Faulkner brings energy, expertise to BGSU mentorship

BOWLING GREEN, O.—As a communication studies faculty member and director of the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Bowling Green State University, Dr. Sandra Faulkner generously shares her insight, guidance, and scholarly pursuits with her colleagues and students. She received the Faculty Mentor Recognition at the Faculty Excellence Awards on April 14.

Presented by Faculty Senate, the Faculty Mentor Award rewards outstanding professional support of colleagues in the development of teaching, research and service initiatives. Faulkner received a commemorative plaque, along with $1,000.

Faulkner was nominated by Dr. Kate Magsamen-Conrad, an assistant professor of communication studies, who said she has played a crucial role in Magsamen-Conrad’s success since she came to BGSU as an assistant professor, and has been a valuable mentor to other junior faculty as well, including Drs. Lisa Hanasono, communication, and Sarah Rainey, women’s studies.

“Sandra is always available to her colleagues to advise and mentor on all aspects of academia, from research to teaching to service to navigating politics,” Magsamen-Conrad said.  She is an enthusiastic collaborator, and her advice on grant writing has proven successful, she added.  

Committed not only to the success of her colleagues but also of students, “Sandra has been instrumental to my understanding of BGSU students and teaching strategies that work best for our students,” Magsamen-Conrad said.

She is also a strong mentor to the program’s graduate students and is eager to connect the organization she advises, Lambda Pi Eta, to teaching and research.

The students in turn have recognized her efforts in their behalf, presenting four separate nominations for her for the BGSU Feminist Falcon “Women Mentoring Women Award, ” which she won in 2011.

Faulkner brings a productive energy to her work, leading by example. Her BGSU service is outstanding, Magsamen-Conrad said, noting that Faulkner serves on numerous departmental and University-wide committees, often as chair.

“In addition to her support of colleagues, she maintains a robust record of research and service,” Magsamen-Conrad said. Since 2012 alone, she has published two books, two book chapters and six referred articles and given numerous presentations, along with serving on several editorial review boards.

Faulkner joined BGSU in 2007 after four years of teaching at Syracuse University. She earned her doctorate in speech communication from Pennsylvania State University. A specialist in relational communication, she is also known for her work in poetic inquiry.