Amanda Holmstrom has been appointed as ComArtSci’s new Faculty Excellence Advocate (FEA). In this role, she will work to support present and future faculty in the department.
Holmstrom is a professor in the Department of Communication. Her research focuses on relationships between supportive communication processes and individuals’ well-being across contexts, including the supportive interactions experienced by individuals facing stressors such as unemployment, breast cancer and parole/probation supervision. In 2017, Holmstrom was recognized as being in the top 1% of researchers publishing work in communication journals over the prior 5-year period, according to a study in the journal Communication Education.
In the Department of Communication, Holmstrom teaches courses about interpersonal communication at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She received her Ph.D. from Purdue University’s Department of Communication and has been at MSU since 2007. Holmstrom also serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Communication and recently finished a term as the Chair of the Interpersonal Communication Division of the International Communication Association.
The goal of the FEA position is to help create an inclusive and transparent environment for faculty in the college. The role of FEA intersects with the efforts of Academic Human Resources and the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. As FEA, Holmstrom will aid faculty in areas of recruitment and hiring, promotion and tenure, leadership, annual review and mentorship.
“I’m honored to be appointed to this position. It is meaningful to serve as a resource for faculty, working toward continued excellence in faculty recruitment, retention, and advancement,” said Holmstrom. “I look forward to supporting ComArtSci faculty at all stages of their careers.”
Her years of experience and dedication as a professor and director of undergraduate studies within the department have contributed to the culture and environment she wants to shape in this role — one of openness, inclusivity and encouragement.
“As FEA, I hope to foster a climate of support and inclusion for all members of the CAS community,” said Holmstrom. “I think it’s particularly important that our faculty continue to be recognized and awarded for their outstanding work at local, national and international levels.”
Her time as FEA began July 1, 2022 and will continue indefinitely.
By Casey Halas