ESU Honors Distinguished Professor

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania presented its annual Distinguished Professor Award to Andrea “Andi” McClanahan, Ph.D., professor of communication, at an All-University Meeting on Tuesday, October 29.

The Distinguished Professor Award – the highest honor for ESU faculty to receive – is presented based on outstanding contributions to the academic life of the University and its reputation. The award of Distinguished Professor is conferred upon an individual by the ESU President, Kenneth Long, in recognition of exceptional achievements in teaching, research/scholarship/creative activities, and service.

Dr. McClanahan earned a B.A. in speech communication from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, M.A. in communication studies from Ball State University, and her Ph.D. in rhetorical studies and gender studies from Ohio University.

McClanahan has contributed tirelessly across the campus serving both students and the academy. Her leadership has manifested its impact as the coordinator of Women and Gender Studies and numerous student-centered initiatives to engage students in research and professional service. She continues to provide leadership as the current department chair for Communication while serving as APSCUF president for ESU.

In the capacity as former ESU-APSCUF vice president and Meet and Discuss Chair, and current ESU-APSCUF president, McClanahan has demonstrated the importance of respectful and productive dialogue for the good of the student experience. She should be commended for her ability to navigate challenging CBA issues by keeping her focus on the student while recognizing the importance of transparency. She is tireless in her efforts on behalf of the faculty and is seen as a leader at the state level, serving as the CAP (political action committee) chairperson since 2015.

Although her service record is exemplary, McClanahan is highly respected for her teaching and mentoring. She has taught over 30 different courses and has mentored over 15 thesis and dissertations. Her students and colleagues describe her as a highly engaged instructor with the ability to challenge her students to critically think and enhance their professional development.

Since 2005, McClanahan has worked with the Junior State of America (JSA) for their Civics Immersion Program in the summers teaching at Stanford, Princeton, Yale, and American University. JSA is designed to foster civic engagement among youth who wish to be government leaders in the future. Specifically, the summer program recruits students from the American territories and freely associated states to come to the mainland to learn about American government, politics, and advocacy.

Along with her service and teaching, McClanahan is consistent in her commitment to scholarship. Since starting at ESU in 2003, she has published 25 scholarly articles or chapters, one textbook, and has presented her research more than 100 times at international, national, regional, and state conferences. Her research focus is varied but centers around critical media studies, political communication, and persuasion and advocacy. She has served as president to the PASSHE Women’s Consortium and the Northeast Popular Culture Association. She is a current executive committee member and chair of the graduate student awards for the Northeast Popular Culture Association.

Her academic record at ESU has demonstrated significant impacts across teaching, service and scholarship. For these and many other accomplishments Dr. McClanahan is the 2024 Distinguished Professor.

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