Sikeston native earns accolade for teaching, inspiring college students

Susan Hinze

SIKESTON -- When Susan Hinze began work as an assistant professor of sociology, she knew how important connecting with students was.

And now she's won a university award for her mentoring work, the John S. Diekhoff Award for Graduate Mentoring.

"It's wonderful to be nominated," said Hinze, a 1981 Sikeston High School graduate who is tenured at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. "It means something you're doing is working."

Hinze explained that the award is run by graduate students from different campus departments, who spearhead the nomination, interview and award process.

The daughter of Karen and Dick Hinze of Sikeston, Hinze earned her doctorate in sociology from Vanderbilt University and has worked at Case since 1995. "I actually direct the women's and gender studies program now, in addition to teaching and mentoring undergrads," she said.

That includes admitting doctoral candidates, where she works with them from course work to comprehensive exams to dissertation topics and collecting data.

"But it doesn't end when they finish their PhD," said Hinze. "You're constantly trying to help them navigate."

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