Dr. Jennifer Fairchild, a professor in the School of Communication at EKU, received two awards at the Kentucky Communication Association (KCA) annual conference in September 2021.
Fairchild received the Excellence in the Art of Teaching Award, which recognizes pedagogy and curriculum development as well as an educator who is devoted to bettering students and assisting them achieve academic and/or professional goals.
“I was so surprised and honored to receive the awards,” Fairchild said. “It means so much to me that my colleagues nominated me for these awards, and that my former and current students endorsed my application.”
EKU communication colleagues Krista Kimmel and John Strada nominated Fairchild for the award, noting her dedication to improving pedagogy and developing other faculty. A former student said, “I’m always deeply impressed that no matter how long she’s been at EKU, she is always looking for new and innovative ways to help students achieve academic and career success.”
Fairchild also received the Undergraduate Mentor Award, which recognizes the important role faculty members play in supporting undergraduates’ academic, personal and professional growth through meaningful interactions.
“Dr. Fairchild especially enjoys building connections with her students,” Kimmel and Strada wrote in the nomination letter. A former student added “I can’t imagine my time at EKU without her and I can only imagine the countless other students she’s made such an impact on.”
A faculty member at EKU since August 2007, Fairchild is known for the individualized attention she gives her students. She received the Excellence in Online Teaching Award and the Most Outstanding Distinguished Educational Leader Award from EKU, both of which are student-nominated awards.She teaches courses in Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural Communication, Leadership, Health Communication, Applied Organizational Communication, as well as the basic course.
The Kentucky Communication Association (KCA) was established in 1931 for the promotion of effective teaching, research, and practice in the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication. KCA is a not-for-profit organization that comprises communication faculty, students, and professionals who are committed to studying, improving, and applying the principles of communication within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.