Kellogg Faculty Fellow Erin Graham, associate professor of global affairs in the Keough School, received this year’s Kellogg Undergraduate Mentoring Award at the Institute’s Senior Ceremony on May 15.
The annual award recognizes a Kellogg faculty fellow for excellence in mentoring undergraduate student research. Faculty fellows provide essential guidance to students across Kellogg programs, including the International Scholars Program, Developing Researchers Program, and research grants programs.
Graham was nominated by graduating senior Sonia Zhang ‘26, who worked with her throughout four years at Notre Dame through the Kellogg International Scholars Program. In her nomination letter, Zhang described Graham as a mentor whose “belief in her students, combined with her intellectual rigor and generosity,” made her deeply deserving of the award.
Zhang credits Graham with helping shape her interest in global governance and international institutions. Their work together began during Zhang’s freshman year, when Graham invited her to contribute meaningfully to a research project on global climate finance. Through weekly meetings, Graham guided Zhang through the research process and helped her develop the skills needed for rigorous and thoughtful scholarship.
That collaboration eventually led to a co-authored paper, “Multilateral Climate Finance in Pursuit of Private Capital: How the De-Risking Agenda Is Changing International Organizations.” Graham also encouraged and supported Zhang in presenting their research together at the American Political Science Association, an experience Zhang said strengthened her confidence and engagement with the academic community.
Beyond research, Zhang wrote that Graham offered invaluable academic and career guidance, including support for graduate school applications that led to an offer from the Harvard Kennedy School.
A Kellogg faculty fellow since 2023, Graham studies the politics of international law and organizations, with a focus on institutional design, change, and the effects of international rules and organizations. Her book Transforming International Institutions: How Money Quietly Sidelined Multilateralism at The United Nations was published by Oxford University Press in 2023.