Anjum Hajat receives 2026 Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award
The University of Washington Graduate School has named Anjum Hajat, associate professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health, as the recipient of the 2026 Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award.
Presented annually, the Landolt Award is among the University’s highest honors for graduate mentorship. It recognizes a faculty member whose work reflects an exceptional commitment to supporting graduate students academically, professionally and personally and whose mentorship shapes not only individual success but the future of their fields.
Hajat’s mentorship is felt across the University of Washington community. Over the course of her career, she has guided dozens of graduate students through thesis and dissertation work and supported more than 90 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in their academic and professional development. Her approach to mentoring emphasizes rigorous scholarship alongside a deep investment in student well-being, helping students navigate the intellectual and personal demands of graduate education.
Her work as a social epidemiologist – focused on how environmental and social conditions shape health – creates a dynamic training environment for students. Through this work, she encourages students to think critically about complex challenges, connect research to real-world impact and engage across disciplines.
Equally central to her mentorship is a commitment to equity and inclusion. Hajat fosters environments where students from a wide range of backgrounds can thrive, ensuring access to research opportunities, professional development and financial support. Her mentorship extends beyond formal advising, often continuing well after students graduate, as she supports their transition into careers across academia, public health and beyond.
“At its core, graduate mentorship is about helping students grow into the scholars and leaders our communities need,” said Graduate School Dean Joy Williamson-Lott. “Professor Hajat’s work reflects a deep and sustained commitment to her students. She not only supports their success at the University of Washington, but prepares them to lead, to discover and to contribute in ways that extend far beyond their time at UW.”
The impact of this kind of mentorship extends outward. By investing in graduate students, faculty mentors help shape the next generation of researchers, educators and leaders: individuals whose work will address pressing challenges and improve lives. The Landolt Award recognizes this broader contribution, highlighting mentorship as a cornerstone of the University’s mission.
Hajat was selected from a competitive pool of nominees representing all three UW campuses, underscoring both the significance of the award and the strength of graduate mentorship across the University.
Through her work, Hajat exemplifies the role of mentorship in graduate education: not only guiding students through their degrees, but empowering them to carry forward a commitment to excellence, equity and impact in their own careers.