By Amanda May

Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Sara Bagley was awarded Lindenwood's 2020 President's Scholar-Teacher Award in May. 

This award is presented to the full-time Lindenwood faculty member who most effectively merges professional scholarship with effective pedagogy. The award includes a parking space in front of the Memorial Arts Building, a plaque, and  $100 dining dollars to be used at campus dining. Traditionally, a reception would be held at the president’s house, but due to the coronavirus, an event is currently being brainstormed to be held next spring for all of the previous year’s award winners. 

“I have benefited from working in a very supportive department/division and with some amazing professionals that inspire me to do more,”  Dr. Bagley said. She joined the psychology department at Lindenwood in August of 2015, and  this marks her sixth academic year at Lindenwood.

As an experimental psychologist, Dr. Bagley utilizes research as a tool to teach her students skills  such as critical thinking, oral and written  communication, and maintaining flexibility three-six students  projects that resulted in six conference presentations,  and in the spring of 2020, the projects were accepted with seven conference presentations (which were either postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19).

Dr. Bagley attributes her success to her students. "Having exceptional and motivated students in the psychology department has made me a better professor,"  Dr. Bagley said. "They are constantly challenging me,  and I'm proud to guide them through the research process to set them apart in applications for graduate school or future careers." Her research students have been able to be successful in finding employment or attending graduate school in locations like a Ph.D. program at Saint Louis University (Samantha Goewert (Ebert) '20), M.A. programs at California Baptist University (Kevin McGowan '19 & Robert (Ryan) Osborne '19) and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (Keersten Richards (Heinrichs) '19).

Congratulations,  Dr. Sara Bagley!