Amy Aldridge Sanford

Age and/or Generation:  36, Gen X'er

My little brother and me, late 1970's.

Current Job(s):  Chair of the Department of Communication, Art, and Theatre; Associate Professor of Communication Studies; Founding Director of Women's & Gender Studies

Former Job(s):  I've taught at the college level since I graduated with my BA in 1999.  During high school and college, I worked at Coach House Gifts and Lane Bryant at Arrowhead Mall in Muskogee.  I also worked as a tutor and as an assistant hall manager in the dorms.  I was a first generation college student and held two to three jobs at a time while in college.

Education and/or Training:  BA Communication Education, NSU; Master's of Education in School Administration, NSU; Master's in Communication Studies, University of Iowa; PhD in Communication Studies, University of Iowa

Greatest Professional Accomplishment:  Finished my PhD before my 30th birthday (with 6 months to spare!)

Areas of Expertise:  leadership, gender, communication

Hometown:  Warner, OK

Other Towns of Residence:  Iowa City, IA

Family:  Married since 2006; 4 cats and 3 dogs; brother and dad in Warner; AWESOME nieces and nephews

Two of my nieces (Jenna and Taylor) and a nephew (Justin).

Hobbies:  Reading; Watching documentaries and reality television; Traveling

The Role of Mentors in Your Life:  I was VERY fortunate in high school that some female teachers took an interest in me and encouraged my talent for public speaking.  Then when I came to NSU, I found two professors who had characteristics I wanted to emulate.  Ever since I became a professor, I try my best to be a good role model and to look for others who may need advice or a role model or may need an introduction within my network.  I really like to help hard workers.  It's my way of paying respect to the people who helped me.

Two of my college mentors:  Dr. David Scott and Dr. Dana Eversole.

Favorite Quotation:  "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."~Alice Walker