Annual faculty awards: Windy Alonso, PhD

Windy Alonso, PhD, will be a recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Graduate Students Award during the UNMC Faculty Senate annual meeting on April 16. The award recognizes faculty who exemplify excellence in the mentoring of graduate students at UNMC.

• Name: Windy Alonso, PhD  
• Title: Associate professor and Gail and Jim Anderson Professor of Nursing, UNMC College of Nursing
• Joined UNMC: 2017 as a post-doctoral trainee
• Hometown: Curwensville, Pennsylvania 

What are the greatest rewards of mentoring graduate students?

It is really hard to name the greatest reward, because every student has such different goals and reasons for pursuing their advanced degree. I find it incredibly fulfilling to support someone as they evolve from a learner into a contributor to the profession. I am privileged to help them navigate the complexities of clinical research, scientific writing and professional growth. Seeing those lightbulb moments and those early triumphs, such as a first publication, never gets old.

Can you describe a moment in your career when you realized you had picked the right profession?

I can’t really share a single moment but definitely many moments that remind me why I love this work and why a faculty role at an academic medical center is so awesome. In our roles, we get to work with patients, students and colleagues, helping them all strive toward living better and supporting them in the pursuit of who they’re meant to be.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a mentor?

One challenge is balancing when to step in and when to step back. Graduate students often face personal and professional stress, and it can be difficult to know how much guidance to offer without taking away opportunities for growth. Another challenge is identifying the unique needs of each student. No two mentoring relationships are the same, and what works for one may not work for another. And recognizing that what motivates me may not be what motivates them.

How do you know when you’ve been successful as a mentor?

I recognize success as a mentor when a student no longer needs me in the same way — when they grow into their program of research or evolve into mentors themselves. That ripple effect is one of the most powerful indicators that our work together meant something and is building a legacy of support for future generations of scientists.