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We at BGInS would like to give a special congratulations to our Professor James Casteel who won a Faculty Graduate Mentoring Award (FGMA) at a ceremony held on March 18, 2024.

Graduate students sent in nomination letters to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPA) supporting their favourite supervisor and mentioning the impact they have made. This award is in recognition of faculty who provide exceptional service to graduate students as supervisors and research mentors.

Sponsored by FGPA and the Office of the Vice-President (Research and International), these awards reflect the impact excellent mentoring can have on graduate students.

James Casteel, Associate Professor in Modern and Contemporary European History and the founding program director of the Master’s and Graduate Diploma programs in Migration and Diaspora Studies

• “I saw firsthand how Dr. Casteel engaged with students with respect, allowing their experiences to guide courses, and ensuring that students felt secure and safe to share knowledge on their own terms. Prior to taking his courses, I never had a professor who had invested himself in not just the academic success of their students, but their personal growth. This all occurred online, which cannot be emphasized enough.”
• “His mentorship culminated in both my thesis winning a Senate Medal for Academic Achievement, as well as helping me see a future beyond the classroom. Leaders and mentors like Dr. Casteel do not just become professors to pursue their own research. They invest themselves in the aspirations and goals of future generations.”
• “Professor Casteel has been an exceptional mentor to me. He is the reason that I chose to pursue my PhD at �Ӱ�ԭ�� and if it were not for him, I would not be continuing with my PhD. Whenever I faced some sort of academic rejection, Prof. Casteel would help me see it as something I could learn and grow from as opposed to a reflection of my abilities. His support and encouragement of my research has been instrumental in helping me continue to stay motivated.”

Congratulations Professor Casteel on your notable impact, and your much deserved award!