Dr. Laura Edwards, academic advisor in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, has been awarded an Illinois State University Living Our Values Award for September 2023.
The Living Our Values awards recognize individuals and groups that exemplify Illinois State’s core values of Learning and Scholarship, Diversity and Inclusion, Respect, Collaboration, Individualized Attention, Civic Engagement, and Integrity, as spelled out in Educate Connect Elevate: Illinois State – The Strategic Plan for Illinois’ First Public University 2018-2023. The awards celebrate the commitment to live the University’s values every day and strengthen the campus community by sharing those values.
Edwards was nominated for the core value of Individualized Attention.
“Laura embodies the care that is behind our value of individualized attention and is actively doing the work of retaining those few students every semester the provost has charged each department with targeting. She has been doing this work for years and wholeheartedly deserves recognition for it!” said Dr. Juliet Lynd, chair of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, who nominated Edwards.
Edwards has served in several roles in her 25 years at Illinois State, including teaching French, Italian, and World Languages. She is faculty advisor for Pi Delta Pi (French Honor Society) and La Tavola Italian Club, as well as for the Angers and Grenoble, France, studies abroad. Edwards is co-founder and director of the ISU in Bologna faculty-led study abroad program and advises language majors and minors, and other language learners.
To learn more about the Living Our Values Award, or to submit a nomination, visit strategicplan.illinoisstate.edu/values.
