Mentor Academy Award for Excellence Winner Announced

The Graduate School is pleased to announce that Martha Cottam is the recipient of the 2018 Graduate School Mentor Academy Award for Excellence. Professor Cottam, who is also the Graduate Studies Director of the School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs, has worked at WSU for more than 25 years, and is one of the longest-serving members of the Graduate Mentor Academy.

The Graduate Mentor Academy (GMA) was started around 2005 for the purpose of identifying graduate faculty with significant mentorship experience and skills, and providing them with additional training, according to Lisa Gloss, interim dean of the Graduate School.

“Faculty from the GMA provide support, guidance, and encouragement to graduate students during preliminary exams or final defenses and ensure that the correct policies and procedures are followed,” says Gloss. “While the majority of student examinations—candidacy or final defenses—proceed without any complications or concerns, GMA members will attend exams where academic issues might arise, such as a student retaking an exam after failing the first time.”

Cottam is particularly proud of her record as a member of the GMA—none of the students she has mentored has failed their exams or defenses.

“It’s always a troublesome situation for the graduate students,” she says, “but it’s a privilege to be the person who knows the rules and can make sure the students are comfortable and the rules are followed. It reassures them that they’re going to get every chance to be successful.”

Cottam says she enjoys volunteering for the Graduate Mentor Academy because of the broad scope of students she’s been able to work with, including graduates in mathematics, education, plant biology, and many other subjects.

“Dr. Cottam is very appreciated by the Graduate School staff,” says Gloss. “She is willing to serve whenever she is available, responding promptly and positively to requests. After the exam, she provides helpful reports so that the Graduate School is aware of any reasons for future concerns—or if everything went just fine and the student is on track to progress in his or her graduate program.”

Cottam, along with graduate student scholarship awardees, will receive her award at the annual Graduate School Evening of Excellence on April 19.

Contact: Cheryl Reed, cheryl.reed@wsu.edu, 509-335-7177

The Notices and Announcements section is provided as a service to the WSU community for sharing events such as lectures, trainings, and other highly transactional types of information related to the university experience. Information provided and opinions expressed may not reflect the understanding or opinion of WSU. Accuracy of the information presented is the responsibility of those who submitted it. The self-uploaded posts are reviewed for compliance with state statutes and ethics guidelines but are not edited for spelling, grammar, or clarity.

Next Story

Birthday wishes for WSU’s 134th

Washington State University was founded on March 28, 1890. To celebrate WSU’s 134th birthday, all campuses got involved.

Recent News

Provost finalists visiting the week of April 1

Finalists in the process of interviewing for the position of provost and executive vice president will present to the public during their visits to WSU next week.

McCoy named interim WSU athletic director

A widely recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics, McCoy will serve while a national search is conducted for the next athletic director.

WSU to review administrative structure

President Kirk Schulz used his annual State of the University Address to highlight both achievements and challenges while also announcing a planned review of WSU’s administrative structure and academic programs.