Public Affairs ACME Awards 2011

The Crisis Communications Award goes to the communicator who has played a leadership role in responding to crisis situations. A key to managing communications in a crisis is being prepared and understanding when it really begins. Like when they grow out of the most unlikely events like a $100 million partnership to build one of the fastest supercomputers in the world.

This years winner doesnt have communications anywhere in his title. Still, he has been a brand ambassador for the campus across the nation and all around the world. When an earthquake devastated Japan in March of this year, the News Bureau needed an expert source to help media understand what the storm would mean for nuclear reactors and nuclear safety.

The Team Player Award for 2011 recognizes a single individual who has played a consistent, significant role in our collective efforts to give the campus a single identity and voice. Chris Beuoys College of Veterinary Medicine may sit on the outskirts of campus, but through her leadership, VetMed was an early adopter and has been a keen observer of campus identity standards. Because of the relationship of trust shes built with the VetMed faculty, they have been engaged and educated on marketing and communication issues.

The recipient of this years Branding Leadership Award is a person who will disassemble cellphones, hard drives, lightbulbs, and LED monitors, cuts thermostats from the wall and rips copper pipes from the ceiling of his office, if it means helping the public understand engineering.

Its rare that a student might pass through four years at the University not having a class or several classes at the iconic Lincoln Hall. In fact, its almost unheard of. When ground finally broke on the long-awaited renovation of this historic building, we celebrated completing a long-term effort. But not the Marketing and Communications team in the College of Liberal Arts & Science. They knew they had a unique opportunity; and that spawned a communications and fundraising effort called The Lincoln Hall Project.

The Communicator of the Year award is given to an individual who always seems to be standing there, ready, when the campus needs a hand. Here are just a few of the conversations we had with our 2011 recipient this year: