Dr. Chrys Egan Named SU's 2017 Outstanding Research Mentor

SALISBURY, MD---Dr. Chrys Egan of the Communication Arts Department has earned Salisbury University’s 2017 Outstanding Research Mentor Award.

Presented at SU’s 16th annual Student Research Conference (SUSRC), the honor celebrates faculty who are excellent supervisors of student research or creative work.

Egan’s nominators applauded her for assisting students with every step of the research process, from providing research opportunities and supporting their ideas, to helping them apply for travel grants and prepare for presentations.  Her knowledge and advice is “vital to her students’ success,” they said.

“Dr. Egan has helped me develop better research skills [and] greater confidence in my abilities as a graduate student and young professional,” said Daphne Heflin, who worked with Egan on a women and leadership project that led to the development of the Women’s Mentor and Network Circle at SU. “I truly believe that Dr. Egan’s work as both a professor and mentor will have long term benefits not only to students but also the campus and larger community.”

Since arriving at SU in 2002, Egan has mentored over 50 students working on SUSRC projects. She has been a member and co-chair of the SUSRC planning committee. She regularly teaches SU’s Communication Research course.

She also has directed independent study and research projects for more than 20 students. She helped some 26 secure more than $8,000 in University travel grants and other funding to share their research. She also has mentored and taken some 20 students to professional research conferences, including the 2017 National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Memphis, TN.

Egan supports students’ work on a wide array of topics, said Dr. Bryan Horikami, department chair, with many of them integrating public service and civic engagement. One recent project on farm-to-table initiatives impacted the sourcing of produce by University Dining Services. Others have examined everything from homeless shelters, to the First Amendment, to nonverbal communication, to mobile apps.

Colleagues call Egan “a prolific researcher and scholar herself,” well known for her community-based research pedagogy. She has earned over $27,000 in external grants to support applied student research, as well as nearly $20,000 in internal grants for projects creating student research opportunities. These efforts allow SU undergraduates to participate in civic research, while also supporting the campus and community.

Egan earned her Ph.D. in communication and media from Florida State University and teaches communication and gender studies at SU. She is actively involved with the International Leadership Association and Popular Culture Association. She is a past recipient of the SU Alumni Association Faculty Appreciation Award, SU President’s Diversity Award and Outstanding Faculty Award.

Pictured is Egan with Dr. Clifton Griffin, SU's dean of graduate studies and research. 

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.