Stevens honored for excellence in undergraduate teaching

UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media assistant professor Chad A. Stevens was honored with a Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching during halftime of the Feb. 2 UNC vs. Virginia Tech men’s basketball game at the Dean E. Smith Center.

As one of five winning professors University-wide, Stevens will receive a $7,500 stipend and a framed citation at a banquet in April. He was nominated by students and colleagues.

Stevens, who teaches photojournalism and multimedia courses, joined the school’s faculty in 2009 after an award-winning professional career. Before coming to Carolina, he was a documentary producer and editor at MediaStorm, a multimedia production company based in New York City. He also taught courses at Western Kentucky University, the International Center of Photography and Ohio University.

He has won a Webby Award and many photography and multimedia awards in the Pictures of the Year International and NPPA Best of Photojournalism competitions. While teaching at Western Kentucky University, Stevens won the University Faculty Award for Public Service in 2006.

The Tanner Awards were created in 1952 with a bequest by Kenneth Spencer Tanner and his sister, Sara Tanner Crawford, to establish an endowment fund in memory of their parents. The award recognizes excellence in inspirational teaching of undergraduate students.

Previous journalism school faculty winners include associate professor Deb Aikate, James Howard and Hallie McLean Parker Distinguished Professor Dulcie Straughan, professor emeritus John R. Bittner and dean emeritus Tom Bowers.