Impactful Mentorship by Nickoson Gains Recognition

Dr. Lee Nickoson, director of General Studies Writing, not only effectively communicates with faculty in an engaging way, but also models strongly inclusive pedagogy. She received the 2018 Faculty Mentor Recognition Award from Faculty Senate for her leadership characteristics and constant inspiration. She was recognized April 9 at the Faculty Excellence Awards.

Presented by Faculty Senate, the Faculty Mentor Award rewards outstanding professional support of colleagues in the development of teaching, research and service initiatives. Nickoson, who become director of the General Studies Writing Program in 2016, received $1,000 and a commemorative plaque.

She was nominated by Dr. Heather Jordan, a lecturer in the English department, who expressed her admiration of Nickoson as a “true colleague.” Additionally, GSW Associate Director Chad van Buskirk wrote that Nickoson has been invaluable at “an exciting time of change and reimagining in our unit.”

“To say that Dr. Lee Nickoson has shown ‘outstanding professional support of his/her colleagues’ and ‘focuses upon the importance of faculty efforts toward the development of teaching, research and service initiatives among colleagues’ would be an understatement,” Jordan wrote, adding that Nickoson’s mentoring commitment to and for others is very evident in her work.

“After stepping into the role of Director of the General Studies Writing program in July 2016, Lee initiated individual conversations with all of us non-tenure track faculty who teach in the program. She started by listening. She models inclusive pedagogy and has infused new life into the program by encouraging full-time faculty to participate in extensive conversations,” Jordan said.

Chad Buskirk, GSW Program associate director, said, “In all her work with faculty, Dr. Nickoson models the hallmarks of effective leadership: careful listening, a commitment to advocacy, and generosity of expertise.” Nickoson encourages her fellow faculty colleagues and graduate teaching associates to “make the work of their writing classrooms visible,” showcasing BGSU students’

accomplishments and fostering energetic discussion. Most recently, Nickoson participated in the co-presentation of “Community-Based Mentorship in/as Graduate Education” at a March 2018 Conference on College Composition and Communication in Kansas City, Missouri, alongside Jordan and other faculty members.

“This presentation exemplifies Dr. Nickoson’s dedication to mentorship, as the roundtable focused on the community of care that is necessary for a successful mentoring practice,” Jordan said.

Nickoson has been at BGSU since 2006.