Jellison Named Top Faculty Newsmaker, 14 A&S Faculty Recognized

President M. Duane Nellis and Chief Marketing Officer Renea Morris pose for a photo with this year’s top OHIO faculty newsmakers, Dr. Katherine Jellison, who was featured in 1,031 media reports in calendar year 2016.

From Compass
Photos by Ben Siegel

Quoted in media around the world during and after the presidential election, Dr. Katherine Jellison was named Ohio University’s top faculty newsmaker of 2016.

A professor of history, chair of the Department of History and a three-time Keystroke Catalyst Award winner, Jellison is a scholar of women’s studies who specializes in contemporary U.S. politics, elections and first ladies of the United States. Her expertise is increasingly sought out by journalists in the local community and states as well as throughout the United States and around the world. The vast majority of her 2016 media placements were related to the women who played key roles in the presidential election. In addition to being featured in the United States’ largest and most influential publications and news outlets, Jellison made headlines in countries around the globe, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Japan, China and Qatar.

Thirteen additional College of Arts & Sciences faculty were recognized as members of the Ohio University community gathered Oct. 12 to celebrate OHIO’s faculty – not for what they do inside their classrooms or research facilities, but rather for the above-and-beyond work they do to promote the University and its excellence – at the third annual Faculty Newsmakers Gala.

“Every mention of an Ohio University expert has a direct impact on enhancing the reputation of the University,” Renea Morris, OHIO’s chief marketing officer, said in welcoming the faculty newsmakers and distinguished guests to this year’s event. “Our celebration this evening is our way of expressing our gratitude to you and to every person who plays a role in promoting the great work that happens here.”

Representing 10 academic units on the Athens Campus and all five of the University’s regional campuses, this year’s 381 faculty newsmakers were featured in 4,065 media reports and more than 1,800 news outlets during the 2016 calendar year.

Jellison Quoted about Female Candidate, Unconventional First Lady and First Daughter

“This is very exciting,” Jellison said in an interview after the gala. “I really had no idea that there had been so many placements and in so many places around world.”

Jellison described 2016 as “a perfect storm,” pairing her expertise and field of study with an election that included both a female candidate and an unconventional first lady and first daughter.

“I was fielding a lot of questions,” Jellison said, noting that she continues to receive inquiries from the media. “A couple of days ago, I was asked to be on MSNBC on the 9 o’clock hour, but then some other news story came up and they went in another direction.”

Jellison said she believes her participation in University Communications and Marketing’s Experts Directory dates back to 2008 when she published a book about weddings and began working with UCM to promote the book and Ohio University.

“It was then that I started getting a few questions about first families,” she said. “The rest is history.”

“Participating in the Experts Directory sounded like a good way to help publicize our University and also to make some connections with my own research. If I am quoted in the media, then maybe scholars and students in other places will know about the work I am doing, get in touch with me, and maybe collaborate,” Dr. Jellison said, adding, “We are a wonderful institution, and it’s good to be a part of publicizing it.”

Highest Number of Media Placements in 2016

The following OHIO faculty newsmakers were presented Keystroke Catalyst Awards for having the highest number of media placements in 2016:

• Katherine Jellison, College of Arts and Sciences, 1,031 media placements
• R. Damian Nance, College of Arts and Sciences, 408 media placements
• Nicholas Kiersey, Ohio University Chillicothe, 275 media placements
• David Ridpath, College of Business, 230 media placements
• Kevin Mattson, College of Arts and Sciences, 192 media placements
• Ian Klein, College of Arts and Sciences, 164 media placements
• Thomas Suddes, Scripps College of Communication, 101 media placements
• Charee Thompson, Scripps College of Communication, 86 media placements
• Michelle Ferrier, Scripps College of Communication, 85 media placements
• Benjamin Bates, Scripps College of Communication, 72 media placements

Quoted in AP’s Top 10 Stories of 2016

The following OHIO faculty newsmakers were presented Keystroke Catalyst Awards for being quoted in media reports related to the Associated Press’ “Top 10 Stories of 2016”:

• Ziad Abu-Rish, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on Syria
• Andy Alexander, Scripps College of Communication, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• delfin bautista, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on the Pulse nightclub massacre
• Susan Burgess, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• DeLysa Burnier, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Michael Burton, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Maria Fanis, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Jennifer Fredette, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on worldwide terror attacks
• Thomas Hodson, Scripps College of Communication, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. election
• Brandon Kendhammer, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on worldwide terror attacks
• Laeeq Khan, Scripps College of Communication, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Michael McTeague, Ohio University Eastern, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Jerry Miller, Scripps College of Communication, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Sarah Poggione, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• William Rawlins, Scripps College of Communication, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Karen Riggs, Scripps College of Communication, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election
• Kimberly Rios, College of Arts and Sciences, who was featured in news reports on black men killed by police
• Robert Stewart, Scripps College of Communication, who was featured in news reports on the U.S. election

Read more about the Newsmakers Gala in Compass.