As undergraduate students navigate their academic journeys, many come to find mentors who are crucial to providing the guidance, support and encouragement they need for success. These relationships enrich the student experience, not only contributing to higher retention rates but nurturing overall personal development that paves the way for future achievements.
The Jackson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring recognizes the positive impact Case Western Reserve University faculty and staff have on the lives of students. It celebrates faculty and staff who have guided a student; fostered their personal development; challenged the student to reflect, explore and grow as an individual; and supported and/or facilitated their goals and life choices.
The award was established by J. Bruce Jackson (ADL ’52), in honor of Dean Carl F. Wittke, who served as an advisor, mentor and friend to Jackson when he was an undergraduate student at Western Reserve University.
This year’s winners will be recognized during the commencement convocation ceremony on May 14. Read more about them below.
Cheryl Cameron
Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine
Whether it’s witnessing a student’s “eureka” moment or celebrating an acceptance into medical school, Assistant Professor Cheryl Cameron describes her work as an instructor and mentor to be simply “amazing.”
“I have been lucky to work with so many brilliant young scientists at the beginning of their careers,” said Cameron, who serves in the School of Medicine’s Department of Nutrition. “I love to share in the joy of their successes and hope I’ve helped them along the way.”
She is honored to have been nominated by students to receive the J. Bruce Jackson MD Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring.
“[Dr. Cameron’s] mentorship has been invaluable, guiding me through complex research projects and helping me develop my skills in systems immunology,” said one student nominator. “She encourages me to step outside my comfort zone and to approach problems with both intellectual curiosity and technical skills, which will be essential in my future career.”
One of Cameron’s proudest moments came this year when an undergraduate student identified a novel pathway with potential implications for mental health while analyzing a systems biology dataset. That discovery earned the student a highly competitive National Institutes of Health undergraduate scholarship.
In Cameron’s view, discovery is the beauty of science; when students start writing research posters and slides she sometimes sees potential gaps and encourages them to keep looking for new perspectives.
“I advise them to go back and try to find a connection between pathways, or if there’s a connection between a pathway and a disease, try to find a therapy to reverse it,” said Cameron. “If we can guide them to something novel, that can be really exciting!”
Cameron’s mentorship includes actively listening to what inspires her students.
“I try to help them identify their gifts, what they are most passionate about,” said Cameron. “And I remind them that science can be a long haul and it is really important to celebrate the successes they have along the way.”
Shuai Xu
Assistant Professor of Computer and Data Sciences
“It’s important to go to the library,” Shuai Xu tells his students. “Leave the electronics aside and just soak in the world of knowledge that is right there. Smell the books; be present in that moment.”
Xu, an assistant professor of computer and data sciences at Case School of Engineering, also tells students to prioritize their physical and mental health and teaches them how to remain passionate and motivated by curiosity.
For his care and attention to students, Xu was chosen to receive a 2025 Jackson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring.
The recognition acknowledges Xu’s college aspirations; he dreamed of becoming a scientist, but chose a career in teaching rather than industry because of the impact he would have on future generations. Likewise, he encourages his students to find their passion in life rather than choose a career motivated only by status or wealth.
Xu’s research interests include quantum computing and quantum information, as well as artificial intelligence.
He asks every student in his research lab and senior-level classes to write a paper about their goals as their first assignment and to make a list of 15-20 tasks to complete in order to reach them. Then, he checks in on progress every week. “I didn’t have such detailed plans when I was their age,” he explained, “and it would have helped me.”
For Xu, it’s also important to teach his students how to mentor others. He encourages undergraduate and graduate students to pair up and doesn’t limit undergraduates to smaller tasks. Once the new students learn the ropes, he asks them to become mentors for the next. “This continues the cycle of learning so that everyone is learning from each other,” he said.