Associate Dean Honored with Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring Award
For Dr. Karabi Bezboruah, mentoring doctoral students has never been just part of the job; it has been a calling rooted in trust, respect, and a shared commitment to growth. This dedication has now been formally recognized by The University of Texas at Arlington Graduate School, which named Dr. Bezboruah the recipient of this year's Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring Award.
After careful review of an extraordinarily qualified pool of nominees, the Graduate School’s selection committee selected Dr. Karabi Bezboruah, Professor in the Department of Public Affairs and Planning in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA), for her consistent record of excellence in promoting the professional, personal, and academic development of doctoral students at UTA. She was formally recognized at the Spring Meeting of the University Faculty & Associates and Celebration of Creative Works on April 14, 2026.
"Receiving the Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring Award is deeply meaningful to me, in part because mentoring has never felt like a formal responsibility but as my duty towards my students," Dr. Bezboruah said. "It is a relationship built on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to growth."
Dr. Bezboruah views the award not simply as a personal honor, but as a meaningful affirmation of the relationships she has cultivated with her students over many years. As she explained, "this award feels more like an affirmation for being a mentor, educator, and guide," reflecting a philosophy of mentorship that extends far beyond formal academic boundaries. For her, these connections often begin even before students enter UTA's doctoral programs and continue well after they graduate, underscoring her belief that true mentorship is built on enduring, evolving relationships.
As Director of the Ph.D. programs in CAPPA, Dr. Bezboruah plays a unique and influential role in doctoral education. She supports students at every stage of their academic journey, from recruitment and coursework to dissertation and career placement. This long-term, holistic involvement allows her to align individual mentoring with a broader vision of student success.
"At its core, my mentoring is a sustained and evolving relationship," she explained. "Ultimately, I view mentoring as reciprocal. While I guide and support, my students challenge me to grow, adapt, and continuously reflect on my own practice."
Dr. Bezboruah emphasizes that the true impact of mentoring is best measured through her students' outcomes, noting that "this recognition" belongs as much to them as to her. She credits her doctoral students for their deep engagement, explaining that their "willingness to engage deeply in the mentoring process is what makes this work meaningful," and ultimately views their successes, whether in academia, government, or professional practice, as "the true indicators of what mentoring can achieve."
Under her leadership, CAPPA has fostered a strong culture of support for doctoral students, including peer mentoring programs, writing groups, and professional development workshops. Dr. Bezboruah hopes this award will shine a light on the impact of intentional, relationship-centered mentoring.
"In many ways, mentoring happens quietly, in conversations, in feedback on drafts, in moments of doubt and encouragement, but its effects are transformative and long-lasting," she said. "At UTA and within CAPPA, I hope this recognition encourages us to think of mentoring not as an individual task but as a collective responsibility."
The Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring Award recognizes faculty who go above and beyond to cultivate learning environments where doctoral students can thrive. Through her thoughtful, relationship-centered approach, Dr. Bezboruah continues to shape student success and strengthen UTA's mentoring culture.
To learn more about Dr. Bezboruah's mentoring philosophy, read here.