Rhetorical & Communication Theory Division Awards Call

The Rhetorical and Communication Theory Division of NCA invites nominations for the 2017 Early Career Award, Distinguished Scholar Award, and Faculty Mentorship Award. Nominations are due by April 15, 2017 and should be submitted via email to Billie Murray at billie.murray@villanova.edu.
The Early Career Award (previously the New Investigator Award) honors a current member of the division who has established an innovative and robust research project within eight years of having earned the Ph.D. degree (no earlier than May 2009). Early Career nominees should have a clear and impressive record of scholarly research, and they should exhibit the potential to contribute significantly to the field in the areas of rhetorical and/or communication theory. Self-nominations are welcome. A complete nomination file for the Early Career Award should include: (1) a letter of nomination that outlines the nominee’s credentials; and (2) the nominee’s curriculum vitae. Letters of support are welcome, but optional.

The Distinguished Scholar Award honors a current member of the division for significant contributions to scholarship in rhetorical and/or communication theory during the past ten years. Distinguished Scholar nominees should have established a body of research that has significant and enduring value. The recipient of the award will be a figure who has earned renown in the field for his or her scholarship and whose body of scholarship serves as a touchstone in rhetorical and/or communication theory. Self-nominations are welcome. A complete nomination file for the Distinguished Scholar Award should include: (1) a letter of nomination that outlines the nominee’s credentials; (2) the nominee’s curriculum vitae; and (3) at least two additional letters of support from rhetorical and/or communication theory scholars (the nomination letter plus two additional letters is required).
The Faculty Mentorship Award is intended to publicly recognize the considerable time and energy that particular teachers and scholars may devote to helping others succeed in our profession. Their typically unrecognized efforts are vital to maintaining the strength and vitality of the faculty community that comprises the RCT Division, particularly in the cases of historically underrepresented groups and programs. The award recipient must be a member of the RCT Division. Nominations for the Faculty Mentorship Award must include: (1) A nomination letter summarizing the nominee's qualifications as an exemplary professional mentor; (2) Two supporting letters from former students and/or colleagues in the field who are able to comment on the effectiveness of the nominee as a professional mentor; (3) A current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae.

This year, the awards committee consists of Billie Murray (chair), Nina M. Reich, and Daniel Brouwer. Past recipients of the awards have received a monetary award and a plaque. More importantly, an RCT award is a chance to publicly acknowledge a scholar for her or his good work.

Past Winners:
1998
New Investigator: Bryan Taylor
Distinguished Scholar: Thomas Farrell

1999
New Investigator: not given
Distinguished Scholar: G. Thomas Goodnight

2000
New Investigator: Raka Shome and Lisa Flores
Distinguished Scholar: Robert Hariman

2001
New Investigator: Kirt Wilson
Distinguished Scholar: not given

2002
New Investigator: Eric King Watts
Distinguished Scholar: John Lucaites

2003
New Investigator: M. Lane Bruner
Distinguished Scholar: Gerard Hauser

2004
New Investigator: Robert Asen
Distinguished Scholar: James Aune

2005
New Investigator: Cara Finnegan
Distinguished Scholar: Dan O’Keefe

2006
New Investigator: Joshua Gunn
Distinguished Scholar: Edward Schiappa

2007
New Investigator: Debra Hawhee
Distinguished Scholar: Thomas Frentz

2008
New Investigator: Phaedra Pezzullo
Distinguished Scholar: not given

2009
New Investigator: Bradford J. Vivian
Distinguished Scholar: Alan Gross

2010
New Investigator: Jeff Bennett
Distinguished Scholar: Carole Blair

2011
New Investigator: Jeremy Engels
Distinguished Scholar: Barbara Biesecker

2012
New Investigator: Claire King
Distinguished Scholar: Dana Cloud

2013
New Investigator: Erin Rand
Distinguished Scholar: John Sloop
Faculty Mentorship: Vanessa Beasley

2014
New Investigator: Scott Stroud
Distinguished Scholar: Robert Asen
Faculty Mentorship: not given

2015
New Investigator: Robin Jensen
Distinguished Scholar: Kent Ono
Faculty Mentorship: Barbara Biesecker

2016
New Investigator: J. David Cisneros
Distinguished Scholar: Charles E. Morris, III
Faculty Mentorship: Angela G. Ray
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