Cartmell honored with Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising and Mentoring
Friday, April 29, 2022
Media Contact: Jami Mattox | Agricultural Communications Services | 405-744-8061 | jami.mattox@okstate.edu
Dwayne Cartmell, professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, was recognized with the Award for Excellence in Graduate Advising and Mentoring at the Ferguson College of Agriculture Scholarship and Awards Banquet.
Cartmell joined the department in 2001. He has served on 19 doctoral committees and 160 master’s committees, serving as chair for 90 of them. He has taught more than 20 courses in agricultural communications and international agriculture. Cartmell has also led travel courses to the Czech Republic, Australia, New Zealand and Costa Rica.
Cartmell was instrumental in establishing the master of science degree program in agricultural communications, which is one of only two such programs in the nation. He led development of the degree requirements, designed several of the courses and has served as the unofficial graduate coordinator for the program since its inception.
Cartmell’s teaching efforts have previously been acknowledged with awards from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, the Association for Communication Excellence and the American Association for Agricultural Education. He has also received the Oklahoma State University Regent’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
Department head Rob Terry said that Cartmell’s graduate students appreciate that he maintains an open-door policy to help guide them through their individual graduate education journeys.
“His students know they are his top priority when they come to his office,” Terry said. “Students seek Dr. Cartmell’s guidance because his knowledge spans the breadth of the agricultural communications discipline.”
Cartmell’s graduate students also value his leadership.
“Dr. Cartmell has an outstanding reputation as a mentor to graduate students,” said Cynda Clary, associate dean for academic programs. “Even with a heavy advising load, his students know they are his top priority. He helps his students develop a professional skillset to set them up for long-term future success.”
Graduate school is a new adventure for most students, and Cartmell views his role as a graduate advisor to assist students with navigating the complex process.
“My job is to provide an individualized, tailored approach to advising students through the graduate education process based on their needs,” he said. “I hope I have an impact on helping students find a career path or advance in a current career while learning more about the complex research process as well as the historical, philosophical and ethical foundations of our discipline.”
Cartmell sees the advantage to challenging students to expand their thinking and enjoys helping them discover the value of research in communication.
“I appreciate watching each student grow as they traverse the graduate education process,” he said.