Marietta College’s Lori Smith, an accomplished faculty member, has been honored with the 2023 Distinguished Teacher Award by the Ohio Communication Association (OCA). This esteemed recognition celebrates Smith’s exceptional teaching skills and unwavering dedication to the field of communication.
Smith is an Assistant Professor and Chair for the Department of Communication. She has had a positive impact at the College through her commitment to academic excellence and serving as a mentor to hundreds of students.
Beyond her role in the classroom, Smith serves as the Internship Coordinator for the department, playing a crucial role in providing valuable hands-on experiences for students. Her efforts have resulted in the acquisition of corporate grants to support WRMT-FM, underscoring her commitment to enhancing opportunities for experiential learning.
Smith’s commitment to nurturing talent has yielded impressive results. Her Campaigns class achieved national semi-finalist status in the Collegiate Effie competition for three consecutive years. Her exemplary contributions to teaching have earned her multiple awards, including the Alpha Sigma Delta Academic Excellence in Teaching Award, the Edward G. Harness Outstanding Educator Award, and now, the Ohio Communication Association Distinguished Teacher Award.
Prior to her career in academia, Smith amassed over 15 years of experience in the newspaper industry, including a prominent role as the Advertising Director of The Marietta Times. Her career with the Gannett Company encompassed various advertising positions, during which she earned the prestigious President's Certificate of Achievement, an accolade reserved for the top 10 Gannett advertising managers.
“I am honored to receive the 2023 Ohio Communication Association Distinguished Teacher Award,” Smith said. “For the past 20 years, I have cherished the opportunities to work closely with our talented and dedicated students. I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on our students and community.”