2019 FACULTY MENTOR AWARD
Dr. Ashley Dockens
Assistant Professor, Speech and Hearing
Dr. Ashley Dockens is an educator, researcher, and administrator with demonstrated success in higher education. She holds her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, as well as the Doctor of Audiology degree, from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Dockens joined the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Lamar University in 2014, and has held the role of Program Director of Audiology since 2017. She serves the University in multiple roles, including, but not limited to: Faculty Senator, Speech and Hearing Sciences Cardinal Community Pro-Mentor, Co-Advisor of the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (LU student organization of the year), and multiple Departmental roles. She is a 2018 Lamar University Merit Award recipient, and has been recognized for her innovation in teaching and her service to students. Since 2016, Dr. Dockens has authored or co-authored 24 peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and posters, many with undergraduate and graduate student co-authors. She has been fortunate to mentor many undergraduate McNair Scholars, Beck Fellows, Summer Undergraduate Research (SURF) Fellows, and Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) scholarship recipients. She is currently co-mentoring two McNair Scholars alongside Dr. Heather Reading and Dr. Lilian Felipe, and recently learned that one of her student mentees, Ms. Torres is also a recipient of the 2019 SURF fellowship and will begin mentoring her through this process this Summer. The Office of Undergraduate Research has funded many of her student projects, which have then been presented at regional, state, and national conferences. Mentorship is of high importance to Dr. Dockens, and for this reason, she attempts to instill mentoring skills in her students. A high number of her research mentees have went on to mentor other students through Cardinal Community, Lamar Ambassadors, Student Government, the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association, Student Academy of Audiology, and through the Future Leaders of Audiology Student association. She encourages all students to engage in research and all faculty to engage in mentorship.
SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENT RESEARCHERS
