The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice is thrilled to announce that Ph.D. candidate Sarah Silberman has been awarded the Graduate School’s Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award for 2024-25. This prestigious honor is given to the top 2% of graduate assistants across the university, recognizing their outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and service.

With more than 4,000 graduate students serving as research, teaching, or administrative assistants at the University of Maryland, this award highlights the valuable role graduate assistants play in supporting students, faculty, and the university. As part of this recognition, Sarah will receive a credit for mandatory fees for the Spring 2025 semester.

Reflecting on her Ph.D. journey, Sarah shared how faculty mentorship has shaped her growth as a researcher. “Coming into my Ph.D., I knew I struggled with translating seeds of research ideas into actual projects that are worth pursuing. I wasn’t sure, even, whether graduate students were supposed to be the ones originating projects.” With faculty support and guidance, she gained confidence in her ability to lead research. “It’s only been with years of faculty support and mentorship that I now feel confident in my ability to be a (still growing and learning!) researcher in my own right.”

She also appreciates the willingness of faculty to provide guidance at every stage of the research process. “I've always found that faculty are willing to answer questions when asked and provide guidance where needed, from a quick drop-in answering questions about a dataset to a longer meeting discussing a new method to a more hands-on mentorship.” She is grateful for their time and support. “For this, I am immensely grateful, because faculty are exceedingly busy with their own commitments, and every minute they spend with me is a minute they don’t spend on their own work. So to have professors who are willing to be there is truly wonderful.”

Sarah recognizes that this mentorship has also helped her grow into a leadership role in her research. “Not only are they providing valuable guidance for that particular line of inquiry, but they are also teaching me all the skills necessary to execute a project in a more senior role. Although I know I have much to learn, I don’t doubt that I am only as capable as I am because of their mentorship.”

Her dedication to research and appreciation for mentorship reflect the core values of the Graduate School and the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her recognition as an Outstanding Graduate Assistant is a testament to her hard work, passion, and the support she has received along the way.