The Thomas F. Donlon Memorial Award for Distinguished Mentoring was established in recognition of Tom Donlon's long and valued contributions to NERA, particularly as a mentor to so many colleagues. Presented for the first time in 2000, the award is given to someone identified for distinguished mentoring. It is an honor to announce Dr. James Carifio as the recipient of this year’s award for his mentorship, kindness, patience, and life coaching skills.

Dr. Carifio is currently Professor of Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Graduate School of Education. For over 40 years, he has been mentoring and life coaching undergraduate and graduate students, beginning with his early work as a doctoral student. He was one of the founding teachers of The Hyde School in Bath, Maine, and was honored at the Hyde commencement in 1997 by the students he taught who he “kept an eye on” over the course of their lives and careers. He has spent much of his professional life mentoring students who had numerous obstacles to overcome on their road to higher education. His students have described him as an “exemplar for the definition of an intentional, effective, and meaningful mentor” and “a teacher who cares and struggles with his students and challenges them to achieve the extraordinary, and mentors them even when it is inconvenient, without time constraints.”