The Shirley M. Malcom Prize for Excellence in Mentoring, established in 2021, has been presented this year to Michael A. Vicic, an educator in chemical engineering.
This yearly award is named after Shirley Malcom, a senior trustee at Caltech, and recognizes a professor “who, through mentorship, fosters the success and welfare of students. Qualifications include, but are not confined to, productive mentoring methods such as: providing consistent feedback, direction, and counsel; granting access to academic and professional resources, information, and opportunities; and aiding in the creation of a safe, supportive, and inclusive atmosphere.”
Students who nominated Vicic commended him for assisting them in developing self-assurance. Beyond the classroom, Vicic was acknowledged for supporting students with everything from selecting courses and enhancing study techniques to job interviewing and leveraging Caltech’s alumni network for guidance on graduate schools or career paths. He also aids his peers. A staff member remarked, “My capabilities as a mentor … and as a Caltech employee have significantly advanced in the last few months under his guidance.”
As one of the nominators for Vicic noted, “Mike is genuinely concerned about the students. … He meets with them consistently and dedicates his time to discuss matters beyond the classroom setting. He is empathetic and builds connections with the students. Furthermore, Mike consistently follows up to ensure the students’ well-being.”
Vicic has assigned students innovative tasks that enhance their problem-solving and tool-development capabilities, including a project focused on converting seawater into hydrogen fuel, or one aimed at developing sensors to detect black carbon in the environment. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Vicic discovered inventive methods to engage students by creating microscopes and centrifuges from a simple kit of parts and items they collected from their homes.
“It’s an immense privilege to have my name linked with Shirley Malcom, who is such a beacon of inspiration due to her perspective on the world!” Vicic stated. “A humorous anecdote, though. I nearly missed the award announcement because I was assisting a student with an urgent request. But I cherish those small moments, where you can place a student at the center of your attention and encourage them to explore possibilities rather than feel daunted by perceived obstacles.”
Previous winners of the Malcom Prize include Scott Cushing, assistant professor of chemistry; Marianne Bronner, the Edward B. Lewis Professor of Biology and director of the Beckman Institute; and Bil Clemons, the Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor of Biochemistry.