Faculty, staff recognized with annual awards for innovation, excellence and service

By Beth Hatcher

The UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media recognized outstanding faculty and staff contributions to the school this year with awards presented Friday, May 7, 2021, in a virtual school-wide meeting.

“The strength of our staff and the commitment of our faculty are always impressive at this spring moment when we recognize a year of particular accomplishment,” said Susan King, dean of UNC Hussman. “However, this year, with the ongoing pandemic, these awards take on new significance. They reveal the great depth of achievement and the values of a school community that is dedicated to producing media leaders that understand changes underway, the power of diversity and inclusion, and produce consistent excellence in all they do.”

Award nominations are sought and reviewed by a committee of former winners of each award, and the committees forward their recommendations to the dean. The awards have grown in recent years from two longstanding teaching awards to now four faculty awards recognizing innovation, teaching, service and commitment to students — and two staff excellence awards.

Eight faculty and staff members were recognized this year, and all received a monetary award along with the honor.

 

Faculty Awards

Edward Vick Prize for Innovation in Teaching
Pat Davison

This award recognizes creativity and innovation in teaching that meaningfully enhances student learning experiences. The prize is named for Edward Vick, a 1966 graduate of the school who was an innovative advertising executive inducted into the NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame in 1996.

Professor Pat Davison’s nominations noted the list of awards garnered by his international documentary work, such as this year’s “Barriers,” produced through the MEJO 584: International Projects course, as well as Davison’s founding and continued work with the Carolina Photojournalism Workshop, MEJO 489: Photojournalism, Lighting and Business Techniques course and the Carolina Sports Photography workshop.

King noted Davison’s years of innovation at the school, as well as his special efforts this year to keep students learning hands-on skills during the pandemic. “This professor found ways to be socially distant … and teach people those skills,” she said.

As one nominator wrote: “Pat has always been an innovator when it comes to his teaching, storytelling and documentary work. He is a believer in experiential and project-based learning. He is a leader in our school when it comes to developing multidisciplinary projects. He also is a believer in creating an interactive learning community and culture.”

“Since he couldn’t show us things in-person, he encouraged us as a class to work together and arranged socially distanced sunset shoots, skateboard park lighting practices, and gave us the means to set up backdrops and lights in an empty classroom,” said another.

“I’m grateful to be able to work at a place like this and have the opportunity to work with students,” Davison said. “I’m just really humbled and honored.”

 

David Brinkley Teaching Excellence Award
Allison Lazard
Kate Sheppard

This award recognizes excellence in teaching and a commitment to helping students inside and outside the classroom. The prize is named for the legendary broadcast journalist David Brinkley who was inducted into the NC Media & Journalism Hall of Fame in 1989.

E. Reese Felts Jr. Distinguished Associate Professor Allison Lazard teaches advertising and public relations courses at UNC Hussman. Her research revolves around a core interest in how visual design influences message perception and engagement in the digital environment. Lazard’s nominations detailed a passionate teaching style that keeps students engaged. During the pandemic, she has worked with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to develop effective messaging to encourage citizens to wear masks, wash hands and maintain social distance.

King said of Lazard: “She has produced extraordinary scholarship that has not only moved the needle on scholarship but has informed her teaching.”

A nomination letter noted of Lazard: “I first learned about Allison Lazard as a teacher from my son. He is now a proud graduate of the school and spoke highly to me — when he was a junior — about the advertising instructor in his MEJO 137 class. I wasn’t surprised to learn it was Allison.”

Another nomination letter noted: “It is also clear that Allison brings charisma into the classroom that students find nothing short of inspiring. They commonly talk about her approach to teaching as ‘passionate,’ ‘awesome,’ ‘exciting,’ ‘inspiring,’ ‘fantastic,’ ‘enthusiastic’ and ‘engaging.’”

“It means a lot,” Lazard said in accepting the award. “I care a lot, and this has been a hard year for all of us. Thank you.”

Teaching Associate Professor Kate Sheppard teaches reporting and writing courses at UNC Hussman in addition to “MEJO 463: Creating Tomorrow’s News Products.” She also works as a senior national editor at HuffPost. Nominations praised her industry knowledge and encouragement of students in pitching work to professional outlets.

“She thinks, talks and challenges students around difficult journalism ideas,” King said.

“Sheppard makes every class enjoyable. She brings up current events, leads great class discussions and always makes students feel as if what they have to say is valuable. Her confidence in what students think goes beyond our class curriculum. She is constantly encouraging us to pitch our articles to other outlets,” read one nomination.

“Professor Sheppard’s media and communication expertise were evident immediately, and I knew the class would push me to learn,” wrote another nominator. “In the classroom, she successfully facilitates difficult conversations and encourages students to think critically about reporting issues such as gun violence, racial equity, climate change and LGBTQ+ rights.”

“This could have been any one of my colleagues this year,” said Sheppard. “Nothing makes me happier than hearing that the students are learning and doing well.”

Richard Cole Service Award
Francesca Dillman Carpentier (senior faculty)
Steven King (junior faculty)

This award recognizes one junior and one senior faculty member who each strive to create a collaborative culture within the school. King established the award in honor of Dean Emeritus Richard Cole, whose service and commitment has made the school what it is today.

W. Horace Carter Distinguished Professor Francesca Dillman Carpentier received the award for her dedicated service to the school, including her work leading review and revision of the school’s promotion and tenure guidelines. Carpentier also served on the University’s task force providing recommendations for changes to each department and school’s tenure and promotion guidelines, with a focus on clarifying criteria and improving equity in tenure and promotion evaluations.

King called Carpentier “somebody who has given of herself in so many ways with such listening qualities, with such smarts and so much analytical ability.”

Carpentier said she appreciated how her work gathering feedback on the school’s promotion and tenure guidelines had connected her to colleagues. “It’s actually been really great being able to connect with everybody through these listening sessions,” she said. 

Associate Professor Steven King was recognized for his service to UNC during the pandemic. With the help of students in the UNC Reese Innovation Lab, where he serves as chief innovation officer, King developed a monitoring kiosk that registers whether or not someone is wearing a mask. He and his students also built HallPass, an app that catalogues campus COVID-19 testing information.

“He has worked with students in a capacity to research and innovate in a way that has served not only us, but the reputation of our school,” Dean King said.

“Thank you for your help and all your support in the Lab,” King said in receiving the award. “I’m appreciative, and thank you so much for this.”

 

Val Lauder Award for Teaching
Tamara Rice

This award recognizes a non-full-time faculty member for excellence in teaching. The prize is named for Val Lauder, a trailblazing journalist and dedicated instructor who taught in the school for many years.

Adjunct Instructor Tamara Rice has been with UNC Hussman since 2015 and teaches courses in multimedia storytelling. Rice’s nominations noted her skill as a web developer, as well as her impactful work with courses like “MEJO 584: International Projects” that has garnered awards from prestigious organizations like the Online News Association among others.

“It’s just really amazing what she is able to coach our students to do,” said King in noting Rice’s important role in international projects.

“Tamara’s creativity and enthusiasm is matched only by her dedication to her students. Her leadership in the development of our international projects course and site has enabled our students to aim high and think big. She puts so much time and energy into Hussman. It is hard to imagine anyone more deserving of this award,” wrote one nominator.

“I'm honored to receive the award, especially in a year that has been so challenging for students and educators everywhere,” said Rice.  “Even though we were able to successfully pivot online, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's faces again in the fall.”

 

Staff Excellence Awards
Kathy Bruno
Mark Richardson

This year, the Hussman Staff Excellence Award Committee received 39 nominations total, for 13 UNC Hussman staff members. King enhanced the staff awards in recent years by attaching a monetary award to the honor.

Kathy Bruno, who works as a library assistant in UNC Hussman’s Park Library, was recognized with a staff excellence award.

Bruno’s positivity and helpful attitude were noted as she continued to work, often on campus, helping students and faculty find and utilize library resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All the nominations and recommendation letters were similar about how positive a person this is,” King said. “Kathy Bruno always goes the extra mile.”

Below are some of the recommendations from other UNC Hussman staff members detailing Bruno’s work ethic:

“She's worked hard to ensure good service during pandemic times to students who want to borrow equipment. She responds to students by email and text and gets them what they need in a timely fashion. She's the main reason we've been able to continue to lend camera, audio and lighting equipment during three semesters of physical distancing.”

“Kathy Bruno embodies commitment and dependability. She has been such a great addition to Park Library. Students love her because she helps us out so much with equipment, loans, etc. She takes interest in the student's lives and is a caring leader. I'm always happy to see her!”

“Thank you so much. I appreciate y’all recognizing the work we do in the library and that we try to provide a great service,” Bruno said.

Mark Richardson, who serves as UNC Hussman’s assistant dean of business and finance, was also honored with a staff excellence award

King called Richardson someone “who made a transformation of how we operate as a school.”

In their nominations, UNC Hussman staffers noted Richardson’s diligence, attention to detail and thoughtful leadership through a daunting year of fiscal challenges.

“I don't believe anyone in the school fully realizes what a behind-the-scenes hero Mark Richardson is. His work with Susan and her leadership team has saved us in these troubling financial times. His clarity, efficiency and upfront attitude have contributed to making this moment in our university's history feel a bit less scary and unstable. We all owe him sincere gratitude,” read one nomination.

“It's been an extraordinary couple of years since Mark joined the school, and I have felt from the start that Mark has a steady hand on the wheels of our finances and our future. He is terrific to work with, highly professional and eager to meet the school's needs. As a faculty member, I am grateful to have him and his expertise,” wrote another nominator.

In accepting the award, Richardson thanked his colleagues in the business office. “I’m just so thankful that I landed here at UNC Hussman,” he said “For me, it’s so important that there’s meaning in the work I do, and I truly feel that and have that here.”