Honors Day is a cornerstone of the spring semester for the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS). As the academic year draws to a close, the event allows the College to pause its frantic pace and come together to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments within C&IS. It serves as the official stage for recognizing the best of the best: students and alumni who embody the values and standards set by both C&IS and The University of Alabama.
Most notably, each department can nominate one outstanding alumnus to be celebrated on Honors Day. The award is a way of saying ‘well done’ to the graduates who are making waves in their careers. From boardrooms to public service, these honorees have used their C&IS roots to grow into vibrant and compelling leaders on a state, national and international level.
Bert Bank and Betsy Plank Awards
The Bert Bank Distinguished Service and Achievement Award is awarded to individuals who through their career have elevated the profile of C&IS. It is named after Bert Bank, who was a trailblazer in radio broadcasting. The Betsy Plank Distinguished Achievement Award honors a graduate who has spent their career championing communication arts, proving themselves to be a leader and a visionary in the tradition of Betsy Plank herself.
- William (Bill) Heyman (Bert Bank Award): Heyman is the co-founder of FHS Capital Partners. The only recruiter thrice named to PR Week’s “Power List,” Heyman regarded as an asset to the profession’s most senior leaders and co-authored groundbreaking leadership studies. He is also a founding board member of The Plank Center at The University of Alabama.
- Staci Brown Brooks (Betsy Plank Award): Brooks serves as the President of the Alabama Power Foundation, directing community impact initiatives that change lives across the state. Brooks built a distinguished media career at the Detroit Free Press and Alabama Media Group before transitioning to corporate leadership.
Outstanding Alumni
- Jim Bakken (Public Relations): Bakken is the Chief Communications Officer for UAB. In that position, he manages the messaging for Alabama’s largest employer, bringing his military-bred discipline and higher-ed expertise to the forefront of public relations.
- Dr. Diedrick A. Graham (Communication Studies): Graham is the founder of DNA Consulting Global, a strategic consulting firm that focuses on the intersection of human behavior and organizational health. A proud University of Alabama alumnus, Dr. Graham founded the Alabama Student Society of Communication Arts (now the C&IS Ambassadors).
- Dr. Christa V. Hardy (Library & Information Studies): Hardy is a researcher and educator dedicated to preserving African American history and expanding community information access. Her career includes significant work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she participated in projects that expanded library technology initiatives across the country.
- Ellen Knudson (Book Arts): Knudson is an artist, educator and book arts specialist whose work bridges graphic design and printmaking. After earning her MFA in Book Arts from The University of Alabama, she joined the faculty at the University of Florida, where she serves as an instructor and curator of Artists’ Books.
- Dana Andrzejewski Livingston (Advertising): Andrzejewski Livingston is a strategic media and communications expert who specializes in high-performance digital marketing. After establishing a strong foundation in traditional advertising, she pivoted to Meta platforms to drive growth. In her current role leading paid social strategy, she is spearheading a corporate rebranding of Renuity.
- Patricia Dedrick Lloyd (News Media): Lloyd is a seasoned communications expert. Her career includes serving as the Birmingham News capital bureau chief and covering high-profile national trials. Lloyd uses her expertise in storytelling to champion diverse narratives and continues to serve her alma mater as a member of the C&IS Board of Visitors.
- Marcus Patterson (Creative Media): Patterson is an award-winning cinematographer and filmmaker whose work has premiered at prestigious festivals including Sundance, SXSW and Telluride. He remains active in the UA alumni community by connecting with students by offering them a look at the inner workings of the media landscape in Los Angeles.
