Katie Spellman named inaugural recipient of HSAC Outstanding Mentor Award

Katie Spellman headshot, smiling in front of a blue backdrop.
UAF photo by Eric Engman
The UAF Honors College Student Advisory Council announced Katie Spellman as the inaugural recipient of the HSAC Outstanding Mentor Award.

March 17, 2025

This year, the UAF Honors College Student Advisory Council has introduced a new award to recognize exceptional mentorship within the Honors community. The HSAC announced Katie Spellman, research associate professor with the International Arctic Research Center and Climate Faculty Fellow for the Honors College Climate Scholars Program, as the inaugural recipient of the HSAC Outstanding Mentor Award on Feb. 25, 2025. This award honors a graduate student, Ph.D. student, staff, or faculty member who has made a profound impact on student success.

Spellman’s mentorship is characterized by encouragement, advocacy, and an unwavering belief in her students’ potential. As one student shared, “Katie is an incredible person. She pushes you to be the best version of yourself — not just as a scientist, but as a person. She encourages curiosity in any direction a student chooses to go, inspiring us to dream big and achieve what once seemed impossible.â€

A dedicated educator, Spellman teaches courses such as Our Changing Climate: Past, Present, Future and Interdisciplinary Research Methods, integrating climate science with real-world applications. Beyond the classroom, she leads and collaborates on numerous science education and public engagement projects, including Arctic and Earth SIGNs, Winterberry Citizen Science, Fostering Science, the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Program, and Fresh Eyes on Ice. Her work connects students with research opportunities while fostering a deep commitment to community-driven science.

Students describe Spellman as a mentor who truly takes the time to understand them, valuing their voices in discussions and making them feel like equals in the research process. “What makes Katie an incredible professor and research mentor is her ability to make you feel like her equal — even though she has a Ph.D. and you don’t,†one student noted.

Through her mentorship, research, and outreach, Spellman exemplifies the core values of the Honors College, making her a fitting recipient of this new award.