Graduate Student Activist Award

 

The Activism and Social Justice Division’s Graduate Student Activist Award is designed to honor a graduate student or group of graduate students in recognition of their engagement with activism and social justice. Examples may include but are not limited to engagement with activism and social justice, based on demonstrated graduate student contributions within a variety of settings (e.g., campus activism, teaching, community partnerships, and/or scholarly work, among other possibilities).

 

Eligibility

To be eligible, the recipient(s) must be graduate student(s) at the time of nomination who are current member(s) of the Activism and Social Justice Division. Both self-nominations and nominations of others are encouraged. ASJ Division officers are not eligible for awards while in service to the Division. Awards recipients are ineligible for re-applying for the same award they have received for a three-year period after receiving the award. The awards committee will assess the nominees’ engagement with activism and social justice, based on their demonstrated contributions within a variety of settings (e.g., campus activism, teaching, community partnerships, and/or scholarly work, among other possibilities).

 

Submission Requirements

• A letter of nomination (self or other), which outlines the nominees’ contributions to the activist movements/activities they engage with, pedagogical efforts aimed at activism and social justice, and/or scholarship focused on activism and social justice;
• the nominees’ current CV;
• and one to two examples of relevant documentation of the nominees’ engagement with activism and social justice (e.g., scholarly paper, report, presentation; memoranda of understanding with community partners; teaching materials that focus on activism and social justice; or other documentation demonstrating activism and social justice work).

 

Recognition

The selected winner of this award will receive an award plaque and will be recognized at the ASJD business meeting during the National Communication Association’s Annual Convention.

 

Questions

For more information, please contact:

 

Dr. Jasmine T Austin
Immediate Past Chair, Activism and Social Justice Division
jtaustin@txstate.edu

---

Activism and Social Justice Pedagogy Award

 

This award honors a significant pedagogical contribution in the realm of activism and social justice by a current member of the ASJ Division. Examples of one’s pedagogical contribution to the discipline and the Division may include but are not limited to innovative assignments, activities, or pedagogical approaches; letters of support from peer teaching evaluators (up to five accepted); scholarship of teaching and learning focused on activism and social justice (within a five-year period of the date of nomination); and/or other documentation that illustrates the impact of the nominees’ pedagogical contribution.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible, the recipient must be a current member of the Activism and Social Justice Division. ASJ Division officers are not eligible for awards while in service to the Division. Awards recipients are ineligible for re-applying for the same award they have received for a three-year period after receiving the award. The awards committee will assess the nominees’ pedagogical contributions to communication, activism, and social justice, based on demonstrated excellence in teaching.

 

Submission Requirements

• A letter of nomination (self or other), which outlines the nominee’s teaching philosophy and pedagogical contributions focused on activism and social justice;
• the nominee's current CV;
• and relevant support materials (e.g., a selection of representative teaching materials; one or two representative publications within a five-year period of the award deadline; or peer reviews of teaching (up to five accepted).

 

Recognition
The selected winner of this award will receive an award plaque and will be recognized at the ASJD business meeting during the National Communication Association’s Annual Convention.

 

Questions
For more information, please contact:

 

Dr. Jasmine T Austin
Immediate Past Chair, Activism and Social Justice Division
jtaustin@txstate.edu

---

Activism and Social Justice Community Engagement Award

 

This award honors a division member who has engaged in collective action aimed at community engagement that furthers the mission of the ASJ Division. The purpose of this award is to recognize activism and social justice work that transcends the academy, going above and beyond research and teaching to impact communities in need. Examples of one’s community engagement work may include but are not limited to partnering with community organizations to create policy changes; organizing collective action events; working with communities, organizations, groups, movements, or individuals in need of further support (e.g., prison education, community organizing, activist workshops, campaign strategizing, movement building, media work, etc.); and/or creating a nonprofit organization that addresses injustices.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible, the recipient must be a current member of the Activism and Social Justice Division. ASJ Division officers are not eligible for awards while in service to the Division. Awards recipients are ineligible for re-applying for the same award they have received for a three-year period after receiving the award. The awards committee will assess the nominee’s activism and social justice work focused on community engagement, based on their overall contribution to communities in need.

 

Submission Requirements

• A letter of nomination (self or other) that outlines the significance of the nominee’s activism and social justice work focused on community engagement;
• the nominee's current CV;
• and any additional information that will help to contextualize the nominee’s engagement (e.g., one representative writing example or additional letters of support from community partners – up to five letters of support accepted).

 

Recognition
The selected winner of this award will receive an award plaque and will be recognized at the ASJD business meeting during the National Communication Association’s Annual Convention.

 

Questions?
For more information, please contact:

 

Dr. Jasmine T Austin
Immediate Past Chair, Activism and Social Justice Division
jtaustin@txstate.edu

The African American Communication and Culture Division (AACCD) and the Black Caucus of NCA seek nominations from division and caucus members for the 2026 annual research awards. Awards will be granted to the author(s) of theory and/or research on specific issues concerning African Americans, Black ethnicity, or people of the African Diaspora representing a variety of communication contexts, processes, practices, theory development, or innovative research approaches.

 

There will be one award for an outstanding refereed article; one for outstanding book chapter; and one award for outstanding dissertation. Please note: The outstanding book award and dissertation award will alternate each year following this year’s convention.

 

This year we are accepting submissions for the outstanding dissertation award from July 1, 2024 to May 15th, 2026. The board will accept dissertation nominations for the 2026 NCA conference. All other award nominations will only be accepted for works that (1) are published between July 1, 2025 and May 15th, 2026 and (2) have at least one author who is a NCA member.

 

Award recipients will be announced during the division business meeting at the NCA convention in New Orleans, Louisiana and award winners should agree to attend the conference to receive their award in person.

 

For details of each award, please read the calls listed below.

---

Outstanding Scholarly Article Award

 

The African American Communication and Culture Division and Black Caucus seek nominations for its 2026 Outstanding Article Award to be given to the author(s) of a peer-reviewed journal article.

 

Eligibility

Articles published between June 1, 2025 and May 15, 2026 are eligible for consideration. Self-nominations for the article award are strongly encouraged.

 

Submission Requirements

All letters of nomination should clearly express how the article makes, or promises to make, a significant contribution to African American communication scholarship. All nominations must be postmarked no later than May 15th, 2026 in order to be considered for the award.

 

Please note that nominations will not be considered without receipt of the accompanying publication.

 

Questions?

Antonio Mercurius
Chair, Awards Committee
antonio.mercurius1@bison.howard.edu

---

Outstanding Book Chapter Award

 

The African American Communication and Culture Division and Black Caucus seek nominations for its 2026 Outstanding Book Chapter Award to be given to the author(s) of a chapter or essay appearing in an edited book.

 

Eligibility

Book chapters published between June 1, 2025 and May 15th, 2026 are eligible for consideration. Self-nominations for the book chapter award are strongly encouraged.

 

Submission Requirements

All letters of nomination should clearly explain how the book chapter makes, or promises to make, a significant contribution to African American communication scholarship. All nominations must be postmarked no later than May 15th, 2026 in order to be considered for the award.

 

Please note that nominations will not be considered without receipt of the accompanying book chapter.

 

Questions

Antonio Mercurius
Chair, Awards Committee
antonio.mercurius1@bison.howard.edu

---

Call for 2025 Outstanding Book Award Nominations

 

The African American Communication and Culture Division and Black Caucus seek nominations for its 2026 Outstanding Dissertation Award. All are welcome to nominate deserving scholarship.

 

Eligibility

Eligible dissertations must have been published between June 1, 2024 and May 15th, 2026.

 

Submission Requirements

The nomination packet must include a cover letter written by the nominating individual along with the following:

 

• a 500-word (maximum) abstract of the dissertation;
• an article-length report of the dissertation (32 double-spaced pages maximum—includes title page, tables, figures, appendices, and references) OR a selection from the dissertation the applicant thinks is most representative of the study (32 double-spaced pages maximum).

 

All nominations must be postmarked no later than May 15th, 2026 in order to be considered for the award.

 

Please note that nominations will not be considered without receipt of the accompanying documents.

 

Questions

Antonio Mercurius
Chair, Awards Committee
Antonio.mercurius1@bison.howard.edu

Max Erdemandi, maxerd31@umd.edu

 

The Applied Communication Division of NCA seeks nominations for its annual research awards.

 

These awards acknowledge significant contributions in applied communication theory, research, and/or practice. Up to four (4) awards will be given.

 

1. The Bill Eadie Distinguished Award for a Scholarly Article is given to the author(s) of an outstanding article published in a communication journal.
2. The Sue DeWine Distinguished Award for a Scholarly Book is given to author(s)/editor(s) of an outstanding scholarly book. Textbooks are not eligible.
3. When warranted, the committee may choose to recognize edited books for a third award.
4. Special journal issues on applied communication may be nominated for a fourth award.

 

Articles, books, and special issues published with a 2025 or 2026 copyright date are eligible.

 

To apply, submit a letter of nomination, including a brief rationale and an explanation of the work’s significance. Please include a PDF of all articles nominated. Any published reviews of scholarly books should also be included.

 

Self-nominations are encouraged.

 

The selected winners of these awards will receive an award certificate and will be recognized at the Applied Communication Division business meeting during the 2026 NCA Convention.

 

Nominations and materials must be RECEIVED by the DEADLINE.

 

Only electronic submissions of nomination letters, articles, and book submissions will be accepted. All submissions must be submitted through the NCA website.

 

Please email Applied Communication Interest Group Vice-Chair Elect, Max Erdemandi at maxerd31@umd.edu, with any questions.

Book of the Year Award

 

This shall be awarded to a published, academic book that substantially advances the discipline’s conceptualization of argumentation and/or forensics in the year prior. Its content must explicitly focus on argumentation and/or forensics studies.

 

Submission Information

Nominations or self-nominations are welcome and must be from a member of the NCA Argumentation and Forensics Division to be eligible for award consideration.

Nomination materials should include:

 

• A letter of nomination that provides a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated book/article/thesis/dissertation /educator to excellence in argumentation research and/or pedagogy.
• A PDF version of the peer-reviewed published article/book. If a dissertation/thesis an electronic copy that indicates completion/acceptance by the school/university.
• Author(s) names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses.

 

---

Article of the Year Award

 

This shall be awarded to the refereed and published research article that most substantially shaped the discipline’s conceptualization of argumentation the year prior. The article may appear in any peer-reviewed, academic journal, but its content must explicitly focus on argumentation and/or forensics studies.

 

Submission Information

Nominations or self-nominations are welcome and must be from a member of the NCA Argumentation and Forensics Division to be eligible for award consideration.
Nomination materials should include:

 

• A letter of nomination that provides a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated book/article/thesis/dissertation /educator to excellence in argumentation research and/or pedagogy.
• A PDF version of the peer-reviewed published article/book. If a dissertation/thesis an electronic copy that indicates completion/acceptance by the school/university.
• Author(s) names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses.

 

---

Top Thesis/Dissertation Award

 

This shall be awarded to the master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation submission that most significantly advances, furthers, and/or challenges the discipline’s understanding of argumentation and/or forensics. The thesis or dissertation must have been completed and accepted in the previous year.

 

Submission Information

Nominations or self-nominations are welcome and must be from a member of the NCA Argumentation and Forensics Division to be eligible for award consideration.

Nomination materials should include:

 

• A letter of nomination that provides a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated book/article/thesis/dissertation /educator to excellence in argumentation research and/or pedagogy.
• A PDF version of the peer-reviewed published article/book. If a dissertation/thesis an electronic copy that indicates completion/acceptance by the school/university.
• Author(s) names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses.

 

---

Educator of the Year Award

 

This shall be awarded to an individual who as exhibited a strong and consistent commitment to excellence in argumentation and/or forensics education through any combination of teaching, coaching, mentoring, supervising, and innovating in and beyond the classroom.

 

Submission Information

Nominations or self-nominations are welcome and must be from a member of the NCA Argumentation and Forensics Division to be eligible for award consideration.

Nomination materials should include:

 

• A letter of nomination that provides a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated book/article/thesis/dissertation /educator to excellence in argumentation research and/or pedagogy.
• A PDF version of the peer-reviewed published article/book. If a dissertation/thesis an electronic copy that indicates completion/acceptance by the school/university.
• Author(s) names, institutional affiliations, and email addresses.

 

Questions

Questions about the awards or submission processes should be directed to:

 

Kevin Minch
Chair
kminch@truman.edu

Outstanding Article Award

 

The Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and the Asian/Pacific American Caucus (APAC/SD) is pleased to announce the Outstanding Article Award for 2026. This award recognizes exceptional scholarly articles that advance the understanding of Asian/Pacific American Communication through theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions.

 

Nominations may include interdisciplinary work published in peer-reviewed journals or edited books. To be eligible for this year’s award, articles should have an official publication date in 2025. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged, but all nominations are welcome. Nominees should also be a member of the division or caucus at the time of the nomination submission.

 

The nomination package should consist of the following materials:

 

1. A one-page letter of nomination outlining the significance of the article for APAC/SD and confirming the nominee’s current division or caucus membership.
2. An electronic copy of the article.

 

All nominations should reflect significant scholarly or pedagogical contributions to the APAC/SD, and/or of Asian and Asian/Pacific communities conceptualized as broadly as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, the Middle East/West Asia, the Pacific Islands, Oceania, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Indigenous communities across these spaces.

 

Selected awardee(s) will receive an award certificate or plaque and will be recognized at the 2026 NCA Convention APAC/SD business meeting.

 

For questions, please contact:

 

Dr. Terrie Wong
Vice Chair Elect, Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division & Caucus
terrie.wong@psu.edu

---

Outstanding Book Award

 

The Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and the Asian/Pacific American Caucus (APAC/SD) is pleased to announce the Outstanding Book Award for 2026. This award recognizes exceptional scholarly books that advance the understanding of Asian/Pacific American Communication through theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions.

 

Nominations may be single-authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited. To be eligible for this year's award, books should have an official publication date of 2024. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged, but all nominations are welcome. Nominees should also be a member of the division or caucus at the time of the nomination submission.

 

The nomination package should consist of the following materials:

 

1. A one-page letter of nomination outlining the significance of the book for APAC/SD and confirming the nominee's current division and/or caucus membership.
2. A table of contents of the book.
3. An electronic copy of the representative chapter(s) of the book. Up to two chapters of the book that best represent the topic, scholarly approach, and the writing style of the book can be submitted.

 

All nominations should reflect significant scholarly or pedagogical contributions to the APAC/SD, and/or of Asian and Asian/Pacific communities conceptualized as broadly as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, the Middle East/West Asia, the Pacific Islands, Oceania, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Indigenous communities across these spaces.

 

Selected awardee(s) will receive an award certificate or plaque and will be recognized at the 2025 NCA Convention APAC/SD business meeting.

 

For questions, please contact:

 

Dr. Terrie Wong
Vice Chair Elect, Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division & Caucus
terrie.wong@psu.edu

---

Outstanding Dissertation Award

 

The Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and the Asian/Pacific American Caucus (APAC/SD) is pleased to announce the Outstanding Dissertation Award for 2025. This award recognizes exceptional dissertations that advance the understanding of Asian/Pacific American Communication through theoretical, methodological, and practical contributions.

 

To be eligible for this year’s award, dissertations should have been completed in 2024. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged, but all nominations are welcome. Nominees should also be a member of the division or caucus at the time of the nomination submission.

 

The nomination package should consist of the following materials:

 

1. A one-page letter of nomination outlining the significance of the dissertation for APAC/SD and confirming the nominee’s current division and/or caucus membership.
2. An electronic copy of the dissertation.

 

All nominations should reflect significant scholarly or pedagogical contributions to the APAC/SD, and/or of Asian and Asian/Pacific communities conceptualized as broadly as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, the Middle East/West Asia, the Pacific Islands, Oceania, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Indigenous communities across these spaces.

 

Selected awardee(s) will receive an award certificate or plaque and will be recognized at the 2025 NCA Convention APAC/SD business meeting.

 

For questions, please contact:

 

Dr. Terrie Wong
Vice Chair Elect, Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division & Caucus
terrie.wong@psu.edu

---

Outstanding Creative Project/Performance Award

 

The Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and the Asian/Pacific American Caucus (APAC/SD) is pleased to announce the Outstanding Creative Project/Performance Award for 2025. This award recognizes exceptional creative works that advance the understanding of Asian/Pacific American Communication through theoretical, methodological, pedagogical, and practical contributions.

 

Nominations may include live, installation-based, or technologically mediated creative and/or performance work. To be eligible for this year’s award, works should have an exhibition date between 2022 and 2024 and should not have received the NCA APAC/SD Outstanding Creative Project/Performance Award in previous years. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged, but all nominations are welcome. Nominees should also be a member of the division or caucus at the time of the nomination submission. The nomination package should consist of the following materials:

 

1. A one-page letter of nomination outlining the significance of the piece for APAC/SD and confirming the nominee’s current division and/or caucus membership.
2. A description of the creative work presented in the documentation (around 500 words).
3. Documentations of the creative project/performance. These can be in the forms of videos* (not exceeding 10 minutes running time), photos (not exceeding 10 photos), and/or a weblink (if applicable).

 

All nominations should reflect significant scholarly or pedagogical contributions to the APAC/SD, and/or of Asian and Asian/Pacific communities conceptualized as broadly as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, the Middle East/West Asia, the Pacific Islands, Oceania, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Indigenous communities across these spaces.

 

Selected awardee(s) will receive an award certificate or plaque and will be recognized at the 2025 NCA Convention APAC/SD business meeting.

 

For questions, please contact:

 

Dr. Terrie Wong
Vice Chair Elect, Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division & Caucus
terrie.wong@psu.edu

---

Early Career Award

The Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division and the Asian/Pacific American Caucus (APAC/SD) is pleased to announce the Early Career Award for 2026. This award recognizes early career scholars whose body of work has significantly contributed to communication scholarship, teaching and/or service in Asian-Pacific American communities and demonstrates promise for continued development. To be eligible for this year’s award, the self-nominee should be no more than eight years past receipt of their doctoral degree and should not have previously received the NCA APAC/SD Early Career Award.

 

The selection committee evaluates the contributions and potential of early career scholar, teacher and community member based on the strength of their work, including (but not limited to):

 

1. Academic foundation and contribution; Promise of existing work serving as a springboard for continuing scholarship
2. Potentiality to become a future academic leader in their field.
3. Other contributions and potentials of the nominee based on the strength of their work (e.g., potentiality to educate next generation as a teacher)

 

The nomination package should include the following materials:

 

1. A one to two-page research statement summarizing the nominee’s self-evaluation for the award and confirming the nominee’s current division and caucus membership.
2. A letter of support addressing the selection committee’s evaluation criteria outlined above.
3. A current CV.

 

Selected awardee(s) will receive an award certificate or plaque and will be recognized at the 2026 NCA Convention APAC/SD business meeting.

 

For questions, please contact:

 

Dr. Terrie Wong
Vice Chair Elect, Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division & Caucus
terrie.wong@psu.edu

Don Yoder Distinguished Faculty Award

 

Description and History

Established in 2013, this prestigious award is bestowed upon a current or former instructor or director of a basic course who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the basic course in any of its myriad formats. It honors those who have made significant contributions to the strengthening of a basic course program through diligent research, innovative training, or rigorous assessment, and showcases evidence of sustained teaching excellence that transcends the national landscape. This recognition is not conferred annually but is awarded as merited by the presence of a worthy nominee.

 

Eligibility Criteria

• The faculty member must possess at least fifteen years of experience engaging with the basic course.
• At least five of those years should involve administering the basic course. In circumstances where a formal Basic Course Director/Coordinator is absent, individuals demonstrating a clear leadership role within their institution's basic course may be considered.
• The requisite 15/5-year experience must exclude any years spent in graduate teaching or research assistantships associated with the basic communication course.

 

Submission Requirements

• Both nominations and self-nominations are encouraged and must originate from members of the BCD.
• All nomination materials, including a letter of nomination (not to exceed two pages), two supporting letters from colleagues, and additional supplemental materials that underscore the nominee's qualifications, must be consolidated into a single PDF file.
• The recipient of this award must be a current or former member of the BCD, active during their career if now retired.

 

Award Details

The award is presented at the NCA convention and includes a plaque. It will be announced during the annual Business Meeting for the Basic Course Division.

 

Review Committee

The award review committee will consist of the officers of the Division and will be chaired by the Immediate Past Chair.

 

Contact Information

Kara Burnett, Immediate Past Chair, Awards Committee Chair, NCA Basic Course Division, kara.burnett@sinclair.edu

---

Program of Excellence Award

 

Description and History

Inaugurated in 2007, the Program of Excellence Award seeks to acknowledge the unparalleled excellence of basic communication course programs that serve as paragons for others across the United States. This distinction is not necessarily awarded annually but is reserved for those instances where a program distinctly stands out.

 

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible programs may focus on any introductory communication course format, such as public speaking, hybrid, or interpersonal courses, including others that approach the basic course uniquely.

 

Submission Requirements

• Nomination packets must adhere to specific formatting guidelines: one-inch margins, 12-point type, single-spaced, and left-justified text. Should exceptions to these guidelines be necessary, authorization must be sought from the chair of the review committee.
• Application Guidelines:
  • Description of the Nominated Program of Excellence (2-page maximum): Provide an overall description of your program and indicate if it is predominately GTA supported or not.
  • Rationale (3-page maximum): Detail why your program is distinctive, why it should be recognized as a Program of Excellence, and how it supports the NCA’s mission.
  • Departments, Programs, and Personnel (2-page maximum): Describe the personnel, campus areas of collaboration, and the roles they play. List all personnel involved.
  • Goals of the Nominated Program (4-page maximum): Describe the mission of the program and how it meets specific goals and objectives for your academic unit and university.
  • Outcomes of the Nominated Program (6-page maximum): Explain how your course or program is assessed annually and provide specific examples of programmatic development based on assessment results.
  • Endorsements (10-page maximum): The department chair and, if desired, other academic officers for participating programs must indicate their support of the proposed program. These can be in the form of letters, not exceeding 2 pages per letter.
• All nomination materials should be compiled into a singular PDF document.

 

Award Details

Annually awarded to one exceptional program in each category at the NCA convention; includes a plaque. The award will be announced during the annual Business Meeting for the Basic Course Division.

 

Review Committee

The award review committee will consist of the officers of the Division and will be chaired by the Immediate Past Chair.

 

Contact Information

Kara Burnett, Immediate Past Chair, Awards Committee Chair, NCA Basic Course Division, kara.burnett@sinclair.edu

---

Bill Seiler Distinguished Textbook Award

 

Description and History

Initially established as the Textbook of Distinction Award in 2013 and subsequently renamed in 2024 to honor Bill Seiler's significant contributions to the field of basic course instruction, this award recognizes distinguished textbooks used in basic course instruction, including public speaking, interpersonal, hybrid, or custom content areas. This tribute celebrates Seiler's long-standing impact on the curriculum and pedagogy of the basic course.

 

Eligibility Criteria

Textbooks eligible for this award must have been actively used in teaching for at least two academic years and, if not custom, must be utilized by at least three different institutions.

 

Submission Requirements:

• Members of the BCD are invited to nominate or self-nominate.
• Nomination packets should contain a letter of nomination, detailed evidence of the textbook’s unique approach and impact, and a copy of the textbook. All documents must be consolidated into a single PDF file.

 

Award Details

The award, including a plaque, is presented at the NCA convention and will be announced during the annual Business Meeting for the Basic Course Division.

 

Review Committee

The award review committee will consist of the officers of the Division and will be chaired by the Immediate Past Chair.

 

Contact Information

Kara Burnett, Immediate Past Chair, Awards Committee Chair, NCA Basic Course Division, kara.burnett@sinclair.edu

---

Distinguished Article Award

 

Description and History

Established in 2013, this award recognizes an outstanding scholarly article that has made a significant contribution to the administrative, delivery, or curricular aspects of the basic course. This award highlights scholarly work that enhances the theoretical, practical, or research foundations of the basic course.

 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, the article must have been published in a peer-reviewed scholarly outlet at least three years prior to consideration and should primarily focus on the basic communication course.

 

Submission Requirements

• Nominations or self-nominations must come from BCD members.
• Nomination packets, including a letter of nomination (not to exceed two pages), a PDF of the peer-reviewed article, and details of the author(s)' institutional affiliations, should be compiled into a single PDF file.

 

Award Details

The award is presented at the NCA convention and includes a plaque. It will be announced during the annual Business Meeting for the Basic Course Division.

 

Review Committee

The award review committee will consist of the officers of the Division and will be chaired by the Immediate Past Chair.

 

Contact Information

Kara Burnett, Immediate Past Chair, Awards Committee Chair, NCA Basic Course Division, kara.burnett@sinclair.edu

Distinguished Publication Award

 

Dear Communication and Law members,

 

The Communication and Law Division of the National Communication Association is now accepting nominations for the Distinguished Publication Award for this year’s national convention. We are looking for publications that advance research in communication and law and adhere to the theme for this year’s national convention: Communicate to Elevate.

 

The Criteria for Award Selection are:

 

1. Original research contribution to the field of Communication and Law.
2. Sophisticated analyses of a legal issue or idea relevant to Communication.
3. Valuable contribution to the broader discipline of Communication.
4. Clarity and conciseness of writing with appropriate source citation.
5. Clear and logical organization with rigorous analysis and synthesis, problematic and thematic.

 

Eligibility

 

1. Published as a peer-reviewed journal article, scholarly book, or scholarly book chapter from January 1, 2025 – Present.
2. At least one author must be a member of the Communication and Law division.

 

Submission Requirements:

 

1. Submit PDF of the manuscript to the NCA submission portal by the deadline. You may nominate someone, though self-nominations are welcome as well.
2. We welcome all subject areas that fall under communication and law, all methodologies, and all theoretical grounding.
3. Letter of nomination (max 500) describing the significance of the manuscript.

 

Recognition:
The award winner(s) will receive a plaque, and a cash prize. Our division will present the award at the Communication and Law Division’s Business Meeting at the 2026 National Communication Association Conference.

 

Questions:
Please contact Yong Tang at y-tang@wiu.edu for more information.

Outstanding Article or Chapter Award

 

The Outstanding Article or Chapter Award for the Communication and Military Division (CMD) recognizes scholarship that has significantly advanced communication perspectives on or about the military. To be eligible for the award, the nominated work must focus on communication and military/veteran-related issues and have been published in a peer-review journal or as part of a collection of scholarly essays no more than five years prior to the date of the award. The selection committee will evaluate nominations for the award based on overall quality using criteria such as theoretical contribution, methodological rigor, and contribution to practice/engagement/social justice.

 

Top Paper Awards for CMD will be provided to the top 3 competitive papers submitted to the Division at the annual NCA convention. One paper will be designated as the top paper for the Division. A top student paper award will also be presented to the student(s) with the highest-ranking paper authored solely by a student(s) submitted to the Division. The top student paper also may be programmed on the top paper panel.

 

Criteria / Submissions will be evaluated on:

• Originality: The degree to which the article presents novel ideas or innovative approaches.
• Theoretical Contribution: The extent to which the article contributes to the development of theories
  in global communication and media studies.
• Methodological Rigor: The quality and appropriateness of the research design and methods.
• Practical Implications: The relevance and applicability of the research findings to real-world communication and media practices.
• Clarity and Quality of Writing: The overall readability, clarity, and presentation of the article.

 

Eligibility:

• See above for eligibility specific to each award.
• At least one author must be a member of the Communication and Military Division.

 

Submission Requirements

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

1. A PDF of the article.
2. A brief statement (max 500 words) detailing how the submission meets the criteria
3. A nomination letter explaining the significance of the nominated article

 

Submission Questions:

1. Does your submission contain a PDF of the article/chapter, a brief statement (max 500 words) detailing how the submission meets the criteria, and a nomination letter explaining the significance of the nominated article?
2. If an article or chapter, does the nominated work focus on communication and military/veteran-related issues and have been published in a peer-review journal or as part of a collection of scholarly essays no more than five years prior to the date of the award?
3. Is your submission in a single PDF file?
4. Are you or at least one of the authors a member of CMD?

 

Recognition:
The selected winner(s) of the above awards will receive an award certificate or plaque and will be recognized at the CMD business meeting during the National Communication Association’s Annual Convention.

 

For more information, please contact:

Dr. John M. Hinck
Immediate Past Chair, CMD and Chair, Award Committee
johnmhinck@gmail.com

 

---

 

Top Paper Award & Top Student Paper Award (Convention Central)

 

Top paper awards for CMD will be provided to the top 3 competitive papers submitted to the Division at the annual NCA convention. One paper will be designated as the top paper for the Division. A top student paper award will also be presented to the student(s) with the highest-ranking paper authored solely by a student(s) submitted to the Division. The top student paper also may be programmed on the top paper panel.

 

Distinguished Article Award

 

The Distinguished Article Award recognizes an outstanding journal article published within the last five years that advances the study of social cognition and communication through exceptional theoretical innovation, methodological rigor, or both. By honoring work with significant scholarly impact, the award underscores the CSC Division’s commitment to advancing both the conceptual and empirical foundations of communication research.

 

Nominations can have any research objective (e.g., empirical reports, methodological advancements, meta-analyses, theoretical syntheses) but must elucidate social cognitive processes in a communicative modality (face-to-face, mediated, etc.) or context (interpersonal, intergroup, health, etc.). Potential topics include but are not limited to message production and processing, decision making, risk perception and communication, affective processes, attitude formation and change, listening, impression formation and person perception, activation and effects of knowledge structures, individual differences, and persuasion and social influence.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible, the recipient must be a current member of the NCA Communication and Social Cognition Division. Current Division Executive Committee and IDEA Committee members are not eligible for this award while in service to the Division. Nominations should feature an article published within the last five years, with the stipulation that articles must be in an actual issue of a journal (i.e., not “in press” or in early online publication). If the article is published in an online-only journal, this stipulation would not apply.

 

Materials required for nomination include:

 

• A nomination letter
• A copy of the article in PDF format

 

Questions

 

Hillary Shulman, Chair
shulman.36@osu.edu

---

Distinguished Book Award

Awarded Every Other Year Starting 2026

 

The Distinguished Book Award recognizes an outstanding book published within the last five years that advances the study of social cognition and communication through exceptional theoretical innovation, methodological rigor, or both. By honoring work with significant scholarly impact, the award underscores the CSC Division’s commitment to advancing both the conceptual and empirical foundations of communication research.

 

Nominations can have any research objective (e.g., empirical reports, methodological advancements, meta-analyses, theoretical syntheses) but must elucidate social cognitive processes in a communicative modality (face-to-face, mediated, etc.) or context (interpersonal, intergroup, health, etc.). Potential topics include but are not limited to message production and processing, decision making, risk perception and communication, affective processes, attitude formation and change, listening, impression formation and person perception, activation and effects of knowledge structures, individual differences, and persuasion and social influence.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible, the recipient must be a current member of the NCA Communication and Social Cognition Division. Current Division Executive Committee and IDEA Committee members are not eligible for this award while in service to the Division. Nominations should feature a book published within the last five years.

 

Materials required for nomination include:

 

• A nomination letter
• A copy of the book in PDF format

 

Questions

 

Hillary Shulman, Chair
shulman.36@osu.edu

---

Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Equity and Inclusion Award

 

The Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Equity and Inclusion Award recognizes a division member who has clearly demonstrated excellence in promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA), in the area of communication and social cognition through their research, teaching, and service. These contributions should focus on activism and social justice work at any level and may include (but are not limited to) the following:

 

• Research (e.g., publications, conference papers).
• Teaching and mentorship (e.g., teaching IDEA related courses, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students with diverse background)
• Service (e.g., promoting equity and inclusion within the Communication and Social Cognition Division; IDEA related service in the department, university, and/or the communication discipline).
• Outreach and community service (e.g., schools, colleges, health clinics, hospitals, nonprofits, community groups, communities, health practices, and/or public policies).

 

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible, the recipient must be a current member of the NCA Communication and Social Cognition Division. Current Division Executive Committee and IDEA Committee members are not eligible for this award while in service to the Division.

 

Nomination Criteria:

The IDEA Committee will assess the nominees' contributions in promoting equity and inclusion in terms of their ability to demonstrate:

 

• The promotion of diversity and equitable inclusion in communication and social cognition (whether that be teaching, research, service, or outreach).
• Practices addressing marginalization by giving attention to inequities in power and participation based on one or more points of human difference.
• Impact may include, for example:
  • Service to the discipline may include mentorship and leadership activities that enhance inclusivity and reduce barriers to equitable participation.
  • Research contributions may/should build understanding of previously underrepresented groups, revise existing theories and practices based on diverse voices, develop theories and practices that promote equity in communication and social cognition.
  • Teaching contributions should/may develop new or innovative methods for teaching issues of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, in communication and social cognition, demonstrate excellence in addressing marginalization in health communication courses; this may include pedagogical publications that share such insights.
  • Outreach contributions should/may promote equitable practices of communication and social cognition, whether that be related to schools, community groups, communities, significant health practices, and/or public policies.

 

Nomination Procedures:

Nomination packets should include:

 

1. A nomination letter (2 pages max) written by the nominee or a nominator that explains the significance of the nominee’s contributions to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access
2. The nominee's current CV
3. You may include additional supporting documents or letters of support (from any source) that illustrate the significance of the nominee’s contributions.

 

Note that self-nominations are encouraged.

 

Questions

 

Hillary Shulman, Chair
shulman.36@osu.edu

---

Rising Star Award

 

Purpose:

This award recognizes an early-career scholar (PhD earned within the last 7 years) whose research in communication and social cognition demonstrates exceptional promise and impact on the field. The recipient’s work should reflect theoretical rigor, methodological creativity, and/or scholarly leadership that advances understanding of social cognitive processes in communicative contexts.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

 

• PhD awarded no more than 7 years prior to the date of the conference.
• Current member of the NCA Communication and Social Cognition Division.
  • Note that current Executive Committee members of the division are ineligible.

 

Nomination Criteria:

The selection committee will prioritize nominees who:

 

• Demonstrate originality in addressing questions related to message production, processing, or social cognitive mechanisms (e.g., attitude formation, persuasion, decision-making).
• Showcase scholarly influence through publications, conference presentations, or interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Exhibit potential for sustained contributions to the field (e.g., emerging leadership roles, grant funding, public engagement).

 

Nomination Procedures:

Nomination packets must include:

 

1. A nomination letter (2 pages max) highlighting the nominee’s impact, innovation, and trajectory.
2. The nominee’s current CV.
3. Optional: Up to 2 supporting letters or evidence of impact (e.g., citation metrics, media coverage, mentee testimonials).

 

Note that self-nominations are encouraged.

 

Questions

 

Hillary Shulman, Chair
shulman.36@osu.edu

---

Excellence in Mentorship and Advising Award

 

Purpose:
This award honors a scholar who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to mentoring graduate students and early-career researchers in communication and social cognition. The recipient will have fostered inclusive, equitable, and transformative mentorship practices that empower mentees’ scholarly, professional, and personal growth.

 

Eligibility Requirements:

 

• Current member of the NCA Communication and Social Cognition Division.
  • Current Executive Committee members of the division are ineligible.

 

Nomination Criteria:
The selection committee will prioritize nominees who:

 

• Provide sustained, impactful mentorship (e.g., guiding research projects, career development, or navigating systemic barriers).
• Demonstrate measurable outcomes of mentorship (e.g., mentee publications, awards, job placements, or leadership roles).

 

Nomination Procedures:
Nomination packets must include:

 

1. A nomination letter (2 pages max) detailing the nominee’s mentorship philosophy, practices, and impact.
2. The nominee’s current CV.
3. At least 2 letters of support from mentees or colleagues (additional letters optional).
4. Optional: Supporting materials (e.g., syllabi with mentorship components, program evaluations, mentee success stories).

 

Note that self-nominations are encouraged.

 

Questions

 

Hillary Shulman, Chair
shulman.36@osu.edu

Champion Award

 

The Award. The award is meant to honor individuals/organizations/groups/institutions that have advocated and championed the mission of the division, “to promote and further awareness, teaching, research, and scholarship of Communication Anxiety and Apprehension throughout the human experience across communication situations to promote understanding, empowerment, and advocacy.”

 

This can include but is not limited to, original research, both individual and collaborative, publication of original research, publication of books, chapters, essays, forum pieces, panel presentations, GIFTS and other innovative teaching ideas and practices, service that supports Communication Anxiety and Apprehension initiatives and programs, advocacy, and a commitment to teaching, research, scholarship and/or advocacy of Communication Anxiety and Apprehension experiences with respect and care.

 

Criteria. The committee shall be chaired by the immediate Past Chair or Chair of the Division. The Committee Chairperson shall be responsible for accepting nominations and coordinating the evaluation of portfolio materials for the Champion Awards, Criteria for the award include consistent work related to communication anxiety and apprehension teaching, research, scholarship, and/or advocacy.

 

Submission Requirements. Nominations packets must include: 1) a nomination letter that provides support for the work of the nominee as a Champion for Communication Anxiety and Apprehension, 2) a list of their related achievements and accomplishments, and 3) a statement by the nominee regarding their commitment to this work and why they consider themselves a Champion for Communication Anxiety and Apprehension.  Additional letters of support are optional. This must be uploaded as one file, in PDF format.

 

Recognition. The winner will be honored with a plaque at the business meeting during the National Communication Association’s annual meeting.

 

Questions

 

Dr. Miranda Rouse
Chair, Communication Anxiety and Apprehension Division
MRouse@hsc.edu

The Communication Ethics Division invites nominations for awards to be presented at the 2026 Division Business Meeting at the 112th annual convention of NCA in New Orleans. We will recognize excellence in communication ethics scholarship both in publication and in teaching.

 

Nominations for publications with a strong communication ethics focus, published between August 2025 and May 2026, will be reviewed for one of three recognized categories:

 

• Authored Book of the Year
• Edited Book of the Year
• Journal Article of the Year

 

 

Nominations for achievement in pedagogy specifically related to teaching communication ethics will be reviewed for the:

 

• Outstanding Teaching in Communication Ethics Award

 

To submit a nomination for any of the above awards, including self-nominations, please submit a cover letter outlining the merits and impact of the nominated work or teacher by May 15, 2025 through the NCA Submission Portal.

 

Please note that per NCA requirements, nominees must be active NCA members to be considered. Award recipients will be notified in August by the National Office and announced publicly in September. Plaques will be issued at the convention in November.

 

Please review the additional category-specific information for award consideration:

 

Publications

 

If the submission (book or journal) is available digitally, then it can be submitted as a PDF, along with the other nomination materials, through the NCA submission portal. Nominees should ensure that copies are accessible without a paywall.

 

If the materials are only available in hard copy, then please email Miles Coleman (colemanm@rowan.edu) to obtain mailing info in order to send three copies by May 15, 2026.

 

Teaching

 

Please include evidence of teaching effectiveness based on student evaluation scores and comments, as well as peer review(s), and a candidate statement of teaching philosophy.

 

Nomination materials will be accepted until May 15, 2026. For more information, contact the immediate past chair of the Communication Ethics Division, Miles Coleman, at colemanm@rowan.edu.

 

Miles Coleman
Rowan University

To be nominated or self-nominated for awards, you must be an active member (in good standing) of the Death and Dying Division through the National Communication Association’s membership portal. For questions about eligibility for NCA-specific awards, please contact the National Office directly: nomination@natcom.org. For all NCA Death and Dying Division-specific questions, please use our leadership email at eoldeathscholars@gmail.com 

Our division award offerings for 2026 are:

 

1. Distinguished Scholar Award
2. Outstanding Article Award
3. Teaching Award
4. Outstanding Creative Project Award
5. Book of the Year Award
6. Early Career Award
7. Outstanding Dissertation Award

 

Nominations open in February and close in May through NCA’s website. Please check their listed dates and deadlines through NCA’s online portal.

 

Award descriptions, criteria, eligibility, and submission requirements are listed below.

 

Each award will be distributed at the Death and Dying Division’s in-person business meeting, which will be at the 2026 National Communication Association’s Annual Convention (this year, held in New Orleans, LA).

---

 

Distinguished Scholar Award

 

This award honors outstanding scholars who have made significant contributions and advancements to end-of-life, death, and/or bereavement literature. Recipients are distinguished by their sustained record of scholarly excellence, innovation, and impact. The Distinguished Scholar Award celebrates the remarkable achievements of scholars whose work has left a lasting mark on their discipline and beyond.

 

Criteria

 

Submissions will be evaluated on:

 

1. Scholarly Publication Record

 

This criterion evaluates the nominee's body of published work in the field of death and dying communication. It considers:

 

• Quantity: A consistent record of publishing peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, or books about death and dying communication authored by the nominee.
• Quality: The rigor, originality, and impact of the publications on advancing theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of death and dying communication.
• Relevance: The alignment of the publications with key topics in death, dying, bereavement, and end-of-life communication.
• Recognition: Evidence of citations, awards, or acknowledgment by peers for significant contributions through scholarship in death and dying communication.

 

2. Service Contribution to Death and Dying Communication

 

This criterion assesses the nominee's service activities that promote and support the field of death and dying communication. It includes:

 

• Professional Service: Roles such as leadership in academic associations, conference organization, journal editorial boards, or grant reviews specific to the field of death and dying communication.
• Advocacy and Support: Efforts to advance the field, including fostering collaboration among scholars, supporting underrepresented voices, or advocating for the importance of death and dying communication research.
• Community Engagement: Active involvement in extending the reach of academic work related to death and dying communication into broader community contexts, such as through workshops, public events, or policy advising.

 

3. Mentorship Contribution to Death and Dying Communication

 

This criterion evaluates the nominee's role as a mentor in cultivating the next generation of scholars and practitioners in the field. It considers:

 

• Direct Mentorship: Serving as a mentor for students, early-career researchers, or practitioners by providing guidance on research, professional development, and career growth.
• Impact: The influence of the nominee’s mentorship, as reflected in mentee achievements, feedback, or testimonials.
• Inclusive Support: Efforts to mentor individuals from diverse backgrounds and promote equity within the field.

 

4. Public Contribution to Death and Dying Communication

 

This criterion assesses the nominee's efforts to engage with and impact broader publics beyond academia in the area of death and dying communication. It includes:

 

• Public Education: Activities such as writing for general audiences, creating multimedia resources, or giving public talks to inform and educate about death, dying, and bereavement communication.
• Community Impact: Direct contributions to community organizations, healthcare settings, or advocacy groups that address issues related to death and dying.
• Policy Influence: Contributions to public policy or practice guidelines, such as advising governments, organizations, or public health entities on communication strategies related to death and dying.
• Media Engagement: Efforts to raise awareness and foster public dialogue through appearances or contributions to media, including interviews, op-eds, podcasts, or social media initiatives.

 

Eligibility

 

• Currently or formerly held an academic appointment.
• At least one author must have NCA membership.
• At least one author must have NCA Death and Dying Division membership.
• Self-nominations and third-party nominations are both permitted.

 

Submission Requirements

 

Please compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

1. A single, detailed letter of nomination addressing the four criteria,
2. The scholar’s vita; and
3. A list of the applicant’s representative work in death and dying communication.

---

Outstanding Article Award

 

This award recognizes an outstanding peer-reviewed scholarly article that has significantly impacted the field of death and dying communication. This award celebrates innovative research that demonstrates theoretical and methodological rigor and clarity of findings. The winning article is selected for its originality, relevance, and potential to inspire future scholarship, highlighting the importance of high-quality research in advancing knowledge.

 

Criteria

 

Submissions will be evaluated on:

 

• Originality: The degree to which the article introduces novel ideas or innovative approaches.
• Theoretical Contribution: The extent to which the article advances existing theories or develops new theories related to end-of-life, death, grief, or bereavement communication.
• Methodological Rigor: The quality, robustness, and appropriateness of the research design and methods.
• Clarity and Quality of Writing: The overall readability, clarity, and presentation of the article.

 

Eligibility

 

• The article must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal within the last three calendar years (2023, 2024, and 2025 are eligible).
• The article’s primary focus must be on topics related to end-of-life, death, grief, or bereavement communication.
• Only one first-author submission per award cycle.
• At least one author must be a member of the NCA Death and Dying Division.

 

Submission Requirements

 

Please compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

1. A copy of the article (PDF format).
2. A statement of nomination (maximum 1000 words) detailing how the submission meets the award criteria and the significance of the nominated article. Self-nominations are permitted.

---

Teaching Award

 

This award recognizes excellence in teaching in the field of end-of-life, death, and bereavement studies. This award celebrates educators who demonstrate exceptional commitment to enhancing student learning and engagement in this critical area. The recipient of this award demonstrates innovative teaching methods, a deep understanding of the subject matter, and a commitment to student success. This award honors educators who inspire, challenge, and support students, preparing them to address the complex issues surrounding end-of-life care, death, and bereavement.

 

Evaluation Criteria

 

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

 

• Pedagogical Originality. The extent to which the educator employs creative, innovative, or nontraditional teaching approaches to engage students in end-of-life, death, and bereavement topics.
• Theoretical and Disciplinary Contribution. The degree to which the educator integrates and advances theoretical, ethical, cultural, or interdisciplinary perspectives related to death, dying, and bereavement studies.
• Instructional Rigor. The quality, structure, and intentionality of course design, learning objectives, assessments, and teaching methods.
• Practical and Professional Impact. The relevance of the educator’s teaching for preparing students to engage in real-world contexts such as healthcare, social services, counseling, policy, community work, education, or advocacy related to end-of-life issues.
• Clarity, Care, and Quality of Instruction
  The educator’s ability to communicate complex and sensitive material clearly, respectfully, and inclusively while fostering a supportive learning environment.

 

Eligibility

• Must have taught a course, program, or curriculum focused on end-of-life, death, or bereavement studies within the last three to five years.
• Teaching may occur in higher education, professional training, community education, or clinical/health-related contexts.
• The nominee must be an educator whose work centers death, dying, or bereavement education.
• Nominees may be self-nominated or nominated by colleagues, students, or administrators.

 

Submission Requirements

 

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

1. Teaching Materials
   (e.g., syllabus, sample lesson plans, assignments, learning activities, or curriculum overview)
2. Reflective Statement (Max 500 words)
   A brief statement describing how the nominee’s teaching meets the award criteria, including:
   • Teaching philosophy
   • Innovative practices
   • Student engagement strategies
   • Impact on student learning
3. Nomination Letter
   A letter explaining the significance of the educator’s teaching contributions to end-of-life, death, and bereavement studies.

---

 

Outstanding Creative Project

 

This award is given for performance and creative projects that extend the Communication Studies discipline and offer new ways to interact through end-of-life, death, and bereavement experiences.

 

Outstanding Creative Project Evaluation Criteria

 

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

 

• Creative Originality. The degree to which the project presents innovative, imaginative, or nontraditional approaches to communicating about death, dying, and bereavement.
• Theoretical and Disciplinary Contribution. The extent to which the project advances Communication Studies through performance, narrative, visual, or mediated forms, engaging relevant theories of communication, identity, culture, grief, embodiment, or meaning-making.
• Artistic and Performative Rigor. The quality of the project’s design, execution, and coherence, including attention to structure, craft, and communicative effectiveness.
• Experiential and Social Impact. The project’s ability to foster reflection, dialogue, emotional engagement, or community connection around end-of-life and bereavement experiences.
• Clarity, Accessibility, and Ethical Care. The effectiveness with which the project communicates its message in a clear, respectful, inclusive, and ethically sensitive manner.

 

Outstanding Creative Project Eligibility

 

• Must be a performance, creative, or practice-based communication project completed within the last three years (2023, 2024, and 2025 are eligible).
• The project must focus on end-of-life, death, or bereavement experiences.
• Projects may include (but are not limited to): performances, films, digital media, storytelling, installations, exhibitions, podcasts, theatrical works, or community-based communication projects.
• At least one creator must be affiliated with the Communication Studies discipline (faculty, student, practitioner, or researcher).
• At least one creator must be a member of the NCA Death and Dying Division
• Individual or collaborative projects are eligible.

 

Outstanding Creative Project Submission Requirements

 

Compile the following into a single PDF file (with links to media as needed):

 

1. Project Overview
   A brief description of the project, including its purpose, format, audience, and context.
2. Creative Statement (Max 500 words)
   A reflective statement explaining:
   • The project’s goals and inspirations
   • Its connection to Communication Studies
   • How it engages end-of-life, death, or bereavement themes
   • The creative and ethical choices made
3. Documentation of the Work
   This may include:
   • Photographs
   • Scripts
   • Storyboards
   • QR codes or links to videos/audio
   • Program notes or audience materials
4. Nomination Letter
   A letter explaining the significance, originality, and communicative impact of the project.

 

---

 

Book of the Year Award

 

This prestigious award recognizes an exceptional book that has made a significant contribution to the field of end-of-life, death, and bereavement literature. The winning book demonstrates profound insights, innovative approaches, and rigorous scholarship. The Book of the Year award honors authors whose work has enriched the field with its relevance, impact, and potential to advance understanding and practice in end-of-life, death, and/or bereavement literature.

 

Book of the Year Award Evaluation Criteria

 

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

 

• Scholarly Originality. The degree to which the book presents novel arguments, frameworks, or perspectives on end-of-life, death, and bereavement.
• Theoretical and Disciplinary Contribution. The extent to which the book advances theory, interdisciplinary dialogue, or conceptual understanding within death and bereavement studies.
• Research and Scholarly Rigor. The quality, depth, and credibility of the book’s research, including methodological soundness, use of evidence, and engagement with existing literature.
• Practical and Professional Relevance. The applicability of the book’s insights to real-world contexts such as healthcare, education, counseling, policy, social services, or community practice.
• Clarity, Quality, and Accessibility of Writing. The effectiveness with which the book communicates complex ideas in a clear, engaging, and accessible manner for scholarly and professional audiences.

 

Book of the Year Award Eligibility

 

• Must be a book published by an academic or reputable press within the last three years (books published in 2023, 2024, and 2025 are eligible).
•  The primary focus must be on end-of-life, death, or bereavement.
• The book may be theoretical, empirical, interdisciplinary, or practice-oriented.
• At least one author must be affiliated with the field of Communication Studies, Death Studies, or a closely related discipline.
• At least one author must be a member of the NCA Death and Dying Division.
• Edited volumes and single-authored monographs are both eligible.

 

Book of the Year Award Submission Requirements

 

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

1. Book Information
   Include the title, author(s), publisher, publication date, and ISBN.
2. Nomination Letter
   A letter describing how the book meets the award criteria, including:
   • Its scholarly contributions
   • Original insights
   • Relevance to the field
   • Theoretical and practical impact
3. Table of Contents
4. Sample Chapters (Optional)
   Up to 50 pages (maximum) of the book may be included to assist reviewers in evaluating the scope and quality of the work.

---

Early Career Award

 

This award recognizes exceptional post-doctoral scholars, within 7 years of graduation, who have demonstrated outstanding research achievements, scholarly contributions, and potential for future academic leadership. Recipients of this award exemplify the highest standards of scholarly rigor and have the potential to become future leaders in academia.

 

Early Career Award Evaluation Criteria

 

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

 

• Scholarly Excellence and Originality. The degree to which the nominee’s research demonstrates innovation, originality, and meaningful contributions to end-of-life, death, and bereavement scholarship.
• Theoretical and Disciplinary Contribution. The extent to which the nominee’s work advances theoretical, conceptual, or interdisciplinary understanding within death studies and related fields.
• Research Rigor and Productivity. The quality, consistency, and impact of the nominee’s scholarly output, including peer-reviewed publications, grants, presentations, and other research achievements.
• Professional and Practical Impact. The relevance of the nominee’s work for real-world applications such as healthcare, education, counseling, policy, community engagement, or advocacy.
• Leadership Potential and Service. Evidence of the nominee’s emerging leadership through mentoring, collaboration, professional service, community engagement, or contributions to the field.

 

Early Career Award Eligibility

 

• Must be within seven years of completing a terminal degree (PhD, EdD, or equivalent).
• The nominee’s primary research focus must involve end-of-life, death, or bereavement.
• Nominees may be postdoctoral scholars, assistant professors, or early-career researchers in related fields.
• Self-nominations and third-party nominations are both permitted.
• Nominees must demonstrate active engagement in scholarship related to death and bereavement studies.

 

Early Career Award Submission Requirements

 

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
   Highlighting publications, grants, presentations, teaching, and service.
2. Nomination Letter
   A statement describing how the nominee meets the award criteria, including:
   • Research contributions
   • Theoretical impact
   • Professional relevance
   • Leadership potential
3. Optional Supporting Materials
   Examples may include (but are not limited to) selected publications, grant abstracts, teaching statements, and additional supporting letters.

---

 

Outstanding Dissertation Award

 

This award honors an exceptional doctoral dissertation in end-of-life, death, and bereavement. This award celebrates research that demonstrates rigorous methodology, theoretical depth, and significant contributions to the field. The winning dissertation is recognized for its originality, scholarly excellence, and potential to advance understanding and practice in end-of-life care and bereavement support.

 

Outstanding Dissertation Award Evaluation Criteria

 

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

 

• Research Originality. The extent to which the dissertation presents novel questions, perspectives, or findings related to end-of-life, death, and bereavement.
• Theoretical Depth and Contribution. The degree to which the dissertation advances theoretical, conceptual, or interdisciplinary understanding within death studies and related fields.
• Methodological Rigor. The quality, appropriateness, and transparency of the research design, data collection, and analysis.
• Scholarly and Practical Impact. The relevance of the dissertation’s findings for advancing academic scholarship, professional practice, policy, education, or care related to end-of-life and bereavement.
• Clarity, Organization, and Quality of Writing. The effectiveness with which the dissertation communicates complex ideas in a clear, coherent, and scholarly manner.

 

Outstanding Dissertation Award Eligibility

 

• Must be a doctoral dissertation successfully defended within the last two years.
• The dissertation’s primary focus must be on end-of-life, death, or bereavement.
• The degree must have been awarded by an accredited institution.
• The nominee may be self-nominated or nominated by an advisor, committee member, or colleague.

 

Outstanding Dissertation Award Submission Requirements

 

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

• Dissertation Manuscript or Extended Abstract
  Submissions should include:
  • Extended Abstract (max 500 words)
  • Table of Contents
  • Representative chapter (30-50 double-spaced pages) OR completed manuscript

 

• Nomination Letter
  A letter describing how the dissertation meets the award criteria, including:
  • Research contributions
  • Theoretical significance
  • Methodological rigor
  • Practical implications
    

 

• Proof of Defense (Optional)
  A confirmation of successful defense or degree completion, if required.

 

---

 

Please direct all questions to our Death and Dying Division all leadership email*: eoldeathscholars@gmail.com
*Allow 72 hours for a response from either the 2026 Chair, Vice Chair, or the Awards Committee Lead.

We cannot accept late nomination submissions or last-minute (day-of or day before) inquiries. Please adhere to NCA's submission schedule, listed on the NCA website, and plan ahead accordingly. Find out more about our division here: https://www.deathscholars.org/nca-death-and-dying-division

The Ethnography Division of the National Communication Association (NCA) invites nominations for the 2026 Ethnography Division Awards. All nominees must be members of the Ethnography Division both at the time of nomination and when receiving the award. In line with division bylaws and in conjunction with the approval by the membership of career-oriented awards, nominations will be accepted for the following categories:

 

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

• Best Book (copyright dates between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2025)
• Best Journal Article (journal volumes published between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2025)
• Best Book Chapter (copyright dates between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2025)
• Best Special Journal Issue (journal volumes published between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2025)
• Dissertation Award for Excellence in Ethnographic Research (dissertation completed between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2025)

 

*Nominations must include a copy of the nominated work (PDF version of chapters or articles and five copies of a nominated book; nominations for the Best Special Journal Issue should include a table of contents as well).

 

---

 

CAREER AWARDS

 

Winners for these awards are selected primarily based on outstanding contributions to ethnographic scholarship and artistry, although teaching and mentoring as well as service related to ethnography are also to be considered.

 

• Early Career (most recent degree awarded within 10 years of July 1, 2026)
• Mid-Career (most recent degree awarded within 20 years of July 1, 2026)

 

*Nominees for career awards will submit one letter of nomination (self-nominations are allowed), a current curriculum vita, and up to 3 pieces of scholarship or artistry that represent the candidate’s full body of work.

 

All nominations and supporting materials must be received by May 2026.

The Experiential Learning in Communication Division of NCA welcomes your submissions for our 2026 sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana. Experiential learning involves creating and facilitating direct, practical learning experiences for students and asking them to reflect on the learning process. This division focuses on the practice of experiential learning with the goal of understanding the process and impacts of the communication process in our world. Forms of experiential learning include:

 

• Community-Based Learning
• Internships and Practicum
• Study Abroad
• Service-Learning
• Simulations (Immersive Technology, Narrative Experiences, etc.)

 

The division would like to especially encourage 1) research and essays related to the role, value, opportunities, challenges, and assessed outcomes of experiential learning, 2) research and essays that highlight the contribution of experiential learning to communication theory and practice, 3) SPARK interactive session contributions (a hallmark of the Experiential Learning Division) designed to share teaching and project ideas related to service-learning and other types of experiential pedagogy, 4) Play! Interactive session contributions designed to inspire learning through participating in games and engaged learning activities, and 5) submissions from those in divisions across the association that feature experiential learning as a core pedagogy.

 

Reviewers will look for submissions that show evidence of:

• Theoretical and/or practical contribution to experiential learning
• New directions in experiential learning practice
• Connections to experiential learning across other areas of the discipline
• Connections to this year’s conference theme of Move/Ments in Communication

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All submissions must be made via NCA Convention Central and must not include identifying information. Instructions on how to prepare an unidentifiable copy are provided in the Convention Library. Submitters should NOT upload a separate cover page or any file with identifying information in the document text or properties. AV requests must be made at the time of the submission. All submitters are encouraged to also review the Professional Standards for Convention Participants prior to submission. Helpful resources, including live and recorded step-by-step instructions on how to submit, are available in the Convention Library.

 

The Experiential Learning in Communication Division welcomes the following types of submissions:

 

1. Individual Papers
2. Individual SPARK: Innovations in Practice submissions
3. Individual Play!: Innovations in Practice submissions
4. Paper Sessions

INDIVIDUAL PAPERS

Individual Paper submissions will withhold identifying information and submitters should:

• Complete the required electronic submission fields including title, description (75-100 words), author(s), and keywords. Please indicate at the top of the manuscript if your submission is a student paper.
• Upload a completed copy of your (30-page maximum) manuscript, double-spaced, 12-point font. The title page and file name should not include identifying information about the author(s). Indicate on the first page or with a header if you are a student. Student-authored papers should select the student-authored status on the electronic submission form.
• Papers that include data from participants should include reflection on the demographic diversity of the sample (or lack thereof) and should consider how sample demographics influence the conclusions being reached, as per criterion of sample representativeness.
• Students whose submission is based on a larger work (e.g., thesis or dissertation) should adhere to generally accepted standards for convention papers/research articles regarding length, organization, and style.
• Please indicate if you are willing to present the paper in a Scholar to Scholar interactive format (poster session) by checking the appropriate agreement box. These highly interactive sessions encourage dialogue and discussion about your research results and teaching ideas. Presenters from across the Association are clustered together and share their ideas one-on-one with session attendees. Wandering Scholars will engage presenters and provide feedback on the projects.

 

Our division offers a Top Paper Award. We also offer a Top Student Paper Award: The Dr. Rozell Duncan Award for Excellence in Research, which honors the memory and substantial contributions of Dr. Duncan to the Experiential Learning Division and to her students.

---

SPARK: INNOVATION IN PRACTICE SUBMISSION

 

SPARK submissions will withhold submitter names.

 

Submitters should select “Individual Paper” as the submission type when making a SPARK Submission. In order to ensure that your Submission is correctly reviewed, the first word of the Submission Title MUST be “SPARK.”

 

This session, similar to GIFTS Discussion Circles, has been highly successful as it invites participants to share exemplary experiential learning practice innovations in a group setting where attendees can interact with the presenters. The concept is to “SPARK” new ideas for shaping experiential learning that might include specific projects, the development of a course with experiential learning at its core, innovations in Study Abroad experiences, techniques for reflection, suggestions for evaluating experiential projects, or tools and resources developed to support experiential learning (i.e, guides to working with community partners).

 

If accepted for inclusion in the SPARK Innovation in Practice Session, each presenter will give a 3-minute quick summation of their project/course. After the brief presentations, the audience will then visit presenters based on their interests/needs to learn more about specific projects.

 

Upload a completed copy of your (10-page maximum) SPARK submission, double-spaced, 12-point font. While you do not need to remove any identifying information about your university or program, submitters should not include their name in the supporting file document.

 

Your SPARK submission (10 pages maximum) must include the following in the uploaded supporting file document:

A two-to-three-page narrative that identifies the elements below that are relevant:

• The form of experiential learning being employed
• The goals of using experiential learning in this context
• How this represents an innovation in practice (i.e. how the submission highlights an innovative project, pedagogical approach, partnership, related assignments, reflection practices, learning outcomes, assessment, etc.)
• The participants –class, level of students, number of students
• Any audience or community partners (if applicable)
• The ways that reflection is used to connect service and learning or to advance the experiential learning cycle
Up to seven (7) pages of related material that help describe and highlight the project and helps reviewers assess the quality and scope of the project
• Submitters will best determine what to include but you might consider such things as the course description, explanation of major assignments, reflection questions/prompts, examples of final projects, assessment data, reflections from students and/or community partners

 

Incomplete submissions will not be considered for the convention.

 

If accepted to the program, presenters agree to provide either electronic files or hard copies of a one-page handout to participants at the Spark session.

The Division offers a Top SPARK Award.

 

PLAY! SUBMISSION

Play! submissions will withhold submitter names.

 

Submitters should select “Individual Paper” as the submission type when making a Play! Submission. In order to ensure that your Submission is correctly reviewed, the first word of the Submission Title MUST be “Play!”

 

This session, similar to GIFTS Discussion Circles, invites participants to share exemplary experiential learning practice innovations in a group setting where attendees participate in games and activities that inspire learning through movement and engagement.

 

Play! Sessions give everyone the opportunity to Play! John Dewey said, “Give the students something to do, not something to learn, and the doing is such of a nature as to demand thinking, learning naturally results.” In today’s world, the time to play and enjoy ourselves is necessary and sometimes elusive. This is also true in our classrooms. As educators, we forget that we can teach, learn and enjoy.

 

Presenters will provide an activity or series of activities that participants can engage in. Stations will be set up around the room so that all participants can play and learn. A focus on having fun while learning is critical to the format of the submission. The format of Play! is intentionally designed to get participants engaged and moving while learning about how to use experiential activities in the classroom. As participants arrive, they will work through the stations, getting to “Play!” and learn about how they might use these activities in their own classrooms.

 

If accepted for inclusion in the Play! session, each presenter will give a 3-5 minute quick summation and interaction with the attendees. Time will be called and participants will then visit another presenter based on their interests/needs to play again. Presenters are responsible for bringing whatever props or handouts they need to explain and demonstrate their activity.

 

Upload a completed copy of your (3 page maximum) Play! submission, double-spaced, 12-point font. While you do not need to remove any identifying information about your university or program, submitters should not include their name in the supporting file document.

 

Your Play! submission must include the following in the uploaded supporting file document:

A one- to two-page narrative that identifies the elements below that are relevant:

• The name of the activity or game;
• Goals of using experiential learning in this context;
• How to utilize the game or activity in a course. Provide details that give the reader a good sense of what the game or activity is, how it is used and other ways it could be used as applicable;
• The participants –class, level of students, number of students; and
• The ways that reflection is used to connect the activity to the course concepts to advance the experiential learning cycle.

 

You can provide up to three (3) pages of related material that help describe and highlight the activity and how it might be used in other communication courses.

 

Incomplete submissions will not be considered for the convention.

 

If accepted to the program, presenters agree to provide either electronic files or hard copies of a one-page handout to participants at the Play! session.

 

PAPER SESSIONS

Paper sessions, which feature three to five presenters and a chair, are reviewed with identifying information included and should provide the following information in an uploaded document:

• The title of the session
• A 50–75 word description
• If applicable, a suggestion of another NCA division that may be interested in co-sponsoring this session
• A chair who will moderate the session
• The title, brief abstract (50 words) and author(s) information for each paper presentation
• A rationale of the session’s importance, purpose, and theme

 

* Please note that Paper Sessions should include a diversity of scholars and all session members should NOT be from the same college or university. Further, no participant in a session will have multiple roles (such as chair and presenter). If you fail to adhere to this, the panel will not be accepted.

 

Like individual paper submissions, if your paper in a paper session includes data from participants, authors should include reflection on the demographic diversity of the sample (or lack thereof) and should consider how sample demographics influence the conclusions being reached, as per criterion of sample representativeness.

Whether advancing your own scholarship, looking for connections between your interests and those of other scholars, seeking new ideas for your own research and teaching, or reconnecting with old friends and colleagues, we look forward to your participation!

 

Submission deadline is March 25, 2026

 

REVIEWING
We invite volunteers to review submissions. Please sign up on the NCA Reviewer Sign-up Portal by Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 11:59 pm.

Dr. Heather J. Hether
Experiential Learning in Communication Division Planner
hjhether@ucdavis.edu

 

Galvin Teaching & Mentoring Award

 

The Family Communication Division of NCA is seeking nominations for the 2026 Kathleen M. Galvin Distinguished Teaching and Mentoring Award in Family Communication!

 

This award is named for Kathleen M. Galvin (1943-2021) who was a founding member and leader of the field of family communication and the FCD Division at NCA. She was a ground-breaking, innovative, and caring teacher and scholar, was a mentor dedicated to undergraduate and graduate students at Northwestern University. Dr. Galvin served as a valued informal mentor to many students and young scholars across the field of family communication. Dr. Galvin developed and taught some of the earliest family communication courses and in 1982 co-authored the inaugural family communication textbook. In addition, Dr. Galvin was a disciplinary leader in instructional communication, serving on important early teaching task forces, as Director of NCA's Educational Policies Board, and on the NCA Executive Committee.

 

Application Process and Materials

 

Award applicants will be (a) a member of the NCA Family Communication Division at the time of nomination, (b) 20 years past earning the terminal degree, and (c) teaching family communication at any college or university level institution.

 

Submission Materials

 

• A letter of nomination (self-nominations are welcomed) that outlines the nominee's career-length contributions to both family communication teaching and mentoring
• One or two letters of support from people familiar with the nominee's family communication teaching and mentoring contributions (two pages maximum each)
• The nominee's curriculum vitae (CV)
• A teaching self-reflection document authored by the award candidate that supplements the CV. This document will highlight the candidate's teaching philosophy and a summary of teaching and mentoring contributions. The document will include a description of how the candidate has worked to increase students' understanding of the role of communication in creating, enacting, and changing families and the diversity of family experiences. (5 pages double-spaced maximum)

 

Selection Criteria

 

The selection committee will judge a candidate's nomination packet based on the alignment of the candidate's teaching philosophy and sustained instructional practices that advance the goals of the award. The committee will consider evidence of an accomplished family communication teacher and mentor whose work (a) provides breadth and depth of instructional contributions to the family communication field; (b) represents significant breadth and depth of teaching and mentoring contributions to students that maximizes the central role of communication in family development, enactment, and change; and (b) develops groundbreaking, innovative teaching practices that promote student understanding of the diversity of family experience and challenges.

 

Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

Kathleen M. Galvin was an early and central voice in stressing the diversity of family experiences and the central role of communication in navigating differences. Since the early days of her groundbreaking co-authored Family Communication: Cohesion and Change volume (1982), Galvin and colleagues defined families as occurring within and beyond biological and legal connections. Dr. Galvin pioneered work on what she labeled "discourse dependent families," representing families formed outside of cultural majority norms with a greater reliance on interaction to legitimize their family form internally and externally and develop their own functional roles and expectations.

 

A teaching and mentoring award named after Kathleen Galvin signals the value the FCD places on diverse concepts and theories, underrepresented populations, and the resistance of ideologies that impede equity and inclusion, centering these ideals on what makes a family and the central role of communication in establishing and maintaining the breadth of family identities, expectations, and roles. With these commitments in mind, the award committee will consider the extent to which the scholar's work addresses issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 

The nominee must be a member of the Family Communication Division of NCA at the time of the nomination.

 

Please direct any questions to committee chair: Amanda Holman Creighton University amandaholman@creighton.edu

---

Petronio Dissertation Award

 

The Family Communication Division of NCA is seeking nominations for the 2026 Sandra Petronio Family Communication Dissertation Excellence Award!

 

The Sandra Petronio Family Communication Dissertation Excellence Award is granted to a scholar who successfully defended a dissertation and/or graduated within the previous academic year (from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025).

 

The selection committee will evaluate nominations based on overall quality, paying particular attention to (a) the creativity or originality of the work, (b) the extent that the dissertation advances knowledge of family communication, and (c) the level of methodological and theoretical rigor.

 

To be eligible, a dissertation must be nominated by a faculty member of the department in which the dissertation was completed. The nomination package must include:

 

• A cover letter written by the dissertation advisor
• Contact information for the nominee
• A dissertation summary (five pages maximum, not including references, tables, etc.)
• The complete dissertation

 

The nominee must be a member of the Family Communication Division of NCA at the time of the nomination.

 

Please direct any questions to committee chair: Cassidy Taladay-Carter Boise State University cassidytaladayca@boisestate.edu

---

Braithwaite Book Award

 

The Family Communication Division of NCA is seeking nominations for the 2026 Dawn O. Braithwaite Distinguished Book Award!

 

The Dawn O. Braithwaite Distinguished Book Award seeks to recognize outstanding scholarly texts that contribute significantly to the field of family communication. To be eligible for the award, a book must be either an authored or edited scholarly volume focusing on family communication whose publication date is at least five years prior to the date of the award (thus, books whose publication date is 2021 or earlier are eligible to compete for the 2026 award). The principal focus of the text must be on theory and/or research related to communication within families, communication about families, or communication between families and other entities. Undergraduate textbooks are not eligible to compete for the award.

 

Nominations: Nominations by members of FCD (including self-nominations) are welcome. The authors or editors of nominated books and articles are not required to be members of FCD. The FCD encourages nominations of books and articles written by scholars representing people of color or other marginalized groups whose work might have been overlooked or underappreciated in the past.

 

Nomination packets should include:

 

• A nomination letter of no more than two typed pages providing a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated piece to the advancement of family communication theory and/or research
• Copies of the nominated work (electronic preferred but hard copies accepted)
• Any published reviews of the work

 

Please direct all questions to committee chair: Lindsey Thomas Illinois State University ljthom3@ilstu.edu

---

Distinguished Article Award

 

The Family Communication Division of NCA is seeking nominations for the 2026 Distinguished Article Award!

 

The Distinguished Journal Article Award seeks to recognize outstanding scholarly journal articles that contribute significantly to the field of family communication. To be eligible for the award, an article must have been published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal at least five years prior to the date of the award (thus, articles whose publication date is 2021 or earlier are eligible to compete for the 2026 award). The principal focus of the article must be on theory and/or research related to communication within families, communication about families, or communication between families and other entities. Book chapters, book reviews, non-peer reviewed scholarly articles, and articles published in non-academic outlets are not eligible to compete for the award.

 

Nominations: Nominations by members of FCD (including self-nominations) are welcome. The authors or editors of nominated books and articles are not required to be members of FCD. The FCD encourages nominations of books and articles written by scholars representing people of color or other marginalized groups whose work might have been overlooked or underappreciated in the past.

 

Nomination packets should include:

 

• A nomination letter of no more than two typed pages providing a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated piece to the advancement of family communication theory and/or research
• Copies of the nominated work (electronic preferred but hard copies accepted)
• Any published reviews of the work

 

Please direct all questions to committee chair: Lindsey Thomas Illinois State University ljthom3@ilstu.edu

---

Baxter Early Career Award

 

The Family Communication Division of NCA is seeking nominations for the 2026 Leslie A. Baxter Early Career Award in Family Communication!

 

The Leslie A. Baxter Early Career Award recognizes scholars who have established an important role in shaping family communication research within eight years of having earned a Ph.D. degree. The scholar's body of work must show promise that it will contribute significantly to the knowledge of family communication. The selection committee will judge a scholar's contribution and promise based on productivity and the strength of the published work, including its theoretical or conceptual foundation, originality, methodological rigor, and impact. They will also consider the extent to which the scholar addresses issues of diversity, equity, and/or inclusion in their scholarship. The award winner will be honored at the FCD business meeting at the NCA convention.

 

The following materials are required for the nomination:

 

• A letter of nomination (self-nominations are welcomed), no longer than two pages in length, that outlines the nominee's scholarly contributions to family communication
• No more than three but no less than one letter of support from people familiar with the nominee's contributions
• The nominee's curriculum vitae
• Links to three representative examples from the nominee's body of work

 

The nominee must be a member of the Family Communication Division of NCA at the time of the nomination.

 

Please direct all questions to committee chair: Lindsey Thomas Illinois State University ljthom3@ilstu.edu

Outstanding Article Award

 

The Feminist and Gender Studies Division invites nominations for its Outstanding Article Award. This annual award honors an author or authors of an outstanding scholarly article published in the field of Communication that interrogates questions related to feminism, gender, sexuality, and/or women studies, with a commitment to intersectional analysis.

 

Eligibility

 

To be eligible for this year’s award, the article must have an official publication date between January 2023 and May 2025. Articles published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals or edited volumes will be considered.

 

Nomination Packet Must Include

 

• A copy of the article
• A 1-2 page letter of nomination outlining the significance of the article for the study of feminism, gender, and/or sexuality in communication

 

Self-nominations are strongly preferred. Awardees will be recognized with a plaque at the NCA FGSD Business Meeting.

 

Awardees will be recognized with a plaque at the NCA FGSD Business Meeting.

---

Bonnie Ritter Book Award

 

The Bonnie Ritter Book Award in Feminist/Women’s Studies in Communication is an annual award honoring a recently published scholarly book in the field of Communication that interrogates questions related to feminism, women’s studies, and gender.

 

Bonnie Ritter was the primary organizer of the group of women scholars who formed the National Communication Association Women’s Caucus in 1971. The caucus’s success later contributed to the establishment of NCA’s Feminist and Women’s Studies Division, which is now the Feminist and Gender Studies Division (FGSD).

 

Authors using any methodological approach are encouraged to apply. Both monographs and edited collections are eligible.

 

Eligibility

 

Any scholarly book published between January 2024 and May 2026 is eligible.

 

Self-nominations are strongly preferred.

 

Nomination Packet Must Include

 

• A 1-2 letter of nomination outlining the significance of the book for the study of feminism, gender, and/or sexuality in communication
• A digital copy of the book

 

Awardees will be recognized with a plaque at the NCA FGSD Business Meeting.

 

---

Scholar-Activist Award

 

The Feminist and Gender Studies Division (FGSD) of NCA invites nominations for its Scholar-Activist Award. This award honors a division member who has acted in their communities or on their campus to challenge, resist, or advance efforts to address social injustices that concern scholars of feminism, gender, sexuality and/or women’s studies.

 

FGSD is especially interested in nominees whose work reflects intersectional scholar-activism, including activism, teaching, and scholarship that addresses how multiple systems of oppression and exploitation interlock.

 

Nomination Packet Must Include

 

• A copy of the nominee’s vita
• A letter nomination narrating the significance of the scholar’s activism and how it may inform their own or other scholars’ work.

 

Self-nominations are strongly preferred.

 

Nominees from previous years who were not selected may resubmit nomination materials for up to three years. Please indicate clearly in the nomination packet if you would like to roll over a previous nomination.

 

Awardees will be recognized with a plaque at the NCA FGSD Business Meeting.

 

**Important Note: All interest group awards will be accepting nominations/self-nominations only through NCA’s online submission portal.

 

Questions

Debipreeta Rahut
Chair
drahut@olemiss.edu

The Top Paper Award is given to the paper that receives the highest rated submission to the Games Studies area. Extended Abstracts are not eligible to win this award.

 

The Top Student Paper Award is given to the student-authored paper that receives the highest rated submission to the Games Studies area. Extended Abstracts are not eligible to win this award.

The NCA Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Communication Studies Division and Caucus on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns are pleased to announce annual awards for scholarship pertaining to the study of GLBTQ communication.

 

Criteria

We are interested in recognizing scholarship that: 1) advances our field’s understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer communication studies; 2) makes a significant contribution to contemporary scholarship on GLBTQ populations and/or identities; and 3) demonstrates intellectual rigor and mastery of the work’s chosen literature field and methodology. Guidelines for nomination and submission for each award are outlined below.

 

---

 

Book of the Year Award

The Book of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding scholarly book advancing GLBTQ communication studies. To qualify for the award, the book must have been published in the last two calendar years (2024-2025). Nominations by NCA members as well as self-nominations will be accepted.

 

Submission Requirements

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

1. A PDF or electronic copy of the book
3. A brief statement (max 500 words) detailing how the submission meets the criteria
4. A nomination letter explaining the significance of the nominated dissertation

 

Monograph of the Year Award

The Monograph of the Year Award recognizes up to three outstanding monographs/scholarly articles advancing GLBTQ communication scholarship. To qualify for the award, the essay must have been published in the last two calendar years (2024-2025). Nominations by NCA members as well as self- nominations will be accepted.

 

Submission Requirements

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

1. A PDF of the article.
2. A brief statement (max 500 words) detailing how the submission meets the criteria
3. A nomination letter explaining the significance of the nominated article

 

Dissertation of the Year Award

The Dissertation of the Year Award recognizes one outstanding dissertation advancing GLBTQ communication scholarship. To qualify for the award, the dissertation must have been approved and filed within the last two calendar years (2024-2025). Only self-nominations will be accepted.

 

Submission Requirements

Compile the following into a single PDF file:

1. A PDF of a representative chapter from the dissertation.
2. A PDF of the entire dissertation.
3. A brief statement (max 500 words) detailing how the submission meets the criteria
4. A nomination letter explaining the significance of the nominated dissertation

 

The deadline for all application materials for all awards is May 22, 2026. Application materials for all awards should be compiled into one PDF and submitted through the NCA online awards wards portal. except for submissions of hard copy books which should be submitted to Ashley Johns (please send email Ashley for an address to send hard copies). Finally, please email Ashley Johns (ajohns@fsu.edu) if you have any questions about the awards.

The Group Communication Division of National Communication Association invites nominations for its annual awards.

 

• Dennis Gouran Research Award
• Ernest Bormann Research Award
• Laura Crowell Thesis/Dissertation Award
• Marshall Scott Poole Career Achievement Award. This award has very specific details, so please make sure to read all criteria carefully.
• Joann Keyton Service Award

 

General Eligibility Criteria: 

 

To be eligible for the first three awards, the article, chapter, or book must have a 2024-2025 copyright date; Those submitting work for award consideration must be members of NCA’s Group Communication Division, or must join the Division prior to receiving an award.

Nominations for the first three awards will be evaluated by the Division’s awards committee with regard to the article, chapter, book, thesis, or dissertation advancing group communication theory, methods, pedagogy, and/or other practice (e.g., facilitation). The criteria for the career achievement award are provided in detail at the end of the document. In any given year, the awards committee shall review nominations for the award, and may forgo recognition based on the merits of the cases or the lack of nominees.

The awards will be presented at the business meeting of the Group Communication Division at the 2026 NCA convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

Award-specific Eligibility Criteria: 

 

Dennis Gouran Research Award: Given to the author(s) of an outstanding article or chapter that focuses explicitly on group communication. The article or chapter can be published in a communication journal or edited book, an interdisciplinary journal or edited book, or a journal or edited book in another discipline. Self-nominations are encouraged.

 

• A brief (150 words or less) summary that provides a rationale and explanation of the significance of the article or chapter to group communication theory, research, pedagogy, and/or other practice; and
• A copy of the nominated article or chapter; and any published reviews of the nominated article or chapter.

 

Ernest Bormann Research Award: Given to the author(s)/editor(s) of an outstanding scholarly book or monograph that focuses explicitly on group communication (textbooks are not eligible for this award). Self-nominations are encouraged.

 

• A brief (150 words or less) summary that provides a rationale and explanation of the significance of the book or monograph to group communication theory, research, and/or practice;
• Three copies of the nominated book or monograph; and
• Any published reviews of the nominated book or monograph.

 

Laura Crowell Thesis/Dissertation Award: Given to the author of an outstanding thesis or dissertation that focuses explicitly on group communication. Nominations for this award should be submitted by a graduate advisor or committee member.

 

• A brief (150 words or less) summary that provides a rationale and explanation of the significance of the thesis/dissertation to group communication theory, research, and/or practice; and
• A 25–35-page abstract of the thesis or dissertation or a 25–35-page representative chapter of that work. Theses or dissertations must have been defended from 2023-2024.

 

Marshall Scott Poole Career Achievement Award: Given to a scholar who has made outstanding, sustained contributions over the course of their career to the study of group communication. Because the award may be presented to individuals who are no longer active scholars (or awarded posthumously) but whose work has made exemplary contributions, the recipient need not be a current member of the Division, but there should be evidence of long-standing involvement with NCA and/or the Division.

 

Nominations for the Marshall Scott Poole Career Achievement Award should include:

 

• At least two letters of nomination from current or past NCA Group Communication Division members that address the judging criteria listed below;
• The nominee’s most recent vitae; and
• Three article-length examples of scholarship that exemplify the quality of the nominee’s work.

 

Nominations for the Career Achievement Award will be judged on the following criteria:

 

• Theoretical/Conceptual, Methodological, and/or Practical Impact: Describe the nominee’s corpus of work, explaining how the work has advanced the study of group communication. This statement must include evidence of the impact of the work on the field.
• Awards & Other Recognition: List awards, grants, and other forms of recognition that the nominee has received for professional accomplishments that are relevant to this award.
• Service: Cite offices, committees, and other examples of the nominee’s service to the Group Communication Division, NCA, and other professional associations; community groups; and organizations. When discussing service outside the Division, explain how the nominee’s involvement has advanced the interests and visibility of group communication scholarship.
• During the year following the presentation of the Career Achievement Award, the Division’s program planner will organize a session at the NCA conference celebrating the work of the recipient. Those nominating the recipient, along with the recipient (when possible), will be asked to deliver presentations describing the recipient’s work.

 

Joann Keyton Service Award: Given to the member of the Group Communication Division that has demonstrated exemplary service to the division, NCA and the discipline. Self-nominations are encouraged.

 

• A brief, 150 words or less, summary that provides a rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominees contribution to the NCA Group Communication Division.
• Abbreviated 5-10 page CV that details teaching, research and service activities in relation to the study of group communication and the GCD of NCA
• At least two letters of nomination from current or past NCA Group Communication Division members that demonstrate service to the division.

 

Submission Information:

If an e-copy of the book or monograph for the Ernest Bormann Research Award is not available, please email Cameron Piercy (cpiercy@ku.edu) to receive mailing addresses.

 Members are invited to submit nominations for the following awards:

 

• Distinguished Article/Chapter Award
• Distinguished Book Award
• Dale E. Brashers Distinguished Mentor Award
• Early Career Scholar Award
• Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Equity and Inclusion Award
• Outstanding Health Communication Scholar Award

 

Full nomination packages, unless specified, must be submitted through the NCA nomination portal.

All awardees will be recognized at the Health Communication Division's business meeting during the 2026 NCA convention.

For questions regarding submissions, please email Immediate Past Chair Dr. Charee Thompson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, at charee@illinois.edu.

 

---

Distinguished Article/Chapter Award

 

The Distinguished Article/Chapter Award recognizes research that has made, or offers the promise of making, a significant contribution to scholarship in health communication theory, research, and/or practice. Articles/chapters become eligible for this award 5 years after the original publication date. Only articles/chapters published on or before 2021 are eligible.

Please submit a single PDF nomination packet that includes:

 

• A single letter by the scholar or nominator including a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated piece for the advancement of health communication theory, research, and/or practice (2 single-spaced pages maximum)
• An electronic copy of the nominated article/chapter
• Published reviews of the nominated work (if available)

 

Self-nominations are welcome.

 

---

Distinguished Book Award

 

The Distinguished Book Award recognizes research that has made, or offers the promise of making, a significant contribution to scholarship in health communication theory, research, and/or practice. Textbooks are not eligible for the book award. Books become eligible for this award 5 years after the original publication date. Only books published on or before 2021 are eligible.

 

Please submit a single PDF nomination packet that includes:

 

• A single letter by the scholar or nominator including a brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the nominated piece for the advancement of health communication theory, research, and/or practice (2 single-spaced pages maximum)
• An electronic copy of the book
• Published reviews of the nominated work (if available)

 

Self-nominations are welcome.

 

---

Dale E. Brashers Distinguished Mentor Award

 

The Dale E. Brashers Distinguished Mentor Award recognizes significant contributions to the field of health communication through mentorship of and advocacy for the discipline and its members. These contributions can take many forms, such as mentorship at the scholarly (e.g., role modeling through exceptional scholarship, division leadership, etc.), institutional (e.g., development of health communication within a college or university), departmental (e.g., development of health communication within an academic department), and/or individual (e.g., teaching and mentorship of scholars who contribute to the broader discipline) levels.

 

Please submit a single PDF nomination packet that includes:

 

• A single letter from the scholar or nominator with the rationale and explanation of the significance of their contributions to the field of health communication, institutions, departments, and/or individuals through the provision of exceptional mentorship (2 single-spaced pages maximum)
• The scholar's vita
• Optional documentation (e.g., letters of support, syllabi, mentee testimonials) to support the nomination (maximum of three optional items)

 

---

 

Teresa A. Thompson Distinguished Service Award

 

The Teresa A. Thompson Distinguished Service Award recognizes significant contributions to the field of Health Communication through service to the discipline and its members. These contributions can take many forms, such as service related to publishing (e.g., editorial and reviewing contributions), conference activity (e.g., serving in leadership roles relevant to the field at NCA, ICA, or other conferences and associations where health-related communication is recognized), and other avenues (e.g., serving on national and international committees, coalitions, organizations, or working groups representing health communication). While scholars at any rank are eligible to receive this award, recipients will more likely be mid-career or senior faculty with a long-established record of service to the field of Health Communication.

 

Please submit a single PDF nomination packet that includes:

 

• A single letter from the scholar or nominator outlining the nominee's key service contributions to Health Communication (2 single-spaced pages maximum)
• The scholar's vita
• A letter of support for the nomination written by someone other than the nominee or nominator (no more than one page)

 

---

Early Career Award

 

The Early Career Award recognizes a scholar who has made substantial positive impact on health communication research, yet who is currently early in their career (i.e., seven years or less since graduation with doctoral degree). Nominees should have a productive record of quality scholarly activity (e.g., academic publications, public scholarship, creative activities, community-based research, etc.) and show evidence of sustaining their upward scholarly trajectory. In addition, nominees' scholarship should show promise to strong effect/impact/influence on the field of health communication, show potential for long-lasting impact, and contribute to the development of health communication across various disciplines, epistemic traditions, and methodological approaches.

 

Eligibility

 

There are three nomination criteria. The nominee must:

 

• Have a doctoral-level degree
• Have received their doctoral-level degree within the last seven years (i.e., to receive the 2026 Early Career Award, the nominee should have earned a PhD between 2019–present)
• Be a member of NCA's Health Communication Division the year that she/he is being nominated

 

Please submit a single PDF nomination packet that includes:

 

• A single, detailed letter (2 single-spaced pages maximum) from the scholar or nominator addressing the criteria
• The scholar's vita
• Up to three representative scholarly or creative works that support the nomination

 

---

Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Equity and Inclusion Award

 

The Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Equity and Inclusion Award recognizes a division member who has clearly demonstrated excellence in promoting equity and inclusion in health communication. These contributions can take many forms, such as:

 

• Service to the discipline (e.g., promoting equity and inclusion within the Health Communication Division)
• Research (e.g., publications, conference papers, grants)
• Teaching and mentorship
• Departmental/institutional service (e.g., promoting equity and inclusion within an academic department, college, or university)
• Outreach and impact such as public scholarship and having an impact on organizations/institutions (e.g., schools, colleges, health clinics, hospitals, non-profits), community groups, communities, health practices, and/or public policies
• Activism and social justice work at any level

 

To be eligible, the recipient must be a current member of the NCA Health Communication Division. Current Health Communication Division Executive Committee and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DE&I) Committee members are not eligible for this award while in service to the Division.

 

The DE&I Committee will assess nominees' contributions in terms of their ability to demonstrate one or more of the following:

 

• The promotion of equitable inclusion in health communication (whether that be teaching, scholarship, practices, and/or the discipline)
• Practices addressing marginalization by giving attention to inequities in power and participation based on one or more points of human difference
• Impact may include:
  • Service to the discipline may include mentorship and leadership activities that enhance inclusivity and reduce barriers to equitable participation
  • Research contributions may/should build understanding of previously underrepresented groups, revise existing theories and practices based on diverse voices, develop theories and practices that promote equity in health communication
  • Teaching contributions should/may develop new or innovative methods for teaching issues of diversity, equity, and inclusivity in health communication; this may include pedagogical publications that share such insights
  • Outreach contributions should/may promote equitable practices of health communication, whether that be related to schools, community groups, communities, significant health practices, and/or public policies

 

Please submit a single PDF nomination packet that includes:

 

• A single nomination letter (2 single-spaced pages maximum) from the scholar or nominator that explains the significance of their contributions to equity and inclusion
• The nominee's current CV
• Up to two supporting documents relevant to the scholar's field
• Up to three additional letters of support (from any source)

 

---

Outstanding Health Communication Scholar Award

 

The Outstanding Health Communication Scholar Award recognizes significant and original contributions that advance health communication theory, research, and/or practice.

 

There are three nomination criteria. The scholar's work must:

 

• Have a strong effect/impact/influence on the field of health communication
• Demonstrate originality/innovation and make a unique contribution to health communication theory, research, and/or practice
• Contribute to the development of health communication across various disciplines, epistemic traditions, and/or methodological approaches

 

Although nominations are open to anyone who has made a significant contribution based on the nomination criteria, preference is given to members of NCA's Health Communication Division.

 

Please submit a single PDF nomination packet that includes:

 

• A single letter from the scholar or nominator addressing the criteria (2 single-spaced pages maximum)
• The scholar's vita
• Up to three representative works from their body of scholarship

Early Career Award

 

The Human Communication & Technology (HCTD) Division of the National Communication Association seeks nominations for the HCTD Early Career Award. The HCTD Early Career Award recognizes an early career scholar that has already begun to play a role in shaping the study of human communication and technology. The committee will evaluate nominees' contributions based on productivity and the strength of the published work, including its theoretical or conceptual foundation, originality, methodological rigor, and impact.

 

To be eligible, the researcher must: (1) have completed their PhD within the last 8 years and (2) be a current HCTD member. Self-nominations are encouraged. The awards committee may select up to two winners, and in the case of more than two exemplary nominees may designate Honorable Mentions.

 

For each nomination, please include:

 

• Nomination letter (no more than two pages, self-nominations welcome). Should include evidence highlighting the significance of the work and may address service to the discipline including HCTD/NCA.
• CV: A copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae
• Writing Samples: PDF copies of no more than three representative publications from the nominee's body of work. If the researcher has written a book, they may submit a representative chapter as one of their writing samples.

 

All submissions should use the NCA award platform. Please contact Natalie Pennington (Natalie.Pennington@colostate.edu) with any questions.

---

Outstanding Thesis Award

 

The Human Communication and Technology Division (HCTD) is now accepting nominations for the division's Outstanding Thesis Award. The purpose of the HCTD Outstanding Thesis Award is to recognize exemplary thesis work in the field of human communication and technology. Individuals who have successfully defended their thesis in the previous academic year are eligible.

 

The selection committee will evaluate nominations based on overall quality, paying particular attention to:

 

• The creativity or originality of the work
• The level of methodological and theoretical rigor
• Contributions that advance understanding of the intersection of communication and technological processes

 

The winner will receive a plaque and a cash prize at the HCTD business meeting at the 2026 NCA Convention in New Orleans.

 

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• An abstract and summary (condensed version) of their thesis, not to exceed 6,000 words (excluding references)
• A cover letter describing the application, the scope of the thesis, and how the thesis is anticipated to advance the field
• A nomination letter from the student's advisor or committee member

 

Questions

 

Contact Lucas Youngvorst at youngvor@uwm.edu.

---

Outstanding Dissertation Award

 

The Human Communication and Technology Division (HCTD) is now accepting nominations for the division's Outstanding Dissertation Award. The purpose of the HCTD Outstanding Dissertation Award is to recognize exemplary dissertation work in the field of human communication and technology. Individuals who have successfully defended their dissertation in the previous academic year are eligible.

 

The selection committee will evaluate nominations based on overall quality, paying particular attention to:

 

• The creativity or originality of the work
• The level of methodological and theoretical rigor
• Contributions that advance understanding of the intersection of communication and technological processes

 

The winner will receive a plaque and a cash prize at the HCTD business meeting at the 2026 NCA Convention in New Orleans.

 

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• An abstract and summary (condensed version) of their dissertation, not to exceed 10,000 words (excluding references)
• A cover letter describing the application, the scope of the dissertation, and how the dissertation is anticipated to advance the field
• A nomination letter from the student's advisor or committee member

 

Questions

 

Contact Lucas Youngvorst at youngvor@uwm.edu.

---

Outstanding Article Award

 

The Human Communication & Technology (HCTD) Division seeks nominations for the HCTD Outstanding Article Award. The HCTD Outstanding Article Award recognizes research that has had a major impact on the study of human communication and technology. Both theoretical and empirical articles can be submitted. The committee will evaluate articles based on compelling nomination as well as coherence of argument, quality of conceptual development, and (potential) influence in the field. This award is only presented in even years.

 

To be eligible: (1) the article must have been published in the last five years and (2) at least one author must be a current HCTD member. Self-nominations are encouraged.

 

For each nomination, please include:

 

• Nomination letter (no more than two pages) highlighting the significance of the article to the advancement of the study of human communication and technology. Citation data or evidence of interdisciplinary impact are encouraged.
• A PDF of the nominated article

 

Questions

 

Contact Jess Dominguez at Jess.Dominguez@uky.edu.

Please consider submitting nominations for the Interpersonal Communication Division awards. Winning scholars and scholarship will be celebrated at our 2026 business meeting in New Orleans. We especially encourage nominations for research that serves marginalized identities and underrepresented populations, is authored by scholars whose work is underrepresented in interpersonal communication studies, makes connections beyond our division, and draws from qualitative and/or artistic methods. The deadline for nominations for all awards is May 22, 2026.

 

You may view the rubrics used by the award committees at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XkSXqvg24ZNr1KA3L5yWFUlQEdRacqJg/view

 

Send questions to Dr. Joshua R. Pederson, Immediate Past Chair, at jrpederson@ua.edu.

---

Outstanding Thesis Award

 

This award honors the most outstanding MA thesis in interpersonal communication completed in the prior two-year period. To be eligible for the award given in 2026, the nominee must have successfully defended and deposited their thesis between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. At the time of the award, the author must be a member of the Interpersonal Communication Division. The award winner will receive a plaque and a cash award.

 

The following materials are required for nomination:

 

• A nomination letter (may come from the advisor, committee member, or professional colleague) with full contact information for the nominator
• Full contact information for the nominee and proof of completion of the thesis along with the defense date
• A one-page abstract of the thesis
• A representative chapter, selected sections, OR a paper distilling it (up to 30 double-spaced pages maximum, excluding references, tables, and figures)

 

Please submit via the NCA awards portal.

---

Outstanding Dissertation Award

 

This award honors the most outstanding doctoral dissertation in interpersonal communication completed in the prior two-year period. To be eligible for the award given in 2026, the nominee must have successfully defended and deposited their dissertation between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. At the time of the award, the author must be a member of the Interpersonal Communication Division. The award winner will receive a plaque and a cash award.

 

The following materials are required for nomination:

 

• A nomination letter (may come from the advisor, committee member, or professional colleague) with full contact information for the nominator
• Full contact information for the nominee and proof of completion of the dissertation along with the defense date
• A one-page abstract of the dissertation
• A representative chapter, selected sections, OR a paper distilling it (up to 30 double-spaced pages maximum, excluding references, tables, and figures)

 

Please submit via the NCA awards portal.

---

Early Career Award

 

This award honors a scholar who is still in the early part of their career yet who has already played an important role in shaping interpersonal communication research. To be eligible, the scholar must be no more than eight years past receipt of the Ph.D. (i.e., to be eligible for the award given in 2026, the scholar must have received the Ph.D. after January 1, 2018). The scholar's body of work must contribute significantly to knowledge of interpersonal communication and show promise for continued contributions. The scholar must be a member of the Interpersonal Communication Division at the time of the award. The award winner will receive a plaque and a cash award.

 

The following materials are required for the nomination:

 

• One nomination letter, no longer than two pages (self-nominations are strongly encouraged), indicating how the scholar has contributed to interpersonal communication
• The nominee's vita
• PDF copies of three representative examples from the nominee's body of work

 

The awards committee may select up to two winners and may designate Honorable Mentions. Please submit all nomination materials via the NCA awards portal.

---

Franklin H. Knower Award

 

This award honors an outstanding article or book chapter, authored or co-authored by a member of the Interpersonal Communication Division, that has made a significant contribution to the field of interpersonal communication. Publications in any peer-reviewed journal (communication, psychology, close relationships, etc.) are eligible and must have been published no earlier than 2021. The award winner will receive a plaque.

 

We accept only self-nominations. Please submit:

• A PDF copy of the article or chapter
• A nomination letter that includes the complete citation information and a rationale for the nomination

 

Please submit all nomination materials via the NCA awards portal.

---

Gerald R. Miller Award

This award honors an outstanding book that has made a significant contribution to the field of interpersonal communication. The work must have been written and/or edited by a member of the Interpersonal Communication Division and published no earlier than 2021. Both authored and edited volumes are eligible, with an award offered for each category. The award winner will receive a plaque.

 

We accept only self-nominations. Please submit:

 

• A letter that includes complete bibliographic citation information, the ISBN number, and a rationale for the nomination
• A PDF copy of the book (if a PDF is not available, please contact the immediate past chair)

 

Please submit all nomination materials via the NCA awards portal.

Córdova-Puchot Scholar of the Year Award

 

The Córdova-Puchot Scholar of the Year award recognizes a scholar who has achieved a high level of excellence across the four areas of teaching, research, service, and advocacy. Nominators should consider how nominees are making a space for critical research and activism that aligns with the mission of the Division and Caucus.

 

Application Requirements:

 

• A nomination letter
• An updated curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation: one letter from a colleague and two letters from current students or students from past classes/institutions

 

The nominee demonstrates:

 

• Scholarly productivity and a reputation as a strong scholar
• Engagement of issues of communication as they pertain to Latina/o communities
• Evidence of effective teaching and mentoring of undergraduate and/or graduate students
• Commitment to formal or informal service to LCSD or LRC and/or to the broader Latina/o scholarly community
• Participation in Latina/o communities outside the university setting
• Advocacy efforts for the support of Latina/o communities, inside and/or outside of academia
• Capacity of a balanced excellence across all four areas: teaching, research, service, and advocacy

---

Book of the Year Award

 

Application Requirements:

 

• A nomination letter
• A digital copy of the publication

 

Award Nomination Criteria. The book must:

 

• Have a publication date within the past three years (May 2023–May 2026)
• Be a single-authored or co-authored monograph or edited volume that significantly advances Latina/o/x Communication Studies research and inquiry
• Break new ground in Latina/o/x Communication Studies theories, methods, and/or praxis
• Substantively engage with matters of Latina/o/x identity and Latinidad
• Offer practical and theoretical insight into the lived experiences of Latina/o/x people and/or communities
• Be written in a clear, accessible, and evocative style in relation to its intended audience

---

Outstanding Journal Article Award

 

Application Requirements:

• A nomination letter
• A digital copy of the publication

 

Award Nomination Criteria. The journal article must:

• Have been published within the past twelve months (May 2025–July 2026)
• Significantly advance Latina/o/x Communication Studies research and inquiry
• Break new ground in Latina/o/x Communication Studies theories, methods, and/or praxis
• Substantively engage with matters of Latina/o/x identity and Latinidad
• Offer practical and theoretical insight into the lived experiences of Latina/o/x people and/or communities
• Be written in a clear, accessible, and evocative style in relation to its intended audience

 

---

Book Chapter Award

 

Application Requirements:

• A nomination letter
• A digital copy of the publication

 

Award Nomination Criteria. The book chapter must:

• Have been published within the past twelve months (May 2025–May 2026)
• Significantly advance Latina/o/x Communication Studies research and inquiry
• Break new ground in Latina/o/x Communication Studies theories, methods, and/or praxis
• Substantively engage with matters of Latina/o/x identity and Latinidad
• Offer practical and theoretical insight into the lived experiences of Latina/o/x people and/or communities
• Be written in a clear, accessible, and evocative style in relation to its intended audience

---

Excellence in Teaching and Mentorship Award

 

Application Requirements:

 

• A nomination letter
• A teaching philosophy statement
• Three letters of recommendation: one letter from a colleague and two letters from current students or students from past classes/institutions

 

The nominee demonstrates:

 

• Mastery of classroom instruction that incorporates new ideas, research, and development, ideally in relation to Latinidad
• Commitment to equity among students so as to promote cultural awareness and encourage social justice sensibilities
• Currency in inclusive pedagogy that employs methods, theories, and/or topics from the Communication discipline and/or from the Latina/o Communication Studies Division and La Raza Caucus
• Evidence of impact upon mentees that develops healthy academic relationships, stimulates intellectual curiosity, and fosters new teachers, scholars, and practitioners

Excellence in Nonverbal Pedagogy Award

 

The Nonverbal Communication Division of NCA is seeking submissions for the Excellence in Nonverbal Pedagogy Award to be awarded at the 2026 NCA Convention. This award is given to any instructor (including all faculty types and graduate student instructors) who submits a college/university-level pedagogical activity or teaching strategy that is selected by the committee as the best submission for that year.

 

Submissions must be one page or less, single-spaced, with no attachments or appendices. The 1-page summary should give an overview of a pedagogical activity or teaching strategy that highlights the instruction of nonverbal communication at the college/university level. The nomination should include:

 

• A very brief rationale and explanation of the significance of the activity or approach
• An explanation of how to implement and debrief the pedagogical experience

 

The winning pedagogical activity will be archived online and made publicly available to division members. Self-nominations are encouraged. Multiple submissions are accepted. The award winner will receive a plaque at the Nonverbal Communication Division business meeting.

---

Emerging Scholar Award

 

The Nonverbal Communication Division of NCA is seeking nominations for the Emerging Scholar Award to be awarded at the 2026 NCA Convention. The Emerging Scholar Award recognizes a new scholar who studies nonverbal communication and whose work shows promise in contributing to our understanding of nonverbal communication. An emerging scholar is defined as either (1) a graduate student currently pursuing a Ph.D. or (2) a scholar who received a Ph.D. no more than 3 years prior to the year in which the award is bestowed.

 

The emerging scholar's work must:

 

• Contribute to the field of Nonverbal Communication
• Show potential to advance our understanding of nonverbal communication in interesting ways
• Reveal a commitment to contributing to the discipline through engagement and professional service

 

Although nominations are open to anyone who shows potential as an emerging scholar in the Nonverbal Communication field, preference is given to members of NCA's Nonverbal Communication Division.

 

Nomination packets include:

 

• A single, detailed letter of nomination by a faculty mentor or faculty colleague addressing the aforementioned criteria
• The scholar's vita
• A statement by the scholar of their research and teaching interests in the area of nonverbal communication

 

Please submit your nomination packets as a single PDF file. The award winner will be notified ahead of the Convention and will receive a plaque at the Nonverbal Communication Division business meeting.

Distinguished Service Award

 

The Performance Studies Division of the National Communication Association invites nominations for the Distinguished Service Award. This award is the most prestigious award given by the Performance Studies Division to one of its members. This award seeks to honor colleagues who have demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to the Performance Studies Division and the broader field of Communication Studies.

 

Selection will be based on the applicant's endeavors in Performance Studies, as demonstrated in a variety of venues, including:

 

• NCA convention participation and membership (division membership must be for at least five years)
• Demonstrations of service in Performance Studies at the national and regional level
• Demonstrations of service at the university level
• Community-based performance work
• Demonstrations of mentorship and discipline-wide support
• Excellence in teaching
• Productions at the university/college level and beyond
• Publications and editorship

 

Applicants must be members of the NCA Performance Studies Division at time of application.

 

Please compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

• A letter of nomination detailing the nominee's qualifications, achievements, and service to the division and the field
• Additional letters of faculty and/or supporting materials (welcome but not required)
• The applicant's curriculum vitae

 

The selected winner will receive an award plaque and will be recognized at the Performance Studies Division business meeting during NCA's annual convention. For more information, contact Chair of the Performance Studies Division, Dr. Travis Brisini (tbrisini@lsu.edu).

---

Marie J. Robinson Scholarship

 

The Performance Studies Division of the National Communication Association is pleased to invite nominations for the Marie J. Robinson Scholarship award. This award seeks to fund the education of a graduate student who has begun to demonstrate—through written/performed scholarship and service—their potential to impact the Performance Studies discipline and NCA.

 

Selection will be based on the applicant's endeavors in Performance Studies, including:

 

• Course work
• NCA and regional convention participation
• University and department performances
• Professional performance production
• Publications
• Disciplinary service
• Community-based performance work

 

Applicants must be enrolled in post-graduate education (M.A., M.S., Ph.D., MFA) at an accredited institution, hold graduate student status at the time of application, and be members of the NCA Performance Studies Division.

 

Please compile the following into a single PDF file:

 

• A brief letter of nomination from a faculty advisor
• Additional letters of faculty and/or supporting materials (welcome but not required)
• A 500-word statement of Performance Accomplishments and Goals, written by the applicant
• The applicant's curriculum vitae

 

The selected winner will receive an award plaque and a cash prize, and will be recognized at the Performance Studies Division business meeting. For more information, contact Dr. Travis Brisini (tbrisini@lsu.edu).

---

Doctoral Dissertation Award

 

The Performance Studies Division of the National Communication Association is pleased to announce the Performance Studies Division Doctoral Dissertation Award. This award is meant to acknowledge and reward an outstanding doctoral dissertation in performance studies and to incentivize performance studies scholarship and encourage early-career scholars. The spirit of this award asks all applicants and reviewers to honor and appreciate the diversity of voices, people, and traditions that co-exist in our division.

 

Eligible dissertations must have been successfully defended in the two years preceding the award (i.e., candidates whose degrees were awarded between summer 2024 and spring 2026 are eligible for the 2026 award). Nominees should be members of the NCA Performance Studies Division at time of application.

 

Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

 

• Significance and Contribution
• Methodological Rigor
• Writing and Argumentation
• Engagement with the Field
• Practice-based Considerations (utilized as needed)

 

The nomination packet should include the following, compiled into a single PDF:

 

• A 500-word (maximum) abstract of the dissertation
• A 35-page (maximum) double-spaced sample of the dissertation most representative of the work (page count includes tables, images, appendices; references excluded)
• A letter from the dissertation chair and/or other committee member affirming the successful defense and offering a rationale for the nomination

 

The selected winner will receive an award plaque and a monetary award, and will be recognized at the Performance Studies Division business meeting during NCA's annual convention. For more information, contact Dr. Travis Brisini (tbrisini@lsu.edu).

Please consider submitting nominations for the following awards given each year by the Philosophy of Communication, Theory, and Critique division. Information on eligibility, documentation, and selection criteria is provided below.

 

Publication award categories are:

 

• Distinguished Book
• Distinguished Edited Book or Guest Edited Journal Special Issue
• Distinguished Book Chapter
• Distinguished Journal Article
• Top Dissertation Award

 

Only one award per category will be made each year; if no nomination is found adequate, no award will be made. One item by an author may be nominated in any award category each year, but the author may receive an award for only one category each year.

 

Nomination Eligibility:

 

• Nominees must be members of the National Communication Association, but need not be members of the Philosophy of Communication Division
• Nomination of publications by committee members is not permitted during their term of service

 

A Nomination Dossier shall consist of:

 

• A letter of nomination (self-nomination is permitted)
• A copy of the publication
• Any review documents available (e.g., published book reviews)

 

The Criteria for Award Selection are:

 

• Original research contribution to the Philosophy of Communication
• Sophisticated analyses of a philosophical concept relevant to Communication
• Valuable contribution to the broader discipline of Communication

The Public Dialogue and Deliberation division (PD3) is a vibrant and growing community of scholars, teachers, and practitioners who research, conceptualize, and facilitate public dialogue and deliberation to support democratic engagement and social justice. We invite your contributions for the 112th NCA convention to be held in New Orleans, November 19–22, 2026.

 

We welcome contributions that engage meaningfully with the 2026 NCA convention theme “MOVE/MENTS in Communication” and that demonstrate the rich potentials for public dialogue and deliberation scholarship, teaching, and practice.

 

Submissions must be made through NCA Convention Central by March 25, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

 

Complete student submissions will be considered for a Top Student Paper award. This honor includes a monetary award of $100 and the designation as a Top Student Paper in the division's 2026 convention program.

---

Individual Papers

 

An individual paper is a full manuscript, submitted directly by an author or authors, which is reviewed individually and, if accepted, grouped into sessions by the program planner.

 

Paper submissions should typically be no longer than 30 pages (including tables, images, and figures, but excluding title page, abstract, and references). All papers must be double-spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font, and 1-inch margins. Files must not include any identifying information.

 

Criteria by which competitive individual papers will be evaluated include:

 

• Theoretical and/or practical contribution
• Importance (e.g., significance, timeliness, novelty) of the topic or issue
• Appeal to division members
• Writing quality and coherence

 

Student authors: Please indicate on the title page and in the relevant check box on NCA Convention Central if the paper is student authored. Student submissions are eligible to be considered for Top Student Paper awards.

---

Innovations in Practice Extended Abstracts

 

Submissions of Innovations in Practice should highlight and detail an innovation related to design, pedagogy, facilitation, or assessment that advances our understanding of the practical aspects of public dialogue or deliberation. These innovations can be situated in classrooms, public meetings, college campuses or schools, or other contexts where public dialogue or deliberation takes place.

 

Submissions are typically no longer than 10 to 15 pages and must indicate Innovations in Practice on the first page. All papers must be double-spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font, and 1-inch margins. Files must not include identifying information.

---

Panel Discussions

 

A panel discussion is a preconceived, complete session in which a panel of presenters addresses a particular issue, often in a conversational style, but without individually titled presentations. Panel discussions are reviewed as a whole. Submitters should include participants from differing institutions and are highly encouraged to include cross-disciplinary and diverse perspectives.

 

Submissions must include:

 

• A title and 75-word description for the entire panel
• The name of the panel's chair (required) and respondent or facilitator (if applicable)
• A list of presenters, including their affiliations
• A 400-word rationale that elaborates the focus, purpose, importance, and relevance of the panel
• AV requests

 

For questions or ideas for short courses/preconference sessions, please contact PD3 Vice Chair and division planner Dr. Sara Mehltretter at mehltres@wabash.edu.

NCA PRD invites you to nominate books and articles for the NCA Public Relations Division's annual PRIDE Awards.

 

Nominations are welcome for:

 

• Outstanding journal article
• Outstanding book or monograph
• Outstanding contribution to public relations education

 

Any member of the NCA Public Relations Division may submit nominations or self-nominations. All submissions should have a clear focus on public relations. Please submit all nominations by midnight, May 15, 2026.

 

The awards will be presented at the annual NCA convention in New Orleans during the PRD Business Meeting. The PRIDE Awards cover articles or books published from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025. Only published articles may be considered; articles still "in press" should not be submitted until they are actually published.

---

Outstanding Journal Article

 

The committee automatically reviews all articles from the previous year published in Public Relations Review, Journal of Public Relations Research, and Public Relations Journal, but accepts nominations and considers public relations articles published in other journals.

 

To nominate or self-nominate an article:

 

• Upload a copy of the article to NCA's platform (for journals other than those listed above)
• Include a short note in support of the article explaining why it should be considered
• Submission of letters of recommendation are optional

---

Outstanding Book or Monograph

 

To nominate or self-nominate a book:

 

• Submit your nomination to NCA's platform with a short note in support of the book and explanation of why it should be considered
• Contact the author(s) and ask them to arrange for copies to be sent to the PRIDE committee members (paper copies preferred; books are not returned). Contact Jae-Hwa Shin (jae-hwa.shin@usm.edu) to obtain mailing addresses.
• Submission of letters of recommendation are optional

---

Outstanding Contribution to Public Relations Education

 

This category may be used to recognize an influential text or to recognize lifetime achievement in public relations education.

 

To nominate or self-nominate:

 

• Submit the nomination via NCA's platform with a description of the text or individual and their contributions to public relations education
• For texts, arrange for copies to be sent to the PRIDE committee
• Submission of letters of recommendation are optional

 

The 2026 PRIDE Committee: Jae-Hwa Shin (University of Southern Mississippi), Gayle Pohle (University of Northern Iowa), David Clementson (University of Georgia), Young Kim (Marquette University), Brigitta Brunner-Johnson (Auburn University).

The NCA Training and Development (T&D) Division invites self- and other nominations for the 2026 annual awards. All awards recognize service to the Division and accomplishments in the Training & Development field beyond the Division in one or more of the following areas: theory, research, teaching, service, and practice. We welcome candidates who have made diverse impacts across various areas, including pure academics, pure practitioners, and hybrid academic practitioners.

 

An individual earning one of the four primary T&D Awards (Lifetime Achievement, Professional Achievement, Ross Brinkert Rising Star, or Outstanding Service) may only receive one award per year and is not eligible for an additional primary award until three years have passed. Graduate Student Awards are presented annually with no delay in eligibility.

 

Nominations should be submitted to the NCA website by May 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

 

Nomination Materials: Please include a nomination letter of no more than two pages explaining how the nominee deserves the award. A current CV or resume is strongly encouraged.

 

---

 

Professional Achievement Award

 

Criteria:

• Given bi-annually (every other year) as deemed by the awards committee
• A member of the division for at least five (5) years
• Awarded for achievements completed in the previous ten (10) years

 

---

Ross Brinkert Rising Star Award

 

Criteria:

 

• A member of the division for at least two (2) years
• Awarded to an individual in the early stages of their T&D career
• Awarded for T&D achievements completed in the previous two (2) to five (5) years

 

---

Outstanding Service Award

 

Criteria:

 

• A member of the division for at least two (2) years
• Awarded for division service achievements completed in the previous two (2) to five (5) years

 

---

Exceptional Graduate Student Service Award

 

Criteria:

 

• A graduate student member of the division for at least one (1) year
• Awarded for training and development related achievements as a graduate student in the previous two (2) years

 

---

Top Dissertation Award in Training & Development

 

Criteria:

• A member of the division for at least one (1) year
• Awarded for exceptional graduate dissertations expressing excellence in Training and Development related topic areas, research and/or applications completed in the previous five (5) years

 

NOTE: Current awards committee members are not eligible for these awards. The current awards committee is Dr. Amanda Slone, Dr. Greg Patton, Dr. John Burk, Shelley Larson, and Dr. Pavitra Kavya-Friedman. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Amanda Slone at amanda.slone@uky.edu.

National Communication Association (NCA) – Communication Centers Section
In Conjunction with the National Association of Communication Centers (NACC)

 

Through education, research, and collaboration, the National Association of Communication Centers (NACC) supports the advancement of communication centers on college and university campuses across the country. Our annual conference brings together center directors, coaches, support staff, and students to network, share experiences, and innovate.

 

The NCA Communication Centers Section invites nominations and submissions for the following awards, which recognize excellence in scholarship, service, advocacy, leadership, and tutoring within communication centers.

---

Outstanding Tutor Award (Undergraduate and Graduate)

 

Focus / Intent

This award honors undergraduate and graduate tutors/consultants who demonstrate excellence in communication tutoring. No more than two nominees per institution may be submitted annually.

 

Nomination Materials

 

• Cover letter (1 page) written by the nominee (identification only)
• Personal statement (up to 3 single-spaced pages) addressing:
• Philosophy of tutoring with narratives from significant sessions
• Leadership practices
• Effectiveness as a tutor/consultant
• Supporting evidence (maximum 10 pages)
• Letters of support (2–3 total), including:
• One from the Communication Center Director
• Up to two additional letters from faculty, staff, peers, or former clients

 

---

Hobgood Distinguished Service to Communication Centers Award

 

Focus / Intent

 

This award honors a career of distinguished service to communication centers, the NCA Communication Centers Section, and the profession.

 

Coordinator: Carl Brown

 

Nomination Requirements

 

• Letter of nomination
• Current vita
• Evidence of service, leadership, vision, and commitment
• 2–3 letters of recommendation (internal and external)

 

Self-nominations are encouraged.

---

Von Till Outstanding Newcomer Award

 

Focus / Intent

Recognizes individuals with five or fewer years of communication center administrative experience who demonstrate innovation, mentoring, scholarship, and service.

 

Nomination Materials

 

• Cover letter
• Vita
• Evidence of contributions
• 2–3 letters of recommendation

 

Self-nominations are encouraged.

---

Bob and Ann Weiss Competitive Undergraduate Paper Award (Convention Central)

 

Focus / Intent

The Bob and Ann Weiss Competitive Undergraduate Paper Award honors outstanding undergraduate scholarship and recognizes undergraduate students’ contributions to communication center research. Submissions must be original research papers grounded in communication theory; reflexive work is welcome. All communication center topics are encouraged.

 

Coordinator:  Zack Sowder

 

Eligibility

 

To be eligible:

 

• The submitting author must be a current undergraduate student or have graduated within the previous academic year.
• At least one author must register for and attend the conference to present the work.
• The research must:
  • Center on a communication center theory or topic
  • Be original work of the author(s)
  • Not be previously published, accepted, or under review elsewhere
  • Not have been presented at another conference
  • Have been written during undergraduate study (not limited to coursework)
  • Be submitted by all stated deadlines

 

Students may submit one paper to the competition; additional submissions may be considered for non-competitive panels.

 

Submission Process

 

• Abstracts
  • Submit a 250–500 word abstract as a Word attachment
  • Email subject line: “Bob and Ann Weiss Paper Competition”
  • Abstracts must:
    • Follow a recognized citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
    • Be free of author and institutional identifiers
    • Follow NCA guidelines for preparing an unidentifiable copy
      https://www.natcom.org/convention-events/convention-resources/convention-resource-library/preparing-unidentifiable-copy
    • Submit a separate author information document with name(s), email(s), phone(s), and institution(s)

 

• Completed Manuscripts
  • Maximum length: 5,000 words (excluding references and appendices)
  • Must be original empirical or theoretical research
  • Manuscripts must be anonymized
  • Submit a separate author information document including academic position

 

Acceptance of an abstract requires conference registration and presentation, regardless of award outcome.

 

Selection Process

 

The recipient is selected by a committee of NACC members and communication scholars unaffiliated with the authors’ home institutions. The process is coordinated by the NCA Communication Centers Section Student Advocate.

---

Huddy-Gunn Graduate Paper Award (Convention Central)

 

Focus / Intent

The Huddy-Gunn Graduate Paper Award recognizes outstanding graduate-level scholarship in communication center research. Submissions should apply, challenge, modify, or develop theory and demonstrate methodological rigor. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are welcome.

 

Coordinator: Zack Sowder

 

Eligibility

 

• The submitting author must be enrolled in a graduate program or have graduated within one academic year prior to submission.
• At least one author must register for and attend the conference.
• Papers must:
  • Focus on communication center theory or practice
  • Be original and unpublished
  • Not be a thesis or dissertation project
  • Be completed without faculty or staff assistance
  • Meet all submission requirements

 

Only one competitive submission per graduate student is permitted.

 

Submission Process

 

• Abstracts
  • 250–500 words, Word attachment
  • Email subject line: “Huddy-Gunn Paper Competition”
  • Anonymized per NCA guidelines
  • Separate author information document required

 

• Completed Papers
  • Maximum length: 5,000 words
  • Anonymized manuscript
  • Separate author information document including academic position

 

Selection Process

 

The award is selected by an external committee of NACC members. Coordination is managed by the NCA Communication Centers Section Student Advocate.

---

Joyce G. Ferguson Faculty Paper Award (Convention Central)

 

Focus / Intent

 

The Joyce G. Ferguson Faculty Paper Award honors outstanding faculty scholarship focused on communication centers. Submissions should challenge existing theory, modify current frameworks, or advance new theoretical perspectives.

 

Coordinator: Casey Riesberg (clriesberg@unomaha.edu)

 

Eligibility

 

• Authors must hold a faculty, staff, or administrative position and not be enrolled full-time in a degree program.
• At least one author must attend and present at the conference.
• Papers must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• If students collaborate with faculty, the submission must enter the faculty competition.
• One competitive submission per faculty member per conference.

 

Submission Process

 

• Abstracts
  • 250–500 words
  • Email subject line: “Ferguson Paper Competition”
  • Anonymized per NCA guidelines
  • Separate author information document required

 

• Completed Manuscripts
  • Maximum length: 5,000 words
  • Anonymized manuscript
  • Separate author information document required

 

Selection Process

 

The recipient is chosen by an external committee of NACC scholars and coordinated by the NCA Communication Centers Section Vice Chair-Elect.

 

Graduate Student Teaching Award

 

The Graduate Student Teaching Award recognizes outstanding graduate instructors at all levels of post-secondary education. This award celebrates the accomplishments of excellent graduate student instruction and recognizes that teaching Communication Studies is a foundational step in one’s graduate career. The Award Committee will select the winner based on proof of teaching innovation, creativity, originality, rigor, and impact. To be considered, nomination materials should include:

 

Eligibility: 

 

• Teaching assistants, recitation/lab/section instructors, and instructors of record, and graduate students at all levels (MA, PhD, EdD, etc.).
• Must have held student or candidate status in the 2025-2026 academic year.

 

Supporting Documents:

 

• Full contact information for nominee, including name, phone number, and email address.
• CV/Resume
• Teaching Philosophy (1000 words max)
• Record/Proof of Teaching Excellence (including but not limited to evaluations, certifications, sample teaching documents, etc.)
• Two nomination letters (one from a student [peer or undergrad] and one from a faculty/staff). Letters must contain full contact information for the nominators including name, phone number, and email address.
• Any other supporting documents that would show evidence of teaching excellence

---

 

Graduate Student Research Award

 

The Graduate Student Research Award recognizes outstanding graduate student research. This award celebrates the accomplishments of excellent graduate student research and recognizes that Communication Studies focused research is a foundational step in one’s graduate career. The Award Committee will select the winner based on innovative or creative research, methodological rigor, authorship, and cohesive research agendas. To be considered, nomination materials should include:

 

Eligibility: 

 

• Graduate students at all levels (MA, PhD, EdD, etc.).
• Must have held student or candidate status in the 2025-2026 academic year.

 

Supporting Documents:

 

• Full contact information for nominee, including name, phone number, and email address.
• CV/Resume
• Research Statement (1000 words max)
• Sample of Research (published preferred, but unpublished/in the process of is accepted)
• Two nomination letters (one from a peer/student and one from a faculty/staff). Letters must contain full contact information for the nominators including name, phone number, and email address.
• Any other supporting documents that would show evidence of research excellence

---

Graduate Student Service Award

 

The Graduate Student Service Award recognizes outstanding and dedicated graduate student service to national, regional, state, or local communities within and outside of the discipline. This award celebrates the service of graduate students at all levels of service, and recognizes the work done by students on committees, panels, boards, etc.. This award also celebrates the fortitude, application, and outreach of graduate students, which is foundational to sharing the knowledge from our discipline to the world. The Award Committee will select the winner based on service contributions by the student, populations reached, and innovative or creative applications of knowledge. To be considered, nomination materials should include:

 

Eligibility: 

 

• Graduate students at all levels (MA, PhD, EdD, etc.).
• Must have held student or candidate status in the 20252026 academic year.

 

Supporting Documents:

 

• Full contact information for nominee, including name, phone number, and email address.
• CV/Resume
• Statement of Service Work (1000 words max)
• Two nomination letters (one from a peer/student and one from a faculty/staff). Letters must contain full contact information for the nominators including name, phone number, and email address.
• Any other supporting documents that would show evidence of research excellence

 

---

 

Graduate Student Mentorship Award

 

The Graduate Student Research Award recognizes outstanding graduate student mentors for the socialization, mentorship, and comradery provided to other graduate student peers. This award celebrates the compassion, insight, and leadership of graduate students who act as mentors for younger/new graduate students or undergraduate students. The Award Committee will select the winner based on willingness to share knowledge, skills, and expertise, clear interest in mentoring others, ability to provide guidance and constructive feedback, and ability to foster supportive climates/environments for graduate students. To be considered, nomination materials should include:

 

Eligibility: 

 

• Graduate students at all levels (MA, PhD, EdD, etc.).
• Must have held student or candidate status in the 2025-2026 academic year.

 

Supporting Documents:

 

• Full contact information for nominee, including name, phone number, and email address.
• At least three nomination letters (two from a peer/undergraduate student who is a mentee, and one from a faculty/staff who has witnessed mentorship). Letters must contain full contact information for the nominators including name, phone number, and email address.
• Any other supporting documents that would show evidence of mentorship excellence

 

---

 

Graduate Student Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award

 

The National Communication Association defines diversity as a fair and just commitment to equity, access, and inclusion for all persons. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Award recognizes outstanding graduate student engagement with inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in their research, teaching, and/or service endeavors. This work may reflect the application of communication theories, pedagogy, or direct action to create positive community change. The Award Committee will select the winner based on their demonstrated impact, creativity, and dedication to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

 

Eligibility:

 

• Graduate students of all levels (MA, PhD, EdD, etc.).
• Must have held student or candidate status in 2025-2026 academic year.

 

Supporting Documents:

 

• Full contact information for nominee, including name, phone number, and email address.
• CV/Resume
• Diversity Statement (1000 words max)
• Two nomination letters (one from a peer/student and one from a faculty/staff). Letters must contain full contact information for the nominators including name, phone number, and email address.
• Any other supporting documents that demonstrate commitment to diversity efforts.

Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award 

 

Aimee Lau, aimee.lau@wlc.edu

 

The Undergraduate College and University Section (UCUS) of the National Communication Association is accepting nominations for the Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award. Nomination packets are due by May 16, 2026. The Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award recognizes excellence in small undergraduate programs of communication, with emphasis on curriculum, program quality, course design, and special programs.

 

HISTORY
The award honors the memory and work of C. Rex Mix (Ph.D., University of Denver), who was a tireless advocate and enthusiast of small communication programs in the United States. Professor Mix was a communication educator, a college administrator, a Christian minister, and a popular consultant in industry and within his denomination. He was a member of the Speech Communication Association (now the National Communication Association). His service to the discipline included chairing the senior college/university section (now the Undergraduate College and University Section) in 1983-1984. He was active in the International Communication Association, American Association of University Professors, Alpha Psi Omega, and Phi Eta Sigma.

 

ELIGIBILITY

• Nominations are invited from small undergraduate programs in communication located anywhere within the geographic area served by the National Communication Association.
• We define a “small undergraduate program” as one with approximately 12 or fewer full-time faculty and 250 or fewer undergraduate communication majors.
• Communication programs from Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) are eligible to apply. Graduate students and areas of excellence serving a graduate program are not criteria considered for the Rex Mix Award.
• Prior winners of the Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award will become eligible to reapply after 8 years.

 

ELECTRONIC NOMINATION PACKET

• A letter summarizing the nomination with specific mention of supporting artifacts.
• An overview of the institution and program. Include a brief narrative description of the institution and a description of the department or program unit.
• A description of the particular aspect(s) of excellence for which the department/program is being nominated, with specific mention of supporting artifacts where appropriate. Example areas of excellence: curriculum, program quality, course design, or special programs.
• A summary case for qualities of excellence that are exemplified in the program.
• Appropriate supporting artifacts (e.g., video/presentations, department awards, student program awards such as newspaper or radio station, program documents). A maximum of ten (10) artifacts may be submitted.

 

SUBMISSION

• Electronic nomination packets due May 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT.
• Compile all the elements of the electronic nomination packet listed above into a single PDF file.
• Submit the electronic nomination packet to the NCA submission portal by selecting “Undergraduate College and University Section” from the second drop-down menu, then complete the nomination for the Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award.
• All nominees will be notified via email of the committee’s decision by the NCA National Office in August 2026.

 

EVALUATION CRITERIA

A panel of scholars representing broad disciplinary expertise and concern for developing strong programs in small undergraduate college or university programs will review nominations and select a program for recognition on the following criteria:

 

• Strength of narrative explaining institutional context
• Strength of narrative explaining program excellence in at least one area such as curriculum, program quality, course design, special programs, etc.
• Strength of artifact evidence in direct support of narrative
• Creative, new, innovative ideas that directly benefit undergraduate students
• Potential for concrete takeaways to offer colleagues in NCA spotlight panel

 

RECOGNITION

• Winner(s) will be recognized at a special spotlight panel at the November 2026 National Communication Association annual convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• If a school submits a nomination, they are committing to send at least one faculty member and/or administrator in person to the NCA convention to receive the award and deliver the spotlight presentation, including tangible takeaways for the audience to grow in program effectiveness. Students from the program are also welcome to participate in the presentation. Students’ attendance at the NCA convention is not at UCUS expense.
• The winning program will receive a plaque in recognition of their excellence.

 

Please direct questions about the Rex Mix Program of Excellence Award to NCA Undergraduate College and University Section Vice-Chair Elect Aimee Lau at aimee.lau@wlc.edu.

See call for the Asian/Pacific American Communication Studies Division.

Early Career Award

 

The Black Caucus (BC) seeks nominations for our first annual Early Career Award. The award recognizes the contributions made by an active member of the National Communication Association (NCA) and the Black Caucus who has demonstrated a commitment to service in the early stages of their career. The nominee's impact will be measured through research, teaching, and/or service on the work and life of Black-identified academics and/or those in the national or international community. We define service as social advocacy, community service, and/or mentorship. This award is ideal for an early-career faculty member, like postdocs, lecturers, adjuncts, instructors, non-tenure track faculty or assistant professors. Please nominate a mentor, colleague, or friend.

 

The nomination process is as follows: (1) fill out the form on the NCA award submission portal. After reviewing the nomination, we will contact the nominee. All nominees will need to submit 2-3 letters of support in addition to a current curriculum vitae that should be submitted with the original submission. Letters of nomination should address how the nominee’s lifetime of service enables those in academia, a particular community, or in society.

 

The Black Caucus Eboard will review all nomination materials and select an award recipient. The recipient of the Lifetime Service Award will be honored at the 2026 NCA Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

If you have any questions, please email the Vice Chair-Elect: Dr. Kanika Jackson (knjackson@towson.edu)

 

---

 

Lifetime Service Award

 

The African American Communication and Culture Division (AACCD) and the Black Caucus (BC) seek nominations for our 2026 Lifetime Service Award. The award recognizes the contributions made by an active member of the National Communication Association (NCA) who has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to service. We define service as social advocacy, community service, and mentorship. Please nominate a mentor, colleague, or friend.

 

The nomination process is as follows: (1) fill out the form on the NCA award submission portal. After reviewing the nomination, we will contact the nominee. All nominees will need to submit 2-4 letters of support in addition to a current curriculum vitae that should be submitted with the original submission. Letters of nomination should address how the nominee’s lifetime of service enables those in academia, a particular community, or in society.

 

The Black Caucus Eboard will review all nomination materials and select an award recipient. The award recipient of the Lifetime Service Award will be honored at the 2026 NCA Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

If you have any questions, please email the Vice Chair-Elect: Dr. Kanika Jackson (knjackson@towson.edu)

 

Past Recipients

Year Recipient University
2010 Dr. Jack Daniel University of Pittsburgh
2011 Dr. Melbourne Cummings Howard University
2012 Dr. Dorthy L. Pennington University of Kansas
2013 Dr. Lyndrey Niles Howard University
2014 Dr. Anntarie Sims The College of New Jersey
2015 Dr. Rachel Griffin Southern Illinois University
2016 Dr. Molefi Asante Temple University
2017 Dr. Carolyn Calloway-Thomas Indiana University
2018 Dr. Deborah Atwater The Pennsylvania State University
2019 Dr. Carolyn Stroman Howard University
2021 Dr. Teresa Nance Villanova University
2022 Dr. Elizabeth Desnoyers-Colas Georgia Southern University
2023 Dr. Dorothy Pennington, The University of Kansas
2025 Dr. Rhunette Diggs Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

 

---

Rex Crawley Outstanding Service Award

 

The African American Communication and Culture Division (AACCD) and the Black Caucus (BC) seek nominations for the 2026 Rex Crawley Outstanding Service Award. The award recognizes the contributions made by an active member of the National Communication Association (NCA) who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to service. We define service as social advocacy, community service, and mentorship, though there are numerous other ways service can be defined. This award is ideal for a junior or mid-career faculty member going up for tenure and/or promotion. Please nominate a mentor, colleague, or friend.

 

The nomination process is as follows: (1) fill out the form on the NCA award submission portal. After reviewing the nomination, we will contact the nominee. All nominees will need to submit 2-4 letters of support in addition to a current curriculum vitae that should be submitted with the original submission. Letters of nomination should speak directly to how the nominee’s service enhances the work and life of Black-identified academics and/or those in the national and/or international community.

 

The Black Caucus Eboard will review all nomination materials and select an award recipient. The award recipient for the Rex Crawley Outstanding Service Award will be honored at the 2026 NCA Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

If you have any questions, please email the Vice Chair-Elect: Dr. Kanika Jackson (knjackson@towson.edu)

 

Past Recipients

Year Recipient University

2010 Dr. Rex Crawley Robert Morris University

2011 Dr. Reynaldo Anderson Harris-Stowe State University

2012 Dr. Shawn D. Long University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2013 Dr. Tina Harris University of Georgia

2014 Dr. Marnel Niles-Goins Fresno State University

2015 Dr. Rachel Griffin Southern Illinois Carbondale

2016 Dr. Kandace Harris Shaw University

2017 Dr. Elizabeth F. Desnoyers-Colas Armstrong Atlantic State University

2018 Dr. Kesha Morant Williams The Pennsylvania State University

2019 Dr. Marcus Coleman Tulane University

2020 Dr. Jeanetta Sims University of Central Oklahoma

2021 Dr. Eletra Gilchrist-Petty University of Alabama, Huntsville

2022 Dr. Sharnine Herbert Shippensburg University

2023 Dr. Nicole Files-Thompson Lincoln University

2024 Dr. Armond R. Towns Carleton University

2025 Dr. Shawn Upshaw The University of Texas-Austin

Randy Majors Memorial Award

 

The Caucus on Gay and Lesbian Concerns solicits nominations for the Randy Majors Memorial Award. This award is specifically for recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender scholarship in communication studies. Each year the Caucus presents the award to one individual at the National Communication Association annual convention.

 

The award is named for Randy Majors, who was fundamental in creating the Caucus. The award is funded through the donations of Caucus members and most significantly through the generosity of Jeff Ringer, who donated the proceeds of his edited book, Queer Words, Queer Images. Nominations are accepted from any NCA member except current officers of the Caucus who comprise the selection committee. Current officers in the Caucus may not be nominated. Any NCA member is eligible, regardless of sexual identity. If you are not familiar with NCA members, you might check the NCA directory and/or the NCA home page links at www.natcom.org.

To be considered, all nominations must include a/an:

 

• primary letter of nomination detailing the nominee’s qualifications, with specific focus on how this person contributes to LGBTQ communication scholarship
• current curriculum vitae for the nominee
• one representative sample publication of the nominee’s scholarly work
  Additional letters of support (OPTIONAL: up to 5)

 

---

Lambda Award

 

The Caucus on Gay and Lesbian Concerns solicits nominations for the Lambda Award for outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ academic community. The Caucus on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns created the Lambda Award to honor significant contributions to the promotion of LGBTQ rights by means other than the production of scholarship. This might includes extensive service to the LGBT community, successful teaching of LGBTQ issues, or successful advising of LGBT students. Each year the Caucus presents the award to one individual/organization at the National Communication Association annual convention.

 

The Lambda Award takes it name from the Greek letter lambda, which Romans later adopted to mean “the light of knowledge shed into the darkness of ignorance.” In the early 1970s, New York City’s Gay Activists Alliance selected the Greek letter lambda as its emblem. Since then, it functions as a symbol of the fight to secure equal rights for LGBT individuals.

 

Nominations are accepted from any NCA member except current officers of the Caucus who comprise the selection committee. Current officers in the Caucus may not be nominated. Any person or organization is eligible, regardless of sexual identity or political affiliation.

 

To be considered, all nominations must include a:

 

• Primary letter of nomination detailing the nominee’s qualifications, with specific focus on how this person contributes to the promotion of LGBTQ rights
• Representative documentation of the nominee’s contributions
• Additional letters of support (OPTIONAL: up to 5)

See call for the Latino/a Communication Studies Division.

Francine Merritt Award

 

The Women’s Caucus of the National Communication Association is calling for nominations for the 2026 Francine Merritt Award for outstanding contributions to the lives of women in communication. The recipient will be notified by the national office in August 2026 and will be honored at NCA’s 2026 convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 

The Women’s Caucus gives the Francine Merritt Award to someone (of any gender) who has made a difference in the field of communication through their mentoring, service, advocacy, teaching, and scholarship. Nomination packages should stress the nominee’s contributions in each of these areas as they relate to the mission of the Women’s Caucus.

 

The Women's Caucus mission is “to advocate for women's improved status, voice, and opportunities in the discipline. In doing so, we are committed to exploring the diversity and complexities of women's lives in terms of their academic and professional experiences. In keeping with the spirit of this mission, the Caucus encourages innovative and alternative ways of understanding and investigating women's experiences. We are committed to building alliances with other NCA divisions and caucuses who are interested in creating opportunities for students, recent graduates, and/or scholars who have not previously participated in NCA programming.” Please note the Women’s Caucus takes an expansive view of womanhood and gender, and encourages nominations for those who uphold the mission of the caucus as it relates to non-binary, gender fluid, agender, two-spirit and other gender minoritized groups.

 

A complete nomination package consists of the following materials:

 

• Letter of nomination outlining candidate’s contributions.
• Nominee’s vita, including current contact information.
• No more than 5 letters of support.
• A letter from the nominee accepting the nomination and agreeing to attend NCA’s convention in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2026 (virtual attendance can be arranged).

 

Nominators from the 2025 call may choose to have their nominee’s materials remain in the pool for a second year. The nominator should send a letter requesting such, and the nominee should send a letter accepting the nomination and agreeing to attend the NCA convention in 2026.

 

Please submit nominations through the NCA portal. Any and all questions about the award are welcome and should be directed to the current Caucus Chair.

 

Dakota Park-Ozee, Ph.D.
Women’s Caucus Chair
dakota.park-ozee@du.edu