AEJMC Presidential Task Force on Undergraduate Research and Engagement
Serving the AEJMC Presidential Task Force on Undergraduate Research and Engagement
for the 2024 – 2025 term
Jan Lauren Boyles (Co-chair)
Iowa State University
Laura K. Smith (Co-chair)
University of South Carolina
Mackenzie Cato
Kennesaw State University
Michel Haigh
Texas State University
Erin Kim-Cho
Grand View University
Claudia Kozman
Northwestern University in Qatar
Nick Mathews
University of Missouri
AEJMC Membership Committee Members
Serving the AEJMC Membership Committee
for the 2024 – 2025 term
Committee Member TBA (Term 2024-2027)
Committee Member TBA (Term 2024-2027)
Committee Member TBA (Term 2024-2027)
Committee Member TBA (Term 2024-2027)
Valerie White (Term 2023-2026)
Florida A&M University
Keonte Coleman (Term 2023-2026)
Syracuse University
Jennifer Vardeman (Term 2023-2026)
University of Houston
Seungahn Nah (Term 2022-2025)
University of Florida
Shafiqur Rahman (Term 2022-2025)
South Carolina State University
Prabu David (Term 2022-2025)
Michigan State University
AEJMC Resolution Three 2024
October 18, 2024
Proposing the LGBTQ Interest Group Become a Commission
Whereas, since the establishment of the Lesbian, Gay and Family Interest Group in 1993, AEJMC has had units focused on issues of those in sexual marginalized groups; and
Whereas, what is now known as the AEJMC Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Interest Group was first formed in 2003; and
Whereas, for more than twenty years, much of AEJMC’s advocacy for sexual and gender minorities has been led through the work of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Interest Group; and
Whereas, diversity is one of the five core areas of the Professional Freedom & Responsibility (PF&R) mission of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC); and
Whereas, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) has established “Diversity and Inclusiveness” as one of the eight standards by which all 119 accredited units are evaluated, tasking those units with empowering individuals traditionally disenfranchised based on their sexual orientation, gender and/or sex assigned at birth; and
Whereas, other marginalized groups within AEJMC are represented among membership as Commissions, with their heads serving as members of the AEJMC Board of Directors; and
Whereas, moving the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Interest Group will create a more equitable, diverse and inclusive environment for marginalized groups in AEJMC;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that AEJMC members support the establishment of the Commission on the Status of the LGBTQ+ Community; and
Be it further resolved that based on the recommendation of the AEJMC Board of Directors, AEJMC members be urged to participate in the online voting required to amend the AEJMC bylaws to establish a fourth Commission on the Status of the LGBTQ+ Community.
CONTACT:
Samantha Higgins, AEJMC Communications Director, 803-798-0271
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is a nonprofit scholarly organization with more than 2,000 members in about 40 countries who teach and research journalism, public relations, advertising, digital media, film, and media literacy. Founded in 1912, AEJMC is the oldest and largest alliance of communication educators and administrators at the college level. AEJMC’s mission is to promote the highest possible standards for journalism and mass communication education, to encourage the broadest possible range of communication research, to promote the implementation of a multicultural society in the classroom and curriculum, and to defend and maintain freedom of communication in an effort to achieve better professional practice, a better-informed public, and wider human understanding.
AEJMC 2024 Resolutions
AEJMC members approved resolutions during the 2024 year.
October 18, 2024
The AEJMC Standing Committee on Professional Freedom and Responsibility (PF&R) has endorsed the three proposed resolutions which were developed by the PF&R subcommittee on resolutions and members of the AEJMC Council of Divisions (CoD).
AEJMC plays a key role in representing the interests of its more than 2000 members on topics such as freedom of information, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as academic freedom.
In accordance with the recently amended bylaws, three separate online discussion forums were open in the AEJMC Community for members to discuss the three proposed resolutions.
Questions? Contact Amanda Caldwell, AEJMC Executive Director, at .
Resolution One: Supporting Black Women in Higher Education Leadership
Resolution Two: Supporting Indigenous Scholars and Indigenous-Owned Media
Resolution Three: Proposing the LGBTQ Interest Group Become a Commission
AEJMC Resolution Two 2024
October 18, 2024
Supporting Indigenous Scholars and Indigenous-Owned Media
Whereas, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) has diversity and inclusion and ethics as two of its core areas of professional freedom and responsibility; and
Whereas, when it comes to professional freedom and responsibility of Indigenous scholars and scholarship, one must balance the right to engage in research on Indigenous issues with the responsibility to do so in an ethical and respectful way, especially if he or she is not a member of the Indigenous community; and
Whereas, in recent years, there have been instances within AEJMC when researchers have sought to engage with Indigenous topics and issues without necessarily ensuring that Native voices are prominent in such efforts as programming, research, or teaching; and
Whereas, the Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA), formerly the Native American Journalists Association, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary; and
Whereas, in the United States, less than one half of one percent of newsroom employees identify as Indigenous and the majority of journalism and mass communication faculties still have no Indigenous faculty members; and
Whereas, IJA President Christine Trudeau, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, recently called for at the 23rd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to encourage states to legally recognize Indigenous-owned media;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the members of AEJMC go on record supporting a more intentional effort to make AEJMC a better space for Indigenous scholars to feel welcome and know their perspective, time, and expertise will be respected and heard; and
Be it further resolved that AEJMC join the call for legal recognition of Indigenous-owned media and increased recruitment of Indigenous scholars as instructors in journalism and mass communication programs; and
Be it further resolved that in consultation with the Elected Standing Committee on Professional Freedom and Responsibility, that Indigenous scholars be front and center in conceiving, planning, and executing at least one program element on the topic of ethics and responsibility in Indigenous scholarship and the state of Indigenous-owned media in at least the next two AEJMC annual conferences in 2025 and 2026; and
Finally, be it resolved, that all AEJMC divisions, interest groups, and commissions be strongly encouraged to seek out Indigenous scholars to serve as leaders in their units.
CONTACT:
Samantha Higgins, AEJMC Communications Director, 803-798-0271
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is a nonprofit scholarly organization with more than 2,000 members in about 40 countries who teach and research journalism, public relations, advertising, digital media, film, and media literacy. Founded in 1912, AEJMC is the oldest and largest alliance of communication educators and administrators at the college level. AEJMC’s mission is to promote the highest possible standards for journalism and mass communication education, to encourage the broadest possible range of communication research, to promote the implementation of a multicultural society in the classroom and curriculum, and to defend and maintain freedom of communication in an effort to achieve better professional practice, a better-informed public, and wider human understanding.
AEJMC Resolution One 2024
October 18, 2024
Supporting Black Women in Higher Education Leadership
Whereas, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) has diversity and inclusion as a core area of professional freedom and responsibility; and
Whereas, Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey, vice president of Lincoln University of Missouri, which is home to the nation’s first journalism school at a Historically Black College or university, received a termination letter on January 3, 2024, after having accused the school’s president of bullying, harassment, and discrimination; and
Whereas, on January 8, 2024, Dr. Candia-Bailey died by suicide, shining the spotlight on Black women’s struggles in higher education; and
Whereas, the nationwide controversy came less than a year after the mishandling and mistreatment of Dr. Kathleen McElroy, a Black woman, as a candidate for founding director of the journalism program at Texas A&M University; and
Whereas, research published in 2024 in Journalism & Mass Communication Educator shows that since 1983, when the association’s name changed to AEJMC, 15 of 30 AEJMC presidents have been women, including three who identify as African American; and
Whereas, women have had a dominant presence in several other positions within AEJMC, reflecting the organization’s leadership role in creating gender parity in leadership; and
Whereas, since 1999 when two Black women, AEJMC President Marilyn Kern-Foxworth and ASJMC President Shirley Staples Carter, developed what was then known as the Journalism and Mass Communication Leadership Institute for Diversity (JLID), more than 100 women of color have been among those participating in and receiving mentoring and leadership training;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that AEJMC go on record supporting women of color generally, and Black women in particular, as they seek roles of leadership in higher education, including but not limited to department chair, dean, director, president, vice president and provost; and
Be it further resolved that AEJMC through its divisions, interest groups, and commissions sponsor programming that brings a new level of attention to the importance of mental health status of women leaders; and
Finally, be it resolved that AEJMC through its Institute for Diverse Leadership (IDL) in Journalism and Communication include intentional programming related to mental health and self-care as a part of its leadership development program.
CONTACT:
Samantha Higgins, AEJMC Communications Director, 803-798-0271
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is a nonprofit scholarly organization with more than 2,000 members in about 40 countries who teach and research journalism, public relations, advertising, digital media, film, and media literacy. Founded in 1912, AEJMC is the oldest and largest alliance of communication educators and administrators at the college level. AEJMC’s mission is to promote the highest possible standards for journalism and mass communication education, to encourage the broadest possible range of communication research, to promote the implementation of a multicultural society in the classroom and curriculum, and to defend and maintain freedom of communication in an effort to achieve better professional practice, a better-informed public, and wider human understanding.
AEJMC/Gene Burd Award Committee
Serving the AEJMC/Gene Burd Award Committee
for the 2024 – 2025 term
Dani Brown (Term: 2024-2027)
Michigan State University
Susan Keith (Term: 2023-2026)
Rutgers University
Rauf Arif (Term: 2022-2025)
Towson University
AEJMC Finance Committee Members
Serving the AEJMC Finance Committee
for the 2024 – 2025 term
Bey-Ling Sha (Chair) (Term: 2023-2027)
California State University, Fullerton
Mia Moody-Ramirez (Term: 2024 – 2028)
Baylor University
Samuel Tham (Term: 2024 – 2027)
Colorado State
Carl Ciccarelli (Term: 2023 – 2026)
University of South Carolina Aiken
Teresa Mastin (Term: 2022 – 2026)
Michigan State University
Linda Aldoory (Term: 2021 – 2025)
University of Maryland
Maria Marron (Term: 2022 – 2025)
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Amanda Caldwell (Ex Officio Member)
AEJMC Executive Director
Felicia Brown (Ex Officio Member)
AEJMC Assistant Director
AEJMC Research Committee Members
Serving the AEJMC Standing Committee on Research
for the 2024 – 2025 term
Yong Volz (Chair) (Term: 2022-2025)
University of Missouri
Lucinda Austin (Term: 2024-2027)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Valérie Bélair-Gagnon (Term: 2024-2027)
University of Minnesota
Patrick Ferrucci (Term: 2024-2027)
University of Colorado Boulder
Jessica Willoughby (Term: 2024-2027)
Washington State University
Deborah Chung (Term: 2023-2026)
University of Kentucky
Melita Garza (Term: 2023-2026)
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Amber Roessner (Term: 2023-2026)
University of Tennessee
Denis Wu (Term: 2023-2026)
Boston University
Summer Harlow (Term: 2022-2025)
Texas A&M University/University of Texas at Austin
Jasmine McNealy (Term: 2022-2025)
University of Florida
Radhika Parameswaran (Term: 2022-2025)
Indiana University
AEJMC Publications Committee Members
Serving the AEJMC Publications Committee
for the 2024 – 2025 term
Teri Finneman (Chair) (Term: 2023-2026)
University of Kansas
Stephanie Craft (Term: 2024-2027)
University of Illinois
Keren Henderson (Term: 2024-2027)
Syracuse University
Alyssa Appelman (Term: 2024-2027)
University of Kansas
Uche Onyebadi (Term: 2023-2026)
Texas Christian University
Hyejoon Rim (Term: 2023-2026)
University of Minnesota
Maria DeMoya (Term: 2022-2025)
DePaul University
Chelsea Reynolds (Term: 2022-2025)
Arizona State University
Sun Young Lee (Term: 2022-2025)
University of Maryland