How should staff address non-doctorate professors?

Question

Background:

I am in an administrative staff position, in a research compliance role, and frequently have to "cold" email professors I have never met or otherwise previously interacted with. In my institution almost all professors have MD degrees, so I typically address them as "Dr. X." However there are a small number of professors with master's degrees in areas of specialty that don't offer doctorate-level degrees, and I am uncertain how to appropriately address these individuals.

My gut reaction is to address these individuals by their first name (as our institution's culture considers first name acceptable for staff above you in the reporting chain), but to me this feels disrespectful when applied to faculty, especially considering the content of my messages are often directing them to do things (or stop doing things) they'd rather not. Conversely, calling them "professor" seems unusual to me since I am not enrolled at the institution. Finally, my school is very progressive, and I worry about (mis-)using gendered pronouns.

Question:

Am I worried about this unnecessarily? How should I address these professors when I can't open by asking how they would like to be addressed?

Answer 1

as our institution's culture considers first name acceptable for staff above you in the reporting chain

First name it is then. Or you could go first and last name without a title. Or you can drop the name completely and just get on with telling them what they have to do. It sounds like you know they are all professors/faculty, which would mean using professor is not incorrect, although it is more formal than just the first name and the same as calling someone doctor.

I would steer away from Mr/Ms/Mrs for a couple of reasons. First, it introduces the gender issue you raise. Second, Professor is a higher honorific than Ms/Mr. Finally, working in a medical field where half the clinicians have a terminal masters and half have a terminal doctorate, I find it mildly insulting to use different titles for two people who have terminal degrees.

Answer 2

You mention that the persons in question have a master's degree.

In Mexico and I guess other Hispano-American countries, someone with a master's degree will be called Maestro/Maestra. Likewise, the formal way to address a person holding a bachelor's degree will be either Licenciado/Licenciada, or Ingeniero/Ingeniera if he/she is an engineer. Anyone with a teaching load at a university is considered a profesor and could be addressed that way. But the title from the degree is usually more formal.

Answer 3

All depends on the academic structure of merits in the country and in the branch of science. In some countries there are scientific degrees, and faculty positions. Typically an equivalent of Ph.D is required to get elected into a faculty position, but this is not a rule carved in stone, it might depend on particular personal achievements and/or recognition in the area of science or technology. But if a person holds a position of Professor, he/she IS a Professor, regardless if he/she holds any official qualification degree or not. So you should address them as "Professor".