The 2025-26 Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship recipient is Dr. Oya Dursun-Özkanca, Professor of Political Science and College Professor of International Studies (Endowed Chair). The award is presented to an Elizabethtown College faculty member to commend and celebrate excellence in advising and mentoring students toward successful graduate school placement and/or careers.
Dursun-Özkanca will be recognized during Etown’s 2026 Scholarship and Creative Arts Day (SCAD) on Tuesday, April 21. More details to follow.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Polanowski Prize, an award that celebrates the transformative power of advising and mentorship,” Dursun-Özkanca said. “This recognition means so much to me because mentoring is truly at the heart of my work; guiding students as they discover their passions, helping them navigate challenges, and watching them grow into confident, thoughtful individuals is one of the greatest joys of my career. I am grateful to the selection committee for this meaningful affirmation and to my students, whose intellectual curiosity, dedication, and resilience inspire me every day. Their journeys consistently enrich my own and make my work deeply meaningful.”
Congratulatory Statement from the 2025-26 Polanowski Prize Selection Committee:
The selection committee highlighted Dr. Dursun-Özkanca’s exceptional dedication to student success through deeply engaged mentorship and tireless advocacy. Nominators described her as a highly responsive and committed mentor who consistently goes above and beyond, meeting with students outside regular hours, providing detailed and timely feedback on research, and offering timely support.
Her colleagues and students alike emphasized her genuine interest in each student’s goals and her ability to foster an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment. Many alumni credited her mentorship with helping them secure employment, gain admission to graduate programs, and earn prestigious post-graduate opportunities.
About the Polanowski Prize for Excellence:
The Dr. Frank P. Polanowski Prize for Excellence in Faculty-Student Advising and Mentorship, which has been made possible through the generosity of Dr. Mary E. Schmidt ’79 and Dr. Russell Libby, honors Dr. Frank P. Polanowski, Associate Professor of Biology Emeritus, for his inspirational service to countless students at Elizabethtown College.The Faculty Professional Development Committee and a representative group of current students chose the recipient of the Polanowski Prize from the list of faculty members who were nominated by at least three of the following constituencies: alumni, current students, faculty, and administrators/staff.