COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) announced Mark Lubkowitz has earned its 2026 Dr. Dave Landers Faculty Mentor Award thanks to his support and dedication to the College's student-athletes. A biology professor at the College for more than 25 years and the Nordic skiing team's faculty affiliate since 2016, Lubkowitz will now be considered for the Northeast 10 Conference Dr. Dave Landers Faculty Mentor Award.
 
"Professor Lubkowitz is concerned about athletes and all of the students at Saint Michael's as people," said Nordic skiing and women's cross country and outdoor track junior Fran Peterson (Barron, Wis./Barron), a biology major. "He has taught our team a lot about balancing priorities and how to do our best in sports and academics. His dedication to showing up for our team and the athletes at Saint Michael's as a whole has taught everyone how to be passionate about athletics long after their college career is done. He also has many connections to post-grad science programs, and has helped many student-athletes with networking after undergrad."
 
A member of the Saint Michael's faculty since 2001, Lubkowitz co-created the Teaching Gardens with education professor Valerie Bang-Jensen, was recognized with the Class of 2011 Appreciation Award, and earned the 2015 Joanne Rathgeb Teaching Award. In 2024, Lubkowitz won the Maize Genetic Leadership Award, a prestigious international accolade. A member of the Vermont Biomedical Research Network executive committee, Lubkowitz has directly supervised the research of more than three dozen Saint Michael's students and mentored another two dozen who conducted research at institutions such as the University of Florida, the University of Missouri, the University of Nebraska, and Purdue University.
 
"Professor Lubkowitz has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to preparing student-athletes for success beyond their athletic careers by intentionally connecting their academic experiences to long-term professional and personal goals," said men's cross country sophomore Cooper Brennan (Wilton, N.Y./South Glens Falls). "Professor Lubkowitz emphasizes the development of transferable skills that extend well beyond the classroom and athletic competition. He has consistently demonstrated exceptional mentorship of student-athletes by supporting their academic, personal, and professional development, both inside and outside the classroom."
 
"Professor Mark Lubkowitz seamlessly integrating a passion for learning, research, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship into everything he does," said men's and women's cross country and outdoor track head coach Molly Peters, also previously the Nordic skiing team's head coach for more than a decade. "As a faculty mentor, he goes far beyond expectations - showing up to 7 a.m. ski practices, occasionally jumping into workouts alongside our student-athletes, and bringing the same intellectual curiosity from the classroom to the trails, where conversations can range from ski technique to corn genetics. His mentorship is rooted in genuine care, creating an environment where athletes feel supported not only in their sport, but in their academic and personal growth. Whether he's hosting the team for a home-cooked meal filled with both nourishment and food biology knowledge or feeding competitors from across the conference with his legendary race-day pizza, Professor Lubkowitz models excitement, generosity, and community. Most importantly, he prepares our student-athletes to thrive beyond their athletic careers, instilling habits of academic curiosity, life balance, and a search for purpose that will last a lifetime."