Women's Leadership Project

During the 20th century, hundreds of people have provided leadership to the National Communication Association. Of the 80 members selected to be editors of NCA’s journals, 13 have been women. Of the 78 association presidents, 11 women have held the office, the first of whom was Henrietta Prentiss (left) in 1932 and the second was Maud May Babcock (right) in 1936.

In the late 1990s, we became painfully aware that little was known about NCA’s early women leaders. Because they are now deceased, memories of their work are fading all too quickly into the many untold stories of our past. What recorded history of the association we do have resembles that of other mainstream institutions in that it primarily consists of the records of the men who founded and led the organization. The then-surviving women who served as presidents decided to change that situation. What follows in this section is part of that effort.

We agreed to begin with essays collecting what we could find about the women no longer alive, to tell our own stories, and to invite similar narratives from women who have been editors or who were nominated to enter the presidential offices, but were not elected. A piece of this work will appear in a printed publication, although much of it will appear here in what we hope will become a living, growing archive. We solicit readers’ feedback on useful additions or modifications. For now, these narratives offer to expand collective memories.

To send ideas or comments, contact the project coordinator, Anita Taylor.

20th-Century Women Presidents* 

Henrietta Prentiss, 1932, Hunter College
Maud May Babcock, 1936, University of Utah
Magdalene Kramer, 1947, Columbia University
Elise Hahn, 1958, University of California Los Angeles
Marie Hochmuth Nichols, 1969, University of Illinois
(Also QJS editor, 1963-1965, 16th editor.) 
Jane Blankenship, 1978, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Anita Taylor, 1981, George Mason University
Beverly W. Long, 1985, University of North Carolina
(Also Text and Performance Quarterly editor, 1980-83, 1st editor.)
Patti Gillespie, 1986, 1987, University of Maryland
Sharon A. Ratliffe, 1995, Golden West College
Judith S. Trent, 1997, University of Cincinnati
Judy Pearson, 2003, North Dakota State University
Isa N. Engleberg, 2004, Prince George's Community College
Martha M. Watson, 2005, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Betsy Wackernagel Bach, 2009, University of Montana, Missoula   

 21st-Century Women Presidents*  
 
    Dawn O. Braithwaite, 2010, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
    Lynn H. Turner, 2011, Marquette University

*University affiliations when president

Candidates for NCA president not elected  

Marcela Oberle, 1973, California State University, Los Angeles
Lucy Keele, 1982, California State University Fullerton
Carolyn Calloway Thomas, 1986, 1996, Indiana University
Judy Pearson, 1989, University of Ohio
(Renominated in 2001 and elected.)
Judith Trent, 1988, University of Cinncinati
(Renominated in 1993 and elected.)
Martha Watson, 1993, University of Maryland
(Also QJS editor, 1990-92, 25th editor.) Renominated in 2001 and elected. 
Linda Lederman, 1997, Rutgers University

NCA Journal Editors 

Gladys Borchers, Speech Teacher/Communication Education, 1961-63), 4th editor
Judee Burgoon, Communication Monographs, 1990-1992, (19th editor) University of Arizona
Ruth Anne Clark, Communication Education, 1997-1999, (16th editor) University of Illinois
Judith Hamera, Text and Performance Quarterly, 1998-2000, (7th editor), California State University Los Angeles 
Mary Frances HopKins, Text and Performance Quarterly, (2nd editor) 1983-1986
Kristin M. Langellier, Text and Performance Quarterly, 1992-1994, (5th editor), Univ. of Maine Orono
Margaret McLaughlin, Communication Monographs, 1987-1989,
(18th editor) University of Southern California (18th editor) 
Marie Hochmuch Nichols, Quarterly Journal of Speech, 1963-65, (16th editor) 
Mary Margaret Roberts, Speech Teacher/Communication Education, 1973-1975 (8th editor), Kansas State College at Pittsburg
Sari Thomas, Critical Studies in Mass Communication, 1990-1992, (3rd editor), Temple University
Barbara Warnick, Quarterly Journal of Speech, 1996-1998, (27th editor), University of Washington
Martha M. Watson, Quarterly Journal of Speech, 1990-1992, University of Maryland
Julia T. Wood, Journal of Applied Communication, 1994-1996, (7th editor), University of North Carolina