UVSC Professor Awarded Unprecedented International Research Award

Utah Valley State College Associate Professor of Management Susan R. Madsen was awarded this year’s Early Career Scholar Award by the international professional organization Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). The award is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions in scholarly research to the field of human resource development. It is typically awarded to someone who earned a doctoral degree within the past seven years and is still in the early stages of their career.
Madsen, who received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2001, is the first recipient to be chosen from a Type II institution like UVSC, an institution primarily dedicated to teaching. In the past, the award has only been given to professors at Type I institutions, which are primarily dedicated to research, and to those who teach in graduate programs.

“It is unusual that a faculty member from a non-research institution would be given this award,” said Madsen. “Many of my colleagues from research institutions have said to me, ‘Do you know what a big deal this is?’ I was surprised and very pleased.”

Madsen recently accepted the award at AHRD’s annual international conference in Indianapolis, Ind.

Madsen’s work centers on leadership, individual and organizational change, academic service-learning, work-life integration, wellness and training. She has published more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and has presented at more than 50 local, national and international academic conferences and events during the past five years. She recently completed her first book, “On Becoming a Woman Leader: The Experiences of University Presidents,” and is currently working on a second about female governors.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in speech communication education from Brigham Young University, Madsen earned a master’s degree in teaching and exercise science and fitness from Portland State University and a Ph.D. in work, community and family education with a

specialization in human resource development from the University of Minnesota. She has also worked as a junior high teacher, a consultant, and has taught at BYU, University of Minnesota and several community colleges.

Madsen joined the UVSC faculty five years ago. “I decided to come to UVSC because I was given the opportunity to teach, which I love, and be heavily involved in research and publishing, which I also love,” Madsen said. “I’ve been able to contribute to the institution and community through serving in all kinds of ways on campus. UVSC has supported me in all of these things.”