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​​Lafayette Frederick Diversity in Mentoring

​Purpose of Fund

​The Lafayette Frederick Diversity in Mentoring fund provides mentored experiences in plant pathology for students and postdocs from underrepresented minority groups, particularly those from historically Black colleges and universities, 1890 land-grant institutions, Tribal colleges and universities (1994 land-grant institutions), and minority serving institutions. 

Purpose of the fund is to ​enable mentors and enhance the academic and professional experiences of mentees. Through encouragement of personal growth and support of experiential learning, the goal is to introduce and attract mentees to the study of plant pathology, and ultimately to increase their representation within the plant pathology profession. ​

Testimonials from former students and colleagues

Donate to the ​Lafayette Frederick Diversity in Mentoring Fund​

Funds Available

Amount: ​$1,000 - $2,000

Funds may be used in a variety of ways to support mentoring efforts and ​mentees’ development. 

Deadline to apply: February 28​​

Eligibility​

• ​APS membership is required for mentor applicants. 
  

• Mentors at any career stage are welcome to apply. 

• Mentees may be undergraduates or graduate students intending to study in plant pathology, or postdoctoral scientists working in plant pathology. High school student mentoring will be considered on a special basis. 

• Mentors can work with either individuals or groups.
  

Application Requirements​

• Mentors should propose use of funds to directly support their mentees' experiences. 

• ​Examples of fund use include, but are not limited to, supporting mentees' research projects, mentees' travel to a meeting or other institution, mentees' professional development training or training materials. ​​​

• Download and complete thementoring application form and upload this form when submitting the online application. 
  

Deadline to apply: February 28​

Submit Application​​

Applications are reviewed and selected by a review committee consisting of the APS committee chair (or the committee's designee) of the Graduate Student Committee, the Committee on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, and a representative from the APS Foundation Board. Evaluation of proposals will be guided by the goal of the Lafayette Frederick Fund, i.e., how likely is the proposed activity to increase the number of practicing plant pathologists from underrepresented groups.​

Awardees

2023: Evan Buckner​

2022: Renata Belisario and Sara Thomas-Sharma

2021: Corri​ Hamilton and Tiffany Lowe-Power​​​