Awards and accomplishments

I keep saying I am an exceptionally lucky person, and part of my good fortune is to know some exceptionally cool and accomplished people. Many of them are being recognized this year. 

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As the year began my MSU colleague, Prof. Steve Wildman, was named Chief Economist at the Federal Communication Commission. Steve and I have been friends since our days at Northwestern, since 1992. Steve recently told me he is learning a lot in this post. Another perpetual student! 

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Prof. Johannes Bauer was recognized this year as a Distinguished Faculty Member at MSU. Johannes is now one of my department chairs, in Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media. AND he knows why Dutch canal houses are tall and narrow! My other department chair, Prof. Bill Donohue in Communication, is also a Distinguished Faculty Member. They rock. 

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Just after I arrived in the Netherlands, University of Amsterdam colleague Prof. Peter Neijens was awarded the first Career Award for a lifetime of scholarly achievement in communication science by NeFCA (the Netherlands-Flanders Communication Association).  “The award recognizes scholars who have shown substantive and quantifiable contributions, scientific as well as societal, to the field of communication studies.” Peter played a pivotal role in the establishment of ASCoR, although he points to the groundwork being laid by Kurt Baschwitz, who held the first chair in Communication/Propaganda in the UvA psychology department. 

At Michigan State, we read and re-tell the history of the first social science Communication Department in the USA. The beginning of the first Dutch department was more recent, and Peter described to me what it was like starting a program in communication science in the Netherlands. They initially met considerable resistance: “When I joined the Department of Communication in 1988, it was brand new. There was nothing: no resources, finances, infrastructure, computers, labs, institutes, procedures, or experience with grant applications, etc. However there was no lack of students, or skepticism from the established disciplines (‘a discipline that attracts so many female students cannot be serious. Do they really need time and money for research?').”

So, Peter explained, joining the Department of Communication took a lot of energy which could not be used for research, but “it was very rewarding to build the discipline and the institutes, to hire new, young and energetic faculty with high potential and see the successes grow.” Looking back, he said, "to leave the Research Methodology Department of the Free University of Amsterdam and join the Department of Communication (at UvA) was a risk, but all in all, I enjoyed it very much.” He persevered, and ASCoR is a major center of communication research in all of Europe thanks to Peter and his colleagues. 

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Yesterday we learned that Prof. Patti Valkenburg has been appointed University Professor by the Board of Directors of the University of Amsterdam. There are only six University Professors altogether here, including Patti Valkenburg. “It is the task of the university professors to give impetus to scientific developments that transcend the traditional disciplines and to contribute to raising the profile of the university,” said the news story. I think this is a major accomplishment for Patti and a real boost for the field of communication.

Patti had already been recognized by the University of Amsterdam as a Distinguished Research Professor of Communication and Child Development. At the national level, she was awarded the 2011 Spinoza Prize, “the highest scientific prize in the Netherlands.” Internationally, she is an ICA Fellow, and is one of the six most productive scholars in core communication journals in the world (the most productive in Europe).

Patti is so “down to earth” she entices people to open up and share ideas. She is generous with her time and her teaching (even with slow learners like me), and she is brilliant.

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In East Lansing, Michigan, a staff member at MSU is receiving the 2013 Ruth Jameyson “Above and Beyond” Award next week. Her name is in lights at the Breslin Center:

According to the letter from President Simon, 

She makes MSU a better place because she has high standards for herself and for others. With Prof. Doug Estry, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, they believe in doing things well; that faculty members make good decisions (even when it’s like herding cats to get them to do so); that when a student makes a mistake or has a problem it can be a golden opportunity for real education, not just a case to be closed.  She expects conscientiousness and professionalism and she gives it herself.  She takes it VERY seriously. 

And yet, if you are having an emergency, she may try to disarm you and then help you address the problem.

She makes people happy, especially me. 

Congratulations to everybody!