Ohio Wesleyan University’s Ashley R. Kennard, Ph.D., has been recognized for her outstanding work in teaching by the Ohio Communication Association. Kennard, an assistant professor of Communication at the university since 2019, was awarded the prestigious 2023 Distinguished New Teacher Award by the association, which aims to celebrate excellence in research, teaching, and service within the field of communication.
The Distinguished New Teacher Award specifically acknowledges promising faculty members who have demonstrated consistent excellence in teaching during their first five years of professional teaching and have made significant contributions to their department and campus through service. Kennard’s dedication to her students and her department made her a standout candidate for this prestigious award.
At Ohio Wesleyan, Kennard teaches a variety of courses, including Intercultural Communication, Conflict Management, and Stereotypes, Stigma, and Polarization. In addition to her regular teaching responsibilities, she also contributes to the university’s Bridge Program, an immersive experience designed to prepare incoming students with the essential skills and confidence they need to excel at Ohio Wesleyan.
Kennard’s teaching and research interests largely revolve around intercultural and intergroup communication, attitudes and persuasion, media effects, and health communication. Of particular interest to her is the intersection of these topics with matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is currently engaged in a project that examines the influence of racialized media representations on policy support. Kennard’s research has been published in prestigious communication journals, including Human Communication Research, The Journal of Health Communication, and Communication Research.
The distinguished professor’s exemplary contributions to the field were acknowledged by her colleagues at Ohio Wesleyan University, Dawn Chisebe, the Chief Diversity Officer, and Phokeng Motsoasele Dailey, Ph.D., the Chair of the Department of Journalism and Communication. In her recommendation letter, Dailey emphasized Kennard’s commitment to fostering personal growth and global citizenship among her students. She highlighted Kennard’s ability to challenge her students’ preconceived notions and encourage critical thinking, particularly in the area of communication skills.
Kennard was presented with the Distinguished New Teacher Award on October 6th at the Ohio Communication Association’s 87th annual conference held in North Canton, Ohio. This year’s conference theme, Sparking Change Through Communication, perfectly encapsulated the importance of effective communication in addressing societal challenges.
For more information about Ashley R. Kennard and the Department of Journalism and Communication at Ohio Wesleyan University, visit www.owu.edu/communication.
Follow The Delaware Gazette on Twitter @delgazette, and like The Gazette on Facebook to stay updated with the latest news and updates.
