Congratulations to Gary Pielak, joint faculty of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and distinguished professor of Chemistry who received a UNC Lifetime Mentor Award!
The UNC Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement was created in 1997 and acknowledges a lifetime of contributions to a broad range of teaching and learning, particularly mentoring beyond the classroom. It rewards those who help students to develop and attain their full potential in important ways during and after their departure from campus. Dean Smith, long-time coach of the men’s basketball team, was the first winner of the award and exemplifies the qualities that this award honors.
This year, Dr. Pielak along with the other recipients of 2017 UNC Teaching Awards were recognized during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Pittsburgh on January, 31, 2017. Chancellor Carol L. Folt also will host a spring banquet to honor and recognize the contributions of the winners in April.
Dr. Pielak received his PhD in chemistry from Washington State University and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Oxford and University of British Colombia, Vancouver. He joined UNC in 1989 and is currently a Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemistry (an honor he received in 2015), the Vice Chair of Facilities in Chemistry and Glen H. Elder, Jr. Distinguished Term Professor of Research & Undergraduate Education.
See more recent news November 12, 2018 on Gary Pielak as a master mentor link is here.