Deborah Finke, professor of entomology, associate division director and director of undergraduate programs in the Division of Plant Science and Technology, has been awarded Mizzou’s 2026 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year Award. Finke was honored April 20 at the Celebration of Undergraduate Curiosity and Creativity. The award highlights her dedication to providing undergraduates with authentic, hands-on learning opportunities within the division.

“The scholarly work Dr. Finke conducts with young scholars is vitally important,” the Office of Undergraduate Research noted in the announcement. “She creates an environment where students can engage in high-level, meaningful research.”

Finke has received CAFNR’s Outstanding Graduate Mentor, Senior Teaching and Early Investigator Research awards. Her research looks at the influence of environmental change on insect distributions and ecosystem services like pest control and pollination.