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Aurora, Colorado – Chelsea Lohman Bonfiglio, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz), is the recipient of the 2023 Dean's Masters Mentoring Award.

This award goes to faculty who demonstrate a commitment to providing students with a one-on-one, high-quality training experience; maintain high standards of scholarship; and possess personal attributes that make the faculty member an effective role model for other mentors. Faculty are nominated by the master's students whom they mentored for at least one semester and with a significant amount of one-on-one interaction.

Dr. Lohman Bonfiglio was nominated by students from the Modern Human Anatomy MS Program who each provided their own summaries of how Dr. Lohman Bonfiglio’s mentorship has impacted their training and career development. One nominator writes “Dr. Lohman is the gold standard for what it means to be a mentor through her positive energy, encouraging push, high expertise in the world of anatomy, and sincere dedication to her students.”

Another nominator highlighted Dr. Lohman Bonfiglio’s impact on their career path “Shepherded by her efficient and effective counsel, all of her MHA mentees were accepted to present at the Anatomy Connected 2023 national conference.” they added “An absolute legend of anatomy, Dr. Lohman has provided support, guidance, and quality to both my experience in the Modern Human Anatomy program and my future academic/career goals.”

Additional praise is offered regarding Dr. Lohman Bonfiglio’s empathy towards students from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM. “Individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in academia actively search out mentors like Dr. Chelsea Lohman Bonfiglio” they wrote. “Many of us in these communities enter graduate school unsure how to utilize all the resources available for students to be successful. With Dr. Lohman, her office door is always open for students seeking advice, mentorship, and support. She is able to guide students such as ourselves because she always ensures her students feel comfortable approaching her when any unprecedent life event may occur as she is consistent in her flexibility, empathy, and problem-solving capabilities.”

When asked what this award means to her, Dr. Lohman Bonfiglio exclaimed "I am honored to receive this award and be recognized by my students! I am constantly inspired by their drive and dedication in the pursuit of knowledge acquisition and professional development.  To be a part of their journey is the most rewarding endeavor and the highlight of my career.”


Dr. Lohman Bonfiglio is the 2023 award recipient. Previous award recipients are listed below. 

2022: F. Amos Bailey, MD, Department of Medicine, Internal Medicine
2021: Edith Zemanick, MD, Department of Pediatrics. Pulmonary Medicine
2020: Regina Fink, PhD, Department of Medicine; and Lisa M.J. Lee, PhD, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology
2019: Richard Lindrooth, PhD, Department of Health Systems, Management & Policy
2018: Marcelo Coca Perraillon, PhD, Department of Health, Systems, Management & Policy
2017: Danielle Royer, PhD, Department of Cell & Developmental Biology; and David Bekelman, MD, Department of Medicine 

About The Graduate School | The Graduate School at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) oversees, facilitates, and enhances graduate education and postdoctoral training, while encouraging excellence in research, creative and scholarly work. We offer master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, graduate certificates, and non-degree options in a wide variety of programs.