Faculty Kudos

Our faculty members have been busy making their mark in academia. They have received awards, published articles, received grants, and presented at conferences. These are some of the highlights:

• Dr. Marlene Neill made several research presentations this fall, including the PRSA Southwest District in Arkansas, the Institute for Public Relations in Dallas, the California Association of Public Information Officials (online seminar), the Minnesota PRSA in Minneapolis, and the PRSA International Conference in Anaheim, California. Neill’s journal article, “Identifying & Addressing Gaps in Public Relations Ethics Education,” was selected for the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication Top Ethics in PR Pedagogy Award from the Journal of Public Relations Education. Her co-authors are Shannon Bowen and Denise Bortree. Read more here. 
• Professor Sharon Gripp, senior lecturer, was recognized for the second year by the National Federation of Press Women, receiving an Honorable Mention for opinion/editorial writing. Award winners were announced on June 22, 2024, at the national conference in St. Louis. The editorial piece, “A&M Botched Journalism School Hire,” appeared in the Waco Tribune-Herald on August 2, 2023. In other news, Gripp will lead a seminar on excellence in teaching. Her session, “Conversations and Clarity in AI Usage,” will help faculty set parameters for student AI usage and provide guidelines for disregarding these parameters. The seminar will be at 2:30 p.m. on February 10.
• Dr. Rosalynn Vasquez presented “Smashing the Habitus: An Inquiry into Social and Cultural Capital of U.S. Hispanic and White PR Practitioners and Career Progression” at the European Public Relations Education and Research Association (EUPRERA) conference on September 11, 2024, at Bucharest, Romania. She participated as a panelist speaking on “DEI in the Public Relations Classroom: What’s Next?” at the PRSA Educators Academy on October 14, 2024, in Anaheim, CA. Vasquez and Dr. Alec Tefertiller received a grant in 2024 from the Rapoport Foundation to examine Latinos’ perceptions and responses to health misinformation- and disinformation on social media. Vasquez received a grant in 2024 from the Arthur W. Page Center to explore the role of PR in communicating DEI & Ethics in U.S. companies.
• Dr. Alec Tefertiller, Dr. Rosalynn Vasquez, and Matthew Brammer, former lecturer, presented “The Kids Are Alright: Examining How U.S. Public Relations Students Ethically Navigate Artificial Intelligence.” This paper won the second-place teaching paper award in the AEJMC Public Relations Division. 
• Dr. Rosalynn Vasquez, Dr. Alec Tefertiller, Kim Patterson, Dr. Elizabeth Bates, and Matthew Brammer, former lecturer, presented “Applying Strategic Thinking and AI in Public Relations Case Study Approach” at the 2024 Southwest Symposium organized by SWECJMC on October 25, 2024. 
• Professor Kevin Tankersley, senior lecturer, and Dr. Rosalynn Vasquez, assistant professor, were elected to represent our department in the University’s Faculty Senate.
• Dr. Tamara Welter, an assistant professor, was invited to the Summer Faculty Institute. Participants explored teaching, research, and collegiality, constructing syllabi and managing preparation time there.
• The City of Waco recognized former Baylor Journalism, Public Relations, & New Media senior lecturer Carol Perry (pictured above) for designing the city logo many years ago and her service to Waco and Baylor University. Waco proclaimed Carol Perry Day!