Jonathan Santo Receives 2026 Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award
Jonathan Santo, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences
UNO is proud to recognize Jonathan Santo, Ph.D., professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, as the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award. This award honors his impact across all areas of graduate mentorship.
Why this recipient
Santo was selected for his exceptional record of graduate student mentorship, scholarly collaboration, and commitment to student success.
His accomplishments include:
- Mentoring graduate students through research, publication, conference presentations, and professional development opportunities.
- Maintaining a strong record of collaborative scholarship, including extensive student co-authorship and student-led publications and presentations.
- Supporting students in securing competitive funding opportunities, including external fellowships and research awards.
- Strengthening graduate student recruitment and contributing to program growth and visibility.
- Mentoring students throughout the academic pipeline, from undergraduate research experiences to graduate education and professional careers.
- Building long-term mentoring relationships reflected in extensive support from current students and alumni.
Making an impact
For more than 15 years at UNO, Santo has helped students develop as researchers, scholars, and professionals. As director of the Developmental Psychology Graduate Program and a professor in the Department of Psychology, he creates opportunities for students to engage in meaningful research, collaborate on publications, present at national and international conferences, and pursue competitive funding opportunities.
His mentorship extends beyond academic advising. Students describe Santo as an accessible and supportive mentor who invests deeply in their success, meeting regularly with advisees, encouraging them to pursue ambitious opportunities, and helping them build confidence as emerging scholars.
Santo also emphasizes the importance of translating research into real-world impact. He encourages students to share their findings beyond academic journals through public-facing outlets and community partnerships, helping them understand how scholarship can inform practice and improve lives.
The big picture
Santo's commitment to graduate mentorship reflects UNO's dedication to educating all learners and fostering discovery through research and scholarship. By helping students develop as researchers, secure funding, publish their work, and build successful careers, he advances the university's mission of transforming lives through education and creating opportunities for the next generation of scholars.
Past Award Winners
| Year | Recipient | Department/School |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Martina Saltamacchia | History |
| 2024 | Abby Bjornsen-Ramig | Counseling |
| 2023 | Angela Eikenberry | Public Administration |
| 2022 | Kay Keiser | Educational Leadership |
| 2021 | Julie Blaskewicz Boron | Gerontology |
| 2020 | Brian McKevitt | Psychology |
| 2019 | Dustin Slivka | Health and Kinesiology |
| 2018 | Daniel Hawkins | Sociology |
| 2017 | Dhundy Bastola | Interdisciplinary Informatics |
View the full list of award recipients
Nomination Information
The Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award, presented by the Office of Graduate Studies, was created to recognize individual faculty who place high values on and excel in mentoring graduate students. Recipients must have an established record of teaching excellence at the graduate level and mentoring students who have received their degrees. They also should excel at attracting graduate students to study at UNO through recruitment efforts and a visible and respected academic reputation in their area of expertise.
Review the detailed nomination criteria and download the nomination form
Nomination deadline: March 1