WMU News

WMU's Gershon receives national teaching award

Aug. 1, 2001

KALAMAZOO -- A Western Michigan University faculty member has been selected as the first recipient of a national teaching excellence award.

Dr. Richard A. Gershon, WMU professor of communication, will receive the Barry Sherman Teaching Excellence Award from the Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication. Gershon will be presented with the award in August at the AEJMC conference in Washington, D.C.

AEJMC established the award this year in memory of Barry Sherman, the former chairman of the Peabody Awards, a prestigious competition that recognizes distinguished achievements of those in the broadcast media. Sherman, who died suddenly on May 2 at the age of 47, also was a former WMU faculty member in the Department of Communication.

"Being the recipient of this award is very special and gratifying," says Gershon, who was a colleague of Sherman's.

Gershon is the co-founder and program coordinator for WMU's telecommunications management program and the author of two books, including his latest "Telecommunications Management: Industry Structures and Business Strategy," and "The Transnational Media Corporation: Global Messages and Free Market Competition," which was named the 1998 Book of the Year by the National Cable Television Museum. He received the Stephen H. Coltrin Professor for the Year award from the International Radio and Television Society Foundation last year.

A WMU faculty member since 1989, Gershon teaches courses in telecommunications management, law and regulations, and communication technology. He holds a master's degree from the University of Vermont and a doctoral degree from Ohio University.

Media contact: Lisa Lueking, 616 387-8400


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news