James Chesebro, former professor of telecommunications

James Chesebro, former distinguished professor of telecommunications

The National Communication Association (NCA) plans to posthumously honor James Chesebro, a former NCA president and Ball State University telecommunications professor, with the 2020 Distinguished Scholar Award.

Given annually, the NCA Distinguished Scholar Award is the association’s highest accolade. It honors a lifetime of scholarly achievement in the study of human communication. Recipients are selected by their peers to showcase the best of the communication discipline.

Chesebro was a distinguished professor of telecommunications at Ball State from 2005 to 2012, and also was director of the department's graduate program. He died January 21.

Chesebro was a leading researcher in his field, and the Distinguished Scholar Award is a fitting recognition, said Michael Spillman, interim chair of Ball State’s Department of Telecommunications.

“Dr. Chesebro was such an important part of the College of Communication, Information, and Media (CCIM), and all of us are pleased that NCA is honoring him with the prestigious Distinguished Scholar Award,” Spillman said. “His work had an impact on grad students and faculty alike in both the Department of Communication Studies and, of course, his home at Ball State, the Department of Telecommunications.”

Chesebro’s award will be presented virtually on November 21 at the NCA 106th Annual Convention.