March 19, 2026
Assistant Professor Mert Korkali recognized for his support of undergraduate students and commitment to cultivating the next generation of researchers.
Mizzou Engineering has a rich history of providing an exemplary academic experience — a tradition that our faculty honor every day with their support of our students.
One example is Assistant Professor Mert Korkali, who has received the 2026 Ann K. Covington Award for outstanding mentorship of undergraduate students. The award is presented by the Mizzou Office of Global and National Fellowships.
Korkali was nominated for the award by senior Benjamin Peter, with whom he has collaborated on research papers and presentations, and whose scholarship, internship and graduate school applications he has supported.
“The greatest offering a mentor can provide for an undergraduate researcher is their time and attention,” Peter wrote in his nomination letter. “The impact Dr. Korkali has had in my academic development is unmatched.”
Korkali said he was deeply honored to receive the award and grateful to Peter for the nomination.
“Mentorship is about making time for students, helping them pursue new opportunities, and supporting their growth as researchers and engineers,” Korkali said. “It is a privilege to do that at Mizzou Engineering.”
Korkali was one of three Mizzou faculty to receive the Ann K. Covington Award.
Syed Kamrul Islam, chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, pointed to Korkali’s contributions to Mizzou’s research productivity.
“Dr. Korkali’s impact in the realm of power systems research and his plentiful publications are a credit to the department and the college,” Islam said. “He is also an exceptional mentor who generously pours his time and energy into educating future leaders.”
Mizzou Engineering Dean Marisa Chrysochoou expressed her pride in Korkali’s achievement.
“Dr. Korkali’s commitment to our students is just one more example of how far our faculty are willing to go to develop champions,” she said. “That’s just the way we do things at Mizzou Engineering.”
Discover more ways Mizzou Engineering faculty are raising the bar in innovation, research and scholarship.