Patricia Geist-Martin's Commitment Recognized
The SDSU professor received the Francine Merritt Award from the National Communication Association.
These days, the communications professor at San Diego State is a mentor for her students, keeping an open-door policy when they need guidance.
“There have been times students have told me, ‘nobody has ever done that for me before,’ and that almost breaks my heart,” Geist-Martin said. “It makes it easy to keep doing it.”
About the award
Geist-Martin received the Francine Merritt Award at the National Communication Association’s national convention on Nov. 18 in New Orleans, La. Each year the Women’s Caucus honors an individual for her outstanding contributions to the discipline.
She was nominated for the award by six former graduate students, including a few who have become communication professors themselves.
“I was surprised and honored, especially when looking at all the women who’ve won before me,” she said. “I love the fact that my work has given me a chance to collaborate with students, to hear their ideas and offer encouragement.”
More about Geist-Martin
Geist-Martin earned her Ph.D. in organizational communication from Purdue University in 1985 and has taught at San Diego State since 1990. She teaches organizational communication, health communication, ethnographic research methods and gender and organizational communications.
She is the author of three books and has published more than 60 articles and book chapters covering a wide range of topics focusing on narrative and identity in our personal and professional lives.
Additional recognition
Communication professor Brian Spitzberg was presented with the Robert J. Kibler Memorial Reward on Nov. 18. Each year, the National Communication Association recognizes a professional for their dedication to the discipline.
