By Alivia Roach
May 27, 2026
Mentors play a vital role in the undergraduate research experience at the University of Missouri. They help students turn curiosity into meaningful discoveries that contribute to their fields, while also providing guidance, advice and support throughout their academic journey.
Each year, the Office of Undergraduate Research shines a spotlight on exceptional mentors and the meaningful impact they have made in their fields by awarding the Office of Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Award, an award that is completely based on student nominations.
This year, the awardees are mentors Fang Wang, an associate teaching professor in the College of Engineering, and Deborah Finke, a professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
FANG WANG
Wang is an associate teaching professor and the director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Engineering and Information Technology. Her research focuses on virtual and augmented reality, game and mobile application development for health care and education and engineering simulation software.
In her nomination letter, Olivia Franken, a junior majoring in computer science, said Wang creates space for students to grow and make meaningful contributions to interdisciplinary research. Students feel a sense of trust and deep commitment because Wang encourages them to remain curious, ask hard questions and grow independently as scholars.
“Dr. Wang’s mentorship has profoundly shaped my development as a researcher,” Franken wrote.
Wang said most mentoring happens in small, everyday moments.
“So, to hear directly from students that it made a difference really stays with me,” she said. It’s made me more intentional about how I mentor. I’ve found myself reflecting more on what students take away from the experience, both in terms of the skills, techniques and knowledge they develop through research, and how they grow in confidence and see themselves.”
DEBORAH FINKE
Finke is the director of the Division of Plant Science and Technology, with her research emphasis in ecosystems and the environment.
Ryn Kreitz, a senior studying plant science, nominated Finke because of her genuine curiosity and down-to-earth mentorship style. She credits Finke with her acceptance into the McNair Scholars Program.
“Dr. Finke has proved to be someone who is compassionate and patient, curating a caring back-and-forth about my personal wellbeing alongside our conversations about my intense research duties and class expectations during mentor meetings,” she said. “Dr. Finke has changed the course of my life.”
Finke said research mentoring is a collaborative relationship that takes an investment on both sides to be successful.
“I’m lucky that I’ve had the opportunity to mentor many bright, creative and passionate students over the years, and I’ve learned something from each of them,” she said. “This award is really a celebration of their hard work and accomplishments. It’s a real honor that my student felt supported enough to nominate me.”
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