The College of Communication and Information Sciences’ (C&IS) Andrew Billings, Ph.D., was named one of the 2026 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award recipients. Selected by the SEC Provosts, recipients of this award are elite professionals who expand the boundaries of research, enhance their university’s reputation and embody stellar performance.
Since 2012, the SEC Faculty Achievement Awards have honored one faculty member per institution annually. These individuals serve as the official nominees for the SEC Professor of the Year, an award that will be announced later this academic year. Being one of this year’s 16 recipients places Billings among a highly selective group of educators recognized for their ability to balance high-level academic research with a commitment to student success and growth.
Billings’ work and research focuses on the complex intersection between sports, media and identity. He explores how the convergence of these fields influences modern culture, particularly looking at factors like gender and nationality in sports broadcasting. His expertise is frequently sought after by the global press, evidenced by citations in major publications like the Associated Press, The New York Times and ESPN. He has authored several influential books, such as “Mascot Nation: The Controversy over Native American Representations in Sports and Media” and “The Head Game: Mental Health in Sports Media”.
As a recognized expert in sports communication, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Communication & Sport as well as on numerous editorial boards. His work helps media professionals, scholars and organizations better understand the cultural influence of sports storytelling.
Billings is also the co-director of the Beyond Sports Initiative. As the sports and gaming think tank within C&IS, BSI delivers insights to help current and future industry professionals navigate a rapidly shifting sports landscape. This unique research collaborative partners directly with sports industry leaders to pinpoint, research and shape the field’s most pressing issues.
Beyond his impressive research, Billings is known across the University for his dedication to mentorship. As a professor, he actively involves students by bringing real-world sports media dilemmas directly into the classroom. He helps shape the next generation of media professionals and scholars, ensuring that C&IS students are prepared to navigate the rapidly evolving sports media domain. He consistently advocates for student-led research, pushing his mentees to publish their own work and present at national conferences.