Faculty members are more than fixtures in the classroom – they often take on the role of mentor. Virginia Davis, faculty member in Auburn University’s Department of Chemical Engineering, and chemical engineering senior Khristine Pizarro, have been recognized for their successful collaboration beyond the classroom. Last month, they received the 2011 Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship Award, which was established in 2008 by faculty members Samia and Bill Spencer, and their son Mark, an Auburn engineering alum and founder of Digium, an open source communications company based in Huntsville. The award recognizes the importance of mentorship in a student’s success in the same way that Auburn electrical engineering faculty member Thad Roppel played an important role in Mark Spencer’s success as a student.

Left, Khristine Pizarro and Virginia Davis

Davis and Pizarro have been working together as student and teacher since Pizarro first came to Auburn in 2007 to work in Davis’ lab as part of a 10-week summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Micro/Nano-Structured Materials, Therapeutics and Devices, a program funded by the National Science Foundation and led by chemical engineering faculty members Mark Byrne and Steve Duke. When Pizarro returned to her native Puerto Rico, she realized that she could further her career at Auburn, where she received continuous support and guidance from Davis and chemical engineering faculty members.

Davis, who has Hispanic roots – her grandfather emigrated from Cuba in the early 1920s to study civil engineering – continues to support and facilitate opportunities for Hispanic students. Last year, she was among 85 recipients selected by President Barack Obama to receive the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, which recognized her innovative research in nanomaterials, as well as her involvement in outreach activities involving K-12 students from underrepresented groups.

While Davis had been working towards the creation of a Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers student chapter at Auburn for several years, she needed a dedicated student to help get others involved on campus. When Pizarro returned to campus to complete her degree in 2008, Davis knew she was the right partner to help make that happen.

“I had been thinking about starting this chapter for a while, but my interaction with Khristine cemented the decision. She was someone to help get it off the ground,” said Davis. “The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers student chapter provides a networking resource because there are so many scholarship opportunities out there for Hispanic students.”

In addition to forming the organization together, Davis and Pizarro continued their research relationship while Khristine completed her chemical engineering degree, continuing to work in Davis’ lab on projects such as assembling dispersions of nanocylinders. Pizarro helped Davis with her research on the dispersion of silicon nitride nanowhiskers and the synthesis of silver nanowires, earning a first place award for a coauthored published paper from Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, at the organization’s undergraduate research forum.

Pizarro, who graduated on May 9, has joined the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the organization’s national chapter, and will be involved with the society’s regional chapter, which includes Auburn. She will be working with Chevron in Pascagoula, Miss.

“Being a part of this organization, founding the chapter and working with Dr. Davis on research was a great experience that impacted my college career in different ways,” said Pizarro. “I was able to develop my leadership skills and learn more about the dynamic of working with people who have different personality types. I learned from Dr. Davis both in and out of the classroom, and I hope the chapter has a strong foundation for future leaders to build on.” 

Learn more about the Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship Award