April & May 2016 College News

Faculty Accolades The Office of Disability Services awarded Laurie Fluker the “Visionary Award” for 2016 at their Appreciation Luncheon on April 25. Black Student Alliance voted her the 2016 “Outstanding Professor Award” at their annual Image Awards on April 25. Alpha Chi National Honor Society voted her an “Alpha Chi Favorite Professor for 2016” at their annual ceremony on April 29. In April, Kym Fox presented a professional development workshop to Austin ISD high school and middle school journalism teachers on the topic of journalism skills for the future. In January, Fox and Dale Blasingame presented a data journalism workshop at Akins High School in Austin to launch the new School of Journalism and Mass Communication Scholastic Speakers Bureau, aimed at providing support to high school journalism programs in Texas. Dr. Vanessa Higgins Joyce’s co-authored study “Latin American Investigative Journalism Education: Learning Practices, Learning Gaps” was accepted for publication in the journal Journalism and Mass Communication Educator . The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) College of Fellows invited Olga Mayoral Wilson , APR, Fellow PRSA, to be a “GoodFellow” –to provide confidential coaching service to assist members who seek election to the College. As a recent Fellow inductee (2014), Olga actively contributes to the public relations profession, the community and to PRSA. Her experience is especially relevant to new candidates. The PRSA College of Fellows induction ceremony is slated for Saturday, October 22, 2016 in Indianapolis. Student Accolades Journalism major Autumn Bernhard won the top scholarship from Austin’s Alliance for Women in Media. JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION Journalism and Mass Communication almuna Alyssa Vidales delivers a guest lecture