Professor Carrie Ann Baade Named 2025 Honors in the Major Mentor Award Recipient

Florida State University proudly recognizes Professor Carrie Ann Baade as the 2025 recipient of the Honors in the Major Mentor Award, honoring her exceptional guidance and dedication to undergraduate research and creative scholarship.

Each year, the Honors in the Major (HITM) Program, part of FSU’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement, provides support for students undertaking original thesis work, while also celebrating the faculty mentors who make these transformative experiences possible. Professor Baade, a celebrated artist and long-standing faculty member in the Department of Art, was selected for this distinction in recognition of her outstanding mentorship across multiple thesis projects.

“Professor Baade’s commitment to promoting independent research is truly exceptional. She empowers her students to take ownership of their ideas, while providing strategic guidance that fosters autonomy. When I was discussing my initial HITM ideas with her, I was encouraged to dig deeper and consider more complex themes. […] I was also encouraged to engage in interdisciplinary research rather than just art historical. My project became much richer and well-informed because of my research in the fields of anthropology, sociology, and psychology. Her approached balanced support and independence, often simply offering suggestions that could elevate my project, and allowing me to navigate the research process independently, yet with confidence and curiosity. […] Professor Baade’s mentorship is distinguished by her generosity, empathy, and genuine interest in her student’s growth. She continues to be a prime example of this, especially through acts that she may consider small. For example, she consistently sends me photos of art, research suggestions, and even opportunities that she thinks I may be interested in. […] Acts like these truly demonstrate her character and make her a professor I will never forget.” – Nicolina Morra, 2025 FSU Studio Art BFA

In 2025, Baade served as thesis director for:

• Nicolina Morra
• Anna Speer
• Emmie Bryson
• Bella Alamo
• Rachel Ostrander

She also served as a committee member for:

• Soph Persichini
• Clay Barczak
• Madeleine Harwell, who completed both University Honors and Honors in the Major for Dual Honors distinction

Reflecting on this year’s cohort, Baade remarked:

“These are the COVID generation, and they came to FSU ready for creative adventure. This is one of the most rewarding years of my teaching in my 19 years at FSU. I am so incredibly proud of our students.”

Baade’s mentorship embodies the spirit of the Honors in the Major program, fostering not only artistic and intellectual rigor but also the confidence and vision students need to become leaders in their fields. Her recognition this year underscores her lasting impact on undergraduate education and creative research at Florida State University.