Dr. Alan Albarran, Patricia Austin, Jennifer Baileys, Bill Cornwell, Scott Cosco, Paul Gessler, Steven Keith, Matt Lockhart, Brad McElhinny and Alisha Maddox will be inducted into the hall during a gala this fall that also will celebrate the SOJMC’s centennial.
“Marshall University has a long and proud history of journalism and mass communications excellence, and this newest class of inductees into our Hall of Fame once again proves that,” said Chris Dickerson, president of the SOJMC Alumni Advisory Board, which handles the nomination process. “Every year, our board has an immensely talented pool of candidates nominated for induction. It’s always a difficult process because of the rich talent.
“Like all of our previous inductees, these newest ones have done great things all over the world in a variety of fields. We are extremely proud of all of our graduates, and it is an honor to welcome 10 more very deserving members to our Hall of Fame.”
The first class was enshrined in 1985. The latest honorees bring the number of inductees to 100, which is fitting given the centennial celebration.
Albarran, a 1978 Marshall grad, is a distinguished scholar in media management and economics. He is a professor emeritus at the University of North Texas and an internationally recognized author and researcher.
Austin, a 1965 SOJMC graduate, was a prominent student leader on campus and has been a dedicated civil rights and community activist, working in jobs across the country to promote social justice and equality.
Baileys, a 2005 SOJMC graduate, is a news anchor and investigative reporter WLKY in Louisville. She is a four-time regional Emmy award winner. As a student, she finished third in the nation in the Hearst Awards Broadcast News category.
Cornwell, a 1985 SOJMC graduate, has built a career in radio broadcasting and public address announcing for Marshall athletics as well as Tri-State high school sports. He currently works for Kindred Communications.
Cosco, a 1993 Marshall graduate, has an extensive career spanning broadcasting, public relations, government service and lobbying. He currently is a partner at HartmanCosco Government Relations specializing in strategic lobbying and public affairs.
Gessler, a 2007 SOJMC graduate, is a television video journalist and reporter, having won numerous national and regional awards. He currently serves as executive producer at 1812 Media in the Baltimore area. As a student, he finished second in the Hearst Journalism Awards.
Keith, a 1991 SOJMC graduate, is a freelance food writer and restaurant critic for the Charleston Gazette-Mail. His work has also been published in Bon Appetit, Food Network, Fodor’s and a variety of regional culinary publications. After years at the Charleston Daily Mail, he now works for Miles Media as a Senior Content Director.
Lockhart, a 2004 SOJMC graduate, is a nationally respected attorney for Norfolk Southern who has managed cases across the country, including before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also has endowed a scholarship for SOJMC students.
McElhinny, a 1994 SOJMC graduate, spent more than 20 years at The Charleston Daily Mail in a host of positions before eventually becoming editor and publisher. He then served as co-editor of The Charleston Gazette-Mail. He now works for MetroNews as its statewide correspondent.
Maddox, a 2003 SOJMC graduate, is co-owner of Charles Ryan Associates after a long career at the public affairs and communications firm. She specializes in public issues and reputation management for energy, manufacturing, transportation, small business, government and nonprofit.
Inductees need to have a connection to the SOJMC, such as being a graduate or a faculty member, and should meet at least one of two major criteria to be nominated:
- A graduate of Marshall’s JMC program who has contributed to Journalism and Mass Communications as a profession. The nominee has made a contribution to the profession of journalism or has made a positive impact upon the profession.
- Contribution(s) to Marshall University’s SOJMC. The nominee, either through talent, treasure or activity, has made an outstanding impact upon the school.
The school has an enshrinement dinner and ceremony each year to honor the inductees. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30, in the John Marshall Room of the Memorial Student Center. More details about this fall’s ceremony will be announced at a later date.
For more information or questions about the SOJMC Hall of Fame, please contact the school at dickerson38@marshall.edu.