Mentorship award winner extends help

BOWLING GREEN, O.—It takes a nurturing and thus generous nature to be a mentor. In the case of Bowling Green State University’s Dr. Janet Hartley, her mentorship has extended to a colleague in another department.

Hartley, a professor of management, was presented the 2011 Faculty Mentor Award by the BGSU Faculty Senate on March 22. She was nominated by Distinguished Teaching Professor Mary Ellen Benedict, a professor of economics.

“Even though we are housed in different departments, Jan has been instrumental in providing me with the perfect role model of leadership in the College of Business,” Benedict wrote. “By her demeanor and in many private discussions, Jan has taught me how to work on committees that can be contentious, how to listen to others and, in general, how to be a better colleague and leader.”

From 2002-10, Hartley was chair of the Department of Management, which developed into a successful and award-winning unit under her leadership, Benedict said. In that capacity and as a member of numerous University committees, she modeled important leadership skills. “She handles controversial subjects with logic and empathy; her work ethic is unbelievable, and the end results of every committee were better because of her input,” Benedict said.

Hartley has also been a helpful coach and cheerleader, providing advice and inspiring Benedict to take on more leadership roles. “She is willing to help one develop to the best of their potential because her goals have always been to make each individual at the college and the University reach the highest pinnacle,” her nominator wrote.

Hartley came to BGSU in 1994 and has served as director of the Supply Chain Management Institute, from 1999-2003 and again from 2010 till the present. She was the Owens-Illinois Professor of Business Administration in 2006.

She received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri-Roula, and her Master of Business Administration and Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati.

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(Posted March 24, 2011 )