The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications will induct Clark into its Hall of Fame at an April 14 awards ceremony.
Naeemah Clark, chair and professor in the Cinema and Television Arts Department, will be inducted into the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communication Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony on April 14.
A faculty member in Elon University’s School of Communications since 2009, Clark began her own educational journey at Florida State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She then completed her master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Florida.
“I’m so honored to have been selected for the CJC Hall of Fame. I’d walk by the wall with all of the pictures every day when I was in grad school in the late 1990s, and now to think that I’ll be one of those in the pictures is nuts!” Clark said.
The award was created in 1970 to honor alumni who have excelled in their professional careers. Since the award’s inception, 169 alumni have been honored. CJC has more than 35,000 graduates worldwide.
“Very few of the college’s doctoral students are selected for this award, so it’s even more special that other college professors think I’m worthy of this recognition,” Clark said. “I’ve tried to do work that advances equity in the entertainment industry and higher education. At my heart, I’m a storyteller, so whether it’s through a TEDTalk, a class assignment or a university initiative, I am intentional about how the work I do illustrates the story I’m creating for myself.”
Clark is a nationally acclaimed expert in economic, programming and diversity issues related to the media and entertainment industries. She regularly appears in local, regional and national news media such as HuffPost and CNN. Additionally, Clark edited the book “African Americans in the History of U.S. Media,” co-authored the textbook “Diversity in US Media,” and has published work in prestigious journals such as Journalism History and American Behavioral Scientist. Before starting at Elon in 2009, Clark worked at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Kent State University.
At Elon, Clark has made significant contributions to the college community. Clark directed the School of Communications Fellows Program for six years, has guided students to publish articles in the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications and has been active in developing diversity, equity and inclusivity across the curriculum. In 2020, she became the third faculty member to be named the J. Earl Danieley Distinguished Professor, an award that honors outstanding professors in any field.
Tony Weaver, associate dean in the School of Communications, explained that Clark’s impact has been felt across campus, which has made her a sought-after contributor to numerous Elon initiatives.
“Dr. Clark is a true leader in the Cinema and Television Arts Department, the School of Communications and Elon University,” he said. “The University of Florida has recognized the work that we get to see her do every day.”
In addition to Clark, Florida’s 2022 Hall of Fame class includes Tonya Cornileus, vice president for development, inclusion and wellness at ESPN; Jerry Ketcham, senior vice president for feature production at Walt Disney Pictures; and Jay Schwedelson, CEO of Worldata.