For this recipient, I will start with some quotes from her trainees, who had glowing things to share about her mentorship:

• “She sees the student as a whole person with passions, strengths, and vulnerabilities, and she always strives to understand what is best for the students.”

• “She genuinely cares about the success and well-being of all students under her mentorship. She ensures that all members of her lab feel like they are a part of a supportive community and makes it clear that she available to meet at any time… and frequently organizes team building activities…”

• “She is able to strike a highly effective balance between pushing students to excel while also making them feel safe and supported....expects a high standard of work, but ensures that she provides her students with the tools, skills, and training needed to reach those standards.”

• “She made me feel confident enough to see myself as an academic.”
  

Her mentorship is in part demonstrated by her support of her trainees in receiving numerous early career and training grants themselves. Moreover, her mentorship commitment transcends the work at her institution. As the founding Chair of the SMPC Mentorship Committee, she spearheaded numerous new initiatives that have had tremendous impact – such as the new society awards and collaborating with the Erdos Institute regarding industry careers (check out the editorial reflecting on SMPC Mentorship Committee Activities in Music Perception for more information on these initiatives).

She is an Associated Professor at University of California, San Diego, where she directs the Mind and Development Lab.

Congratulations to 2024 SMPC Mentorship Award recipient, Adena Schachner.

• As read by Miriam Lense at the 2024 SMPC Meeting