ISC Professor Receives Early Career Teaching Excellence Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 28, 2017) — Adriane Grumbein, assistant professor in the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication within the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information, was presented the 2017 Early Career Teaching Excellence Award at the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s (AEJMC) annual conference. This year’s conference was held in Chicago in August.

Grumbein is the inaugural winner of this award sponsored by the Advertising Division of the AEJMC. The award recognizes professors who demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching and are full-time faculty members in their second to seventh year of service. Recipients of the award also receive a monetary prize of $500.

The selection process includes first and second round submissions of application materials to the AEJMC committee. For the first round, the committee requires a nomination letter explaining why the professor is an excellent choice. The criteria for selection cover subject mastery, classroom management, communication skills, creation of a positive learning environment, dedication to teaching and assessment of student learning. The nominated professors must also submit a statement of their teaching philosophy and how they implement this philosophy in their classroom.

In reviewing Grumbein’s application, one committee member from AEJMC remarked, “I was struck by her humility, genuineness, enthusiasm, generosity of knowledge and time.” 

In addition to her full-time faculty responsibilities, Grumbein regularly dedicates time to her students outside the classroom. She has served as a sponsor and advisor to ISC students competing at the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition and the Association for Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication’s National Logo Contest. Over the past three years, since beginning her teaching career at UK, Grumbein’s students have consistently placed and won awards in these national competitions.

On earning this achievement, Grumbein said, “I am humbled and honored to win this award. As a professor, I work hard to hone my craft and find the best ways to teach my students. Hopefully, this award says I’m on the right track. Of course, being a good professor is much easier when you have great students. Luckily, I have the best.”

Former ISC Department Chair Alyssa Eckman nominated Grumbein for the award and wrote her recommendation. 

“Dr. Eckman is an incredible teacher in her own right," Grumbein said. "So, to be nominated by her is a huge honor. I’ve learned more from Dr. Eckman in my three years at UK than in any pedagogy class I ever took. Things like how to be tough, but fair, and how to care about my students. Her mentorship has profoundly shaped me as a professor, and I can’t thank her enough for the time, energy and dedication she has poured into me."