Angelo State Communication Prof Wins Texas Educator Of The Year Award

SAN ANGELO, TX — Dr. Leslie Rodriguez of the Angelo State University communication faculty has been named a 2019 Educator of the Year by the Texas Speech Communication Association (TSCA) at the organization’s annual conference held Oct. 3-5 in Amarillo.

Nominated by fellow educators from TSCA District 15, Rodriguez was named Educator of the Year in the Four-Year College and University category. Criteria for the award include:

• Be an active member of TSCA for the past five years
• Support the TSCA mission to promote effective communication
• Give significant service to TSCA that advances the study of communication and communication education in Texas
• Show a high level of teaching excellence as evidenced by students and supervisors

Each of the 20 TSCA districts can nominate one individual for the annual award. Nominees must support their eligibility with:

• District chairperson nomination letter
• Résumé and cover letter
• Written teaching philosophy
• Support letter from a school administrator
• Five support letters from colleagues, former students and community members

An ASU alumna and eight-year ASU faculty member, Rodriguez is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication and Mass Media. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate communication courses and serves on numerous university committees. She previously served as faculty advisor for ASU’s student chapter of the Lambda Pi Eta communication honor society, and currently serves as assistant director of the annual UIL Speaking Events Tournament.

In addition to her teaching duties, Rodriguez is an avid researcher in several communication fields, including racial discrimination in the workplace, Hispanic students in higher learning, and effective risk and crisis communication, among others. She has presented her research at nearly 20 professional conferences and conventions.

Rodriguez is also a member of the Southern States Communication Association and National Communication Association. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication at ASU and her Ph.D. at the University of Southern Mississippi.