After more than two decades of teaching at the School of Journalism and Media, Barbara Kaye was named a professor emerita of the school.
“Barb Kaye’s impact can be seen not just in the publications she has authored for our field, but in the lives she has touched, including mentoring junior scholars within the School of Journalism and Media,” said Amy Jo Coffey, director of the school. “It is an honor to recognize her as professor emerita.”
Kaye retired from higher education this summer after 24 years of teaching in the School of Journalism and Media and more than 30 years in higher education.
Kaye has taught dozens of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, mentored countless students, and brought global experiences to students through study abroad programs.
In addition, Kaye has published 86 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, co-authored three textbooks—one in its fifth edition—presented 110 peer-reviewed conference papers and panels, and her scholarly works have been cited more than 11,000 times as of May 2025.
She also co-authored an award-winning textbook with Northern Arizona University’s Norman J. Medoff, Now Media: The Evolution of Electronic Communication, which was recognized as the 2022 Broadcast Education Association’s Textbook of the Year and adopted by instructors in more than 60 colleges and universities.
Other accolades she received throughout her career include the CCI College Researcher of the Year Award in 2004 and 2019; Advertising Educator of the Year Award by the American Advertising Federation-Knoxville Chapter in 2011 and 2019; and the 2025 CCI Career Achievement Award.
Kaye joins a distinguished list of professors emeriti at the School of Journalism and Media that includes former colleagues like Sam Swan, Mark Littmann, and Julie Andsager.