University of Guelph-Humber Psychology Chair Dr. Alice Kim is the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Mentorship Award
Mentorship isn’t always about a mentee following directly in your footsteps; it’s about walking alongside them and offering your unwavering support as they embark on their own journey. That’s what mentorship means to University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) Psychology Chair Dr. Alice Kim.
As the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Mentorship Award, Dr. Kim has inspired and touched the lives of many students at U of GH.
“I'm really honoured to have received the award,” she expressed. “But I feel like everyone who was nominated won, too. If your students took the time to [nominate you] at the busiest time possible, I think it goes to show how much they appreciate you.”
Dr. Kim received the honour as part of the 2025 U of GH Graduation Awards. The Outstanding Mentorship Award was established as a way for graduating students to recognize a staff member for their outstanding guidance and support during their time as a Guelph-Humber student. And being the recipient of this award was a great surprise for her. While taking a family vacation to Mexico over her children’s March break, Dr. Kim happened to check her emails as she was soaking up the sun. That’s when she saw it – the message informing her she won.
“My jaw dropped on the beach!” she said, laughing.
Fourth-year Psychology student Ana Downes, whose undergraduate thesis advisor was Dr. Kim, nominated her for the recognition, with support from fellow students Kersten Dayrit and Selia Sipione. Coincidentally, Dr. Kim also nominated Downes for the award that she won this year, the Michael Nightingale Community Enrichment Award.
Throughout her life, Dr. Kim had several of her own mentors who shaped the leader, academic, and mentor she is today. Notably, she cited her parents as her main role models for the values they’ve instilled in her, adding that they’ve always grounded her in understanding what’s important, and having a strong work ethic and principles – not just during childhood, but in adulthood too.
Professionally, a memorable mentor Dr. Kim recognized was the late Dr. Endel Tulving, who she worked for as a research assistant during her undergraduate studies and had as a thesis advisor during her Masters and PhD studies at the University of Toronto. “He really shaped the way I think and process information,” she said.
Through having exceptional role models herself, Dr. Kim already had a strong understanding about what makes a great mentor. She takes an honest approach when speaking with mentees versus sugar-coating advice when students request guidance. Moreover, she firmly believes that to be an effective mentor, one should listen and not judge rather than feel the need to dole out unsolicited advice. And certainly, she is always here to listen if a student simply wants to vent.
“We don't always say the right words, but we want the best for them. I think that it's really about listening,” Dr. Kim said of her philosophy to mentorship. “It's resisting the urge to swoop in and fix everything…it's about letting people speak and letting them come to their own realizations.”
After all, mentorship comes in many forms, whether it’s welcoming students into her office for a deep private conversation or chatting with students in the hallways of Guelph-Humber.
Seeing mentees thrive is immensely rewarding for Dr. Kim. For instance, she feels fulfilled when guiding students to strategically select fourth-year courses that keep as many doors open as possible for future careers or graduate school paths. She said students tend to feel intimidated by the thesis course, but if they’re even remotely considering graduate studies, it’s essential to take it. Encouraging students to keep their options available and providing them with reassurance that they can do it gives them a “confidence boost” to challenge themselves and take the course.
“It's about bridging the gap between someone's potential and their possible outcomes. It's important to see people for who they are in the moment, but also to have this vision of their potential and what amazing things they could do,” Dr. Kim explained. “Give them that space so that they can envision their best possible selves, see their potential, and then help them to actually see that so they can work towards it.”
To learn more about the University’s graduation awards, click here.
