Ph.D. student Laila Abbas earned an ICA Top Dissertation Award Honorable Mention for her research on how emotionally charged TikTok content can inspire political identity and collective action, using the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement as a case study. In a Q&A, she reflects on the impact of her research, offers advice for aspiring scholars, and shares her favorite memory from SJMC.
Awards
Associate Professors Chris Cascio and Kathryn McGarr Receive Vilas Associates Award
Associate Professors Chris Cascio and Kathryn McGarr are the recipients of the 2025 Vilas Associates Award.
Spotlight on Graduate Student Award Winners
This year, four TAs were awarded campus-wide and college-level awards for their work both in and out of the classroom. They shared what these awards mean to them and what they find most rewarding about teaching.
Q&A with Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Excellence Award Winner, Professor Young Mie Kim
Professor Young Mie Kim, recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Excellence Award, shares how she inspires critical thinking, brings research into the classroom and prepares students to engage with today’s civic challenges.
Q&A with Distinguished Teaching Faculty Stacy Forster
Teaching Faculty Stacy Forster was awarded Distinguished Status, the highest honor for teaching faculty at UW–Madison, for her outstanding contributions to the SJMC and her dedication to her students.
Graduate Student Highlight: Tahereh Rahimi
Ph.D. student Tahereh Rahimi won ICA’s Top Student Paper Award in the Communication History Division for her research on press control in Iran during the Qajar Era. She shares what the award means to her, the value of staying true to your academic interests and her favorite memories from the SJMC community.
Graduate Student Highlight: Abby Qin
Ph.D. student Abby Youran Qin won AEJMC’s Top Student Paper Award for her research on democratic attitudes and the role of right-wing media in the United States. She reflected on the award, shared insights from her academic journey and offered advice for future scholars.
Celebrating the 2025 Alumni Award Winners
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has announced its winners of the 2025 Alumni Awards. A ceremony will be held on Friday, April 25 to present the awards and celebrate the achievements of the winners.
Q&A with 2025 Distinguished Service Award Winner Samuel Freedman
Discover the impressive journey of award-winning author, professor, and journalist Samuel Freedman, one of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award recipients.
Q&A with 2025 Distinguished Service Award Winner Conor Caloia
Explore the career of Conor Caloia, the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of Forward Madison FC and recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Service Award.