it published by an international publishing company. I understand that this award is given to the person whose life best characterizes what mentors stand for: advice, honesty, integrity, knowledge, selflessness, and among others, tirelessly giving of herself. My friend excels in all of these areas." Carole McKenna Ph D., Social Science Department, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI.

Mentoring philosophy

I believe that my mentoring philosophy is simple and straightforward: to impart knowledge to the best of my abilities, to instill a sense of excitement and adventure about learning and discovery, and…Read more about Cecilia Menjívar’s mentoring philosophy…

Carlos Castillo-Chavez

Carlos Castillo-Chavez is a Regents’ Professor, a Joaquin Bustoz Jr. Professor of Mathematical Biology, and a Distinguished Sustainability Scientist. As the executive director of the Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute (MTBI), and the Institute for Strengthening the Understanding of Mathematics and Science (SUMS), he focuses on providing student research opportunities at the interface of the biological, computational and mathematical sciences.

His research program puts emphasis on the role of dynamic social landscapes on disease evolution and the mathematical modeling of infectious diseases.

In 2008, Dr. Castillo-Chavez became the founding director of the Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center (MCMSC) at ASU. He has co-authored nearly two hundred publications, edited several volumes of research articles, and co-authored a textbook in mathematical biology.

Dr. Castillo-Chavez has received numerous awards, including the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring; the American Mathematical Society Distinguished Public Service Award; the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor award; and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Distinguished Scientist Award. President Obama appointed Carlos Castillo-Chavez to the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science for the period 2010-2012.

His students credit him with inspirational and practical support, from helping them obtain grants and professional experience to encouraging them to meet challenges beyond their expectations.

After 18 years at Cornell University, Dr. Castillo-Chavez joined ASU in 2003. For more information, see Carlos Castillo-Chavez’s ASU directory profile.

Accolades from Dr. Castillo-Chavez's students and colleagues

"His principal purpose in life is to help his PhD students be successful…He is a man of many awards, but this award is in some ways more appropriate than any other for a person who is a mentor with all his heart!" Sander van der Leeuw, Dean, School of Sustainability, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University.

“He is never afraid to go outside the box and out of his way to mentor students. He has met on the weekends, on and off campus, and even facilitated our attendance at research conferences on other continents. He is deeply committed in making sure we have the technical skills, work ethic, scientific enculturation, and financial support to be successful in obtaining our Ph.D. and beyond." David Murillo, Doctoral Candidate, Applied Mathematics for Life and Social Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University.

Mentoring philosophy

Powerful mentoring strategies have been identified for generations and yet the fact remains that their effectiveness is primarily mentor-dependent.…Read more about Carlos Castillo-Chavez’s mentoring philosophy.

Past Outstanding Doctoral Mentors