LSU Manship School Professor Wins Second Prestigious National Communication Award

November 7, 2019

Baton Rouge, LA – Tina M. Harris, Ph.D., is one of just two recipients of the esteemed Critical and Cultural Studies Division of the National Communication Association’s Distinguished Scholar Award, which is given to leading scholars in the Critical Cultural Studies Division of NCA.

The Critical and Cultural Studies Division of NCA is made up of scholars who view communication and culture as mutually constructive and are dedicated to fostering critical and interdisciplinary approaches to a broad range of topics. The division underscores that teaching and scholarship are powerful tools for fostering social justice and promoting social change in the academy and beyond. Its Distinguished Scholar Award is given to a leading scholar who has made an impact on scholarship and the people of the division. 

Harris received letters of nomination from numerous colleagues in support of her recognition with the Distinguished Scholar Award.

"Dr. Harris has proven to be an outstanding critical scholar and a supportive mentor to many graduate students and scholars in the discipline,” Rona Halualani, professor at San Jose State University, said. “So many of us would not be able to do the critical work that we want to do around race and difference without the foundational scholarship of Dr. Harris."

Harris joined the Manship School’s faculty in summer 2019 as the Douglas L. Manship Sr.-Dori Maynard Race, Media, and Cultural Literacy Endowed Chair – the first and only position of its type in the nation. She is an internationally renowned interracial communication scholar who studies and teaches on race, media representations and racial social justice.

"She commits herself to helping others through (in)formal channels of mentorship and makes herself available to everyone, no matter the time or day. Dr. Harris has taught me invaluable lessons about reaching down as you climb up and striving for excellence in every facet of the job, including teaching, research, and service to my department, university and local community,” Sharde Facis, assistant professor at the University of Connecticut said.

See more about the Critical Cultural Studies Division here

For more information, contact smalin@lsu.edu. 

####

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: master of mass communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication, and dual MMC/law degree. Its public relations students were recently ranked the #1 team in the nation, and its digital advertising and student media teams frequently earn national recognition.