Cynda Clary earns Leave the Ladder Down Award

Cynda Clary, OSU’s associate dean of the Ferguson College of Agriculture won the Leave the Ladder Award at the fall 2022 University Awards Convocation.

The award is given to an individual who mentors and encourages others to gain their fullest potential. The nomination process is when a committee of campus leaders select a recipient to receive the award.

Karen Hickman, Ferguson College director of undergraduate research, honors programs and academic assessment, nominated Clary.

“She’s a highly positioned female leader who has left the ladder down and helped others climb up the ladder,” Hickman said.

Before Clary came to OSU in 2012, she worked for 19 years at New Mexico State University in admin- istrative positions. She is committed to helping students, faculty and staff success in her role as associate dean of Ferguson College. Anyone Clary speaks to her can tell she is enthusiastic about agriculture.

Clary encouraged Hickman to participate in many leaderships training sessions including LEAD21. Hickman also described how Clary helped impact her professional career when she gave her many opportunities to learn new skills.

Clary mentored other faculty across Ferguson College campus and imprinted her encouragement on them. An associate dean for research in the College of Arts and Science, Kristen Baum, said Clary mentored her for the Women’s Leadership Academy in 2013.

“I learned an incredible amount from Cynda’s mentorship, and I try to emulate many of her approaches in my mentoring relationships,” Baum said. “I now have the opportunity to work with her as a colleague, and I continue to value her insight, guidance and balanced perspective.” In Ferguson College, Clary said her mentoring relationships when students and faculty succeed gives her joy.

“When students come to college, they are developing their reputation and learning new things,” Clary said. “They have to find their path – and it is a privilege to be part of that journey with them.”

Gretchen Skaja, a Ferguson College agribusiness graduate student, said Clary saw potential in her before she found it in herself. During Skaja’s freshman year, Clary brought her to volunteer at Our Daily Bread and to lunch at Hideaway for the first time.

Clary also showed Skaja that her second home could be Stillwater, not only a college. She believes Clary’s guidance allowed her to be successful in Stillwater.

“Dr. Clary wants everybody to succeed,” Skaja said. “When you meet with her and leave her office, you feel ready to take on the next challenge. As a mentor, she helps you plan the next steps to achieve your goals and she will connect you with the resources you need to be successful.” news.ed@ocolly.com

Clary’s mentorship helped students, including Skaja, benefit. She is also known for providing support and leadership to staff, faculty and students throughout Ferguson College and far beyond OSU.

Ferguson College staff and administration surprised Clary and arranged for her husband, children and granddaughter to attend the ceremony when she received the prestigious award.

Clary said the most memorable part of her receiving the award was the surprise of her family at the ceremony. She said her family sacrificed a lot for her career and seeing them when she received the award with their pride of her and her accomplishments was meaningful.