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The second
annual faculty awards honoring outstanding contributions by teacher/scholars
at the School of Communications were announced April 14 at the spring
Communications Advisory Board banquet: George Padgett is the recipient
of the Excellence in Teaching Award; Don Grady is the recipient
of the Excellence in Service/Leadership Award; Connie Book is the
recipient of the Excellence in Scholarship Award.
 Dean
Paul Parsons announced the winners. "We have an outstanding faculty
in the School of Communications," he said. "They instruct and inspire
our students, they serve as leaders of the university and they create
knowledge and information. Today we honor three of our faculty for
their teaching, service/leadership and scholarship, knowing that
they represent a larger faculty who make Elon and this school excellent."
The Excellence
in Scholarship Award recognizes a faculty member whose scholarly
work has a significant intellectual impact. In making its decision,
the selection committee looked not only for publication and presentation
of the highest quality, but supporting the scholarly endeavors of
colleagues, advancing the school's reputation, and mentoring students
in undergraduate research.
Book came to
Elon in 1999. "She has made a profoundly positive impact on
our school and the profession," Parsons said. "Here is
her newly published book on digital television. She is a rare, four-time
recipient of a National Association of Broadcasters grant to study
consumers and television. She has won Broadcast Education Association
research awards six of the past seven years. At the same time, she
is deeply devoted to helping students discover the joys and the
importance of research. She accompanied a student last year to speak
before the FCC. Connie is one of the reasons that Elon's School
of Communications is rapidly gaining national attention."
 The
Excellence in Service/Leadership Award recognizes a faculty member
who richly contributes to the ongoing welfare and betterment of
the school, the university and the profession. The selection committee
looked for clear, positive outcomes of service, as well as a willingness
to volunteer one's time when needed, to carry new ideas to reality,
and to engage in shared governance.
Grady came
to Elon in 1985. "In many ways, was the original builder of
this program," Parsons said. "He served as the first department
chair from 1988-1993 and currently is serving as department chair
again. Don is the epitome of Elon's model of a caring faculty member.
He comes to work every day whether we pay him or not. He sees service
as vital for a sense of community. He has served on the tenure and
promotion committee, faculty research and development committee,
curriculum committee, and chaired the university's Academic Council.
We value presence on campus, noting over time who does the big and
little tasks that make us a better school. Don makes us a better
school."
 The
Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies
the Elon teacher-scholar - someone outstanding in the classroom,
current in the discipline, and committed to the intellectual development
of students. The selection committee looked for excellence in the
classroom, embracing ways to engage students in active learning,
being known as a good academic adviser, and having a willingness
to teach where needed.
Padgett came
to Elon in 1990 and served as department chair from 1993-2000. "We
measure three factors in evaluating teaching," Parsons said.
"One is student evaluation. Another is the level of academic
challenge. The third is the rigor that teachers maintain in awarding
grades. George scores near the top on all three factors. He's also
our champion in teaching diversity in the classroom. Next fall,
he is teaching an innovative course where students will explore
the five freedoms of the First Amendment and then share these freedoms
with local schoolchildren through skits and a DVD. It's this kind
of innovation that makes George special as a teacher."
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