June 13, 2005
McKinley Award Winner
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Becky Yeager |
Becky Yeager, administrative secretary in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration dean’s office, was named the McKinley Employee Award winner for December 2004. C&BA’s past interim dean, Dr. Walt Misiolek, and director of financial affairs, Marilee Brown-Wells, were Yeager’s nominators. Misiolek said that Yeager “is amazing.” “She is a multi-talented, creative person who was a tremendous asset to me and to the college during the seven years that she served as my administrative secretary during my service [in the dean’s office].” He points to the gamut of organizational abilities and technical skills she demonstrates in her daily work. But, said Misiolek, it’s her ability to work with people that sets Yeager apart. “She is a delight to work with.”
According to Brown-Wells, “Becky embodies all the characteristics one would look for when evaluating a McKinley recipient.” Specifically, she notes Yeager’s willingness to work “outside her area of responsibility.” “In addition to her many tasks as administrative secretary to the senior associate dean, Becky also provides assistance to the dean when his executive secretary is out of the office.” Yeager’s dedicated work practices demonstrate precisely the type of performance and commitment to excellence that the McKinley family had in mind when they established the McKinley Award.
The McKinley Award was established by Helen H. and John K. McKinley of Darien, Conn., and Tuscaloosa in honor of John McKinley’s father, Vergil Parks McKinley. The award recognizes enterprising employees who, by action or idea, contributed to the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. The monthly award carries a cash prize. Vergil Parks McKinley came to UA in 1918 and retired as head of the College of Education’s trade and industrial development department in 1945. If you would like to nominate an employee for future awards, contact Human Resources at 348-6690.
UA Mass Communication Program Ranks Seventh Nationally
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| Doctoral students in UA’s Mass Communication program will benefit by the program’s latest national ranking – named 7th by the National Communication Association. Pictured left to right, front: doctoral students Ignatius Fosu, Amy Chu, and Glenn Cummings; (rear) Dr. Jennings Bryant, program chair and Reagan Chair of Broadcasting, and Dr. Culpepper Clark, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences. |
The nation’s largest communication scholars association has ranked the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences’ doctoral program in mass communication seventh nationally. The National Communication Association’s reputational rankings are based on survey responses from communication faculty nationwide, who rated programs according to the scholarly quality of faculty, effectiveness in educating researchers, and change in quality over the past five years.
“We have known for some time that our doctoral program ranks near the top,” said Dr. E. Culpepper Clark, dean of the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences. “Independent studies of research productivity and the number of doctorates awarded have found us anywhere from sixth to second, depending upon year.
“The overall ranking of seventh by the National Communication Association is an impressive tribute to the talent that has been assembled in the College of Communication and Information Sciences,” Clark said. “This particular ‘top 10,’ as established by the largest association of communication scholars, truly places us among an elite group of institutions that feature mass communication education and research.”
Atop the list was the University of Pennsylvania, followed by Stanford, Michigan State, Southern California, University of Wisconsin, University of Texas, The University of Alabama, Pennsylvania State, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and, rounding out the top 10, Ohio State.
This new study marks the first time since 1996 that the National Communication Association has ranked communication doctoral programs.
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