Two UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media professors have been named winners of the 2016 University Teaching Awards. Penny Muse Abernathy and JoAnn Sciarrino both won Tanner Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. They will be recognized along with other teaching award winners at center court during halftime at the Carolina vs. Pittsburgh varsity men’s basketball game Thursday, Feb. 14, 2016.
Abernathy — a former executive at the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times who began her career as a newspaper reporter and editor at several daily newspapers — is the school’s Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics. She specializes in preserving quality journalism by helping the news business succeed economically in the digital media environment.
Nomination letters referred to Abernathy as “the best resource in the J-school” and a “walking search engine” who holds her students to high standards by treating them like professionals. Nominators shared stories of how she remained involved in their careers even after they had graduated.
Sciarrino, former executive vice president for BBDO North America, is the school’s Knight Chair in Digital Advertising and Marketing. She researches, publishes and consults on the intersection of advertising, brand attachment and digital interactions on business performance.
Nomination letters touted her “creative approach in the classroom, unwavering dedication to her students, deep-rooted commitment to her trade and innovative teaching philosophy.” Sciarrino engages her students through case studies and projects that teach hard skills such as statistics and branding — and soft skills such as public speaking and teamwork.
“It is a privilege to have one professor from a school become a Tanner Award winner. To have both Knight Chairs recognized for their work inside the classroom is an embarrassment of riches,” said Susan King, dean of the school. “Both Penny and JoAnn are nationally recognized researchers uncovering the digital economic future of American media. I believe the strength of our school is having researchers of their caliber dedicated to student success and recognized as some of the University’s greatest teachers.”
The University Committee on Teaching Awards encourages nominations of deserving faculty and graduate teaching assistants and oversees the selection process. The committee chooses recipients who promote the value of undergraduate teaching by example, demonstrate concern for students through interaction and approachability inside and outside the classroom, create meaningful learning experiences and maintain high expectations of their students.
