April Few-Demo, associate professor of human development in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, has received the Graduate School’s 2017 Faculty Outstanding Mentor Award.

Sponsored by the Graduate School, the new award, to be presented annually, recognizes excellence in mentoring graduate students. Students nominate the recipients and one professor from each college can receive the award.

Few-Demo’s research interests include feminism and family studies, hip-hop influences on adolescent sexuality, intimate violence, racial and ethnic identity, and qualitative research methods. One of her most recent projects aimed to integrate diversity and intersectionality throughout the undergraduate curriculum in human development.

Few-Demo’s students said her expertise and ability to communicate well with students has made her highly sought after as an advisor and committee member. She understands the challenges that graduate teaching assistants face in the classroom and is known as an excellent and insightful mentor, especially for graduate students from underrepresented groups. And her hard work shows: Her students stand out because of their strong records of accomplishment and placement.

Few-Demo has received other recognition for her teaching and mentoring at Virginia Tech, including a Favorite Faculty Award from the Division of Student Affairs in 2013 and a College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 2010.

She earned her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia, and her master’s degree from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

 

Written by Cathy Grimes