Awards

Dalton-Landon Foundation Award for Service to the SPIG 2024

Doug Mendenhall, an associate professor at Abilene Christian University, is the 2024 recipient of the Dalton-Landon Foundation Award for service to the SPIG. Professor Mendenhall's outstanding contributions to the SPIG have included head, vice-head, and newsletter editor. 

SPIG established this award in 2015 to recognize group members who have provided exemplary service to the organization. The award is named after SPIG founders Terry Dalton and Kim Landon.

Ginger Rudeseal Carter Miller "Teacher of the Year" 2024

Newly Paul, an associate professor in the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas, is the 2024 recipient of the Ginger Rudeseal Carter Miller Teacher of the Year Award from the Small Programs Interest group of AEJMC. The award, named for a former SPIG president and long-time group proponent, honors a SPIG member who demonstrates excellence in teaching and advising. Professor Paul was recognized at a luncheon in her honor during the AEJMC conference in Philadelphia in August.

2024 SPIG/AEJMC paper competition

Winners of the AEJMC Small Programs Interest Group 2024 paper competition will present their research during a poster session at the AEJMC Conference in Philadelphia in August. 

• First Place: "Broadcasting the Election: Active Learning Project--Assessment and Proposal for 2024 Presidential Election," John Williams, Principia College
• Second Place: "AI in JMC Teaching and Learning: Its Use, Challenges and Opportunities," Masudal Biswas, Loyola University Maryland, and Dorothy Bland, University of North Texas
• Third Place: "Developing Undergraduate News Habits with Daily AI Generated News Quizzes for Journalism Programs and Beyond," Daniel Thompson and Amanda Siew, University of Oklahoma

SPIG Awards from AEJMC 2023 in Washington, D.C.

Ginger Rudeseal Carter Miller Teacher of the Year Award
Ecaterina Stepaniuc, assistant professor of The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at North Carolina A&T State University

Dalton-Landon Foundation Award for service to the SPIG
Carrie Buchanan, John Carroll University
Dave Madsen, Morningside University

1st: “A Metaverse for Learning Communication Research Methods: Focus Group Results From Preliminary Testing,” Prof. Ray Ting-Chun Wang, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand

Extended Abstract: Hot off the presses: “Examining Student Contributions to a News-Academic Partnership,” Dr. Christina C. Smith, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA, and  Dr. Lara Salahi, Endicott College, Beverly, MA.

Extended Abstract: “Navigating difficult conversations: A qualitative analysis of student perceptions of the discussion of controversial topics in the college classroom,” Dr. Mackenzie Cato, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.

SPIG Awards from AEJMC 2022 in Detroit

Ginger Rudeseal Carter Miller Teacher of the Year Award
Masudul Biswas, Loyola University Maryland

Dalton-Landon Foundation Award for service to the SPIG
Jon Bekken, Albright College

1st: “Three Years of the Crisis Game: A Review of How Role Playing in Crisis Simulations Has Impacted Public Relations Students,” Kay Colley, Texas Wesleyan

2nd: “The Impact of a Blended Strategy of Video Tutorials and Asynchronous Activities On Skill Course Students’ Self-Efficacy,” Arly Faundes, Pontificia Católica de Chile

Extended abstract presented: “Critical Analysis of Motivations and Strategies of Faculty Overseeing News-Academic Partnerships” by Christina Smith, Georgia College and Lara Salahi, Endicott College

Extended abstract presented: “Infusing Media Analytics Content into a Communications Curriculum at a Small College Through the Use of Experiential Learning” by Kelly Poniatowski and Kirsten Johnson from Elizabethtown College.

Previous Winners: Ginger Rudeseal Carter Miller Teacher of the Year Award

2023 Ecaterina Stepaniuc, North Carolina A&T State University

2022 Masudul Biswas, Loyola University Maryland

2021 KiYong Kim, Biola University

2020 Remote conference due to Covid-19, none awarded

2019 Jackie Incollingo, Rider University

2018 Doug Mendenhall, Abilene Christian University

2017 Adam Maksl, Indiana University Southeast

2016 Cindy Simoneau, Southern Connecticut State University

2015 Sonya DiPalma, University of North Carolina at Asheville

2014 Carolyn Mae Kim, Biola University

2013 Mitzi Lewis, Midwestern State University

2012 Kathy Brittain Richardson, Berry College

2011 Kay Colley, Texas Wesleyan University

2010 Brian Steffen, Simpson College

2009 Pam Parry, Belmont University

2008 Susan Lewis, Abilene Christian University

Previous Winners: Dalton-Landon Foundation Award

“Given to SPIG members who have provided exemplary service to the organization"

2023 Carrie Buchanan, John Carroll University...and...Dave Madsen, Morningside University

2022 Jon Bekken, Albright College

2021 Kim Fox, The American University in Cairo

2020 Liz Atwood, Hood College … and…Cathy Strong, Massey University

2019 Kay Colley, Texas Wesleyan University

2018 Mitzi Lewis, Midwestern State University

2017 Jim Sernoe, Midwestern State University

2016 Vivian Martin, Central Connecticut State University … and…Brian Steffen, Simpson College

2015 Dick Hendrickson, John Carroll University