Mentor and Mentee Honored with 2025 Eleanor Main Awards
By Jazmyn Burton
Patricia Brennan, PhD, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Psychology, and Chaela Nutor, PhD, have been named the 2025 recipients of the Eleanor Main Graduate Faculty Mentor Award and Graduate Student Mentor Award, respectively.
Given their relationship as mentor and mentee, their dual nomination and selection are powerful testaments to the impact of exceptional guidance and inspired learning.
The Eleanor Main Graduate Faculty and Student Mentor Awards were established to honor the legacy of Eleanor Main, PhD, a beloved Emory faculty member and champion of graduate education. These annual awards recognize outstanding mentorship at faculty and student levels and celebrate those who go above and beyond to guide, support, and inspire others.
According to one of her nominations, Brennan exemplifies the highest mentorship, leadership, and scholarship standards within the Laney Graduate School community.
"Brennan is not simply an advisor who says "yes" to every request. She thoughtfully considers how each opportunity aligns with the long-term career goals that her students outline," said Kimberly Jacob Arriola, vice provost for graduate affairs and dean of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies during the Laney diploma ceremony.
When Nutor expressed a passion for teaching, Brennan encouraged her to take on additional teaching assistantships and teach independent summer courses.
“A lot of mentors actively discourage teaching as they view it as something that takes away from research, but Patty appreciates the multifaceted nature of academia and encourages her students to find a balance that will best prepare them for their career of choice, whether it be in academia or not,” said Nutor.
Despite beginning her graduate studies at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nutor, who recently earned a PhD in psychology, remained deeply committed to supporting others, demonstrating resilience, leadership, and a dedication to community.
Nutor's peers described her as an excellent mentor who demonstrates what it means to build a cohesive, inclusive environment where everyone felt seen and supported.
Well known in Brennan's BUILD Lab, Nutor's nominiators noted that she consistently strives to ensure that graduate students developed connections and community outside of their research.
"In graduate education especially, where the journey is often long and challenging, mentoring ensures that students are not only acquiring knowledge, but that they are also learning how to become leaders, innovators, scholars, and mentors for those who come behind them," said Arriola. "At its best, mentoring transforms potential into lasting impact."