Distinguished Adviser Award
The Distinguished Adviser Award is presented to a CMA member who has had five or more years experience in college student media advising, has distinguished service in a particular area and is an adviser at the time of the nomination.
Beginning in 2023, the Distinguished Adviser Award does not categorize by medium, only by four-year and two-year colleges and universities. Multiple advisers can be recognized within these categories; the number of advisers recognized each year is determined by the CMA Awards Committee.
Four-Year Newspaper Adviser
- 2021: Elizabeth Smith, Pepperdine University, Seaver College
- 2021: Dr. James Carviou, Missouri Western State University
- 2020: Adell Crowe, West Virginia University
- 2020: Nanci Healy, New York University
- 2020: Seth Prince, University of Oklahoma
- 2019: Jody Biehl, SUNY Buffalo
- 2019: Lola Burnham, Eastern Illinois University
- 2019: Paul Glader, The King’s College
- 2018: Carol Terracina Hartman, University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
- 2018: John Harvey, East Carolina University
- 2018: Chris Richert: Columbia College Chicago
- 2018: Michael Ray Taylor, Henderson State University
- 2017: Ed Bonza, Kennesaw State University
- 2017: Colin Donohue, Elon University
- 2017: Carolyn Levin, Long Island University
- 2017: Tammy Merrett, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- 2016: Vince Filak, University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh
- 2015: Judy Robinson, University of Oklahoma
- 2015: Hillary Warren, Otterbein University
- 2015: Chris Poore, University of Kentucky
- 2014: Bradley Wilson, Midwestern State University
- 2013: Max McCoy, Emporia State University
- 2012: Kelly Messinger, Capital University
- 2011: Tom Nelson, Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles
- 2010: Sam Martino, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
- 2009: Don Corrigan, Webster University
- 2008: Ed Williams, Auburn University
- 2007: Valerie White, Florida A&M University
- 2006: David Waddell, California State University, Chico
- 2005: Steven E. Chappell, Truman State University
- 2004: Art Barlow, Clarion University
- 2003: Michael Serino, Ithaca College
- 2002: Elizabeth Stone, Fordham College at Lincoln Center
- 2001: Don H. Corrigan, Webster University
- 2000: Ron Hollander, Montclair State University
- 1999: Chad Stebbins, Missouri Southern State University
- 1998: Patrick McKeand, Indiana University
- 1997: Desmond McCarthy, Framingham State College
- 1996: Patrick J. Kuhnle, Purdue University
- 1995: Albert “Flip” De Luca, James Madison University
- 1994: Linda C. Owens, University of South Carolina-Aiken
- 1993: Ron Johnson, Kansas State University
- 1992: Lesley Marcello, Nicholls State University
- 1991: Jack Lancaster, Oklahoma State University
- 1990: Ron Gibson, University of Texas at Austin
- 1989: George Evans, St. Bonaventure University
- 1988: Robert Gremmels, Wartburg College
- 1987: Rita Abent, Eastern Michigan University
- 1986: Howard L. Seemann, Humboldt State University
- 1985: Steve Ames, Pepperdine University
- 1984: Barbara Krohn, University of Washington
- 1983: Patrick Siddons, Indiana University
- 1982: Joseph T. Kovach, University of California Santa Barbara
- 1981: John David Reed, Eastern Illinois University
- 1980: David J. Lippert, University of Wisconsin/Oshkosh
- 1979: Alfred O. Gray, Whitworth College
- 1978: Robert R. Adams, Western Kentucky University
- 1977: Donald Ryan, Pace University
- 1976: Nancy L. Green, University of Kentucky
- 1975: Roy Copperud, University of Southern California
- 1975: Marilyn Peterson, Midland Lutheran College
- 1974: Elizabeth Barnes, Stephens College
- 1973: Ira Baker, East Carolina University
- 1972: Willard E. Lally, Rider College
- 1971: Kay Ryall Miller, Edinboro State College
- 1970: Herman A. Estrin, Newark College of Engineering
- 1969: Louis Ingelhart, Ball State University
- 1968: William F. Noall, University of Maryland
- 1967: Irwin C. Harris, Oregon State University
- 1966: Roy G. Campbell, Northern Illinois University
- 1965: Raymond Tudor, Illinois State University
- 1964: Lee O. Hench, Wisconsin State College
- 1963: Hector Sutherland, Rochester Institute of Technology
- 1962: Gay Jenkins, Lewis and Clark College
- 1961: Robert C. Cranford, University of Nebraska
- 1960: Sister Mary Regina, C.S.J. Regis College
Two-Year Newspaper Adviser
- 2018: Laura Krantz, Tyler Junior College
- 2017: Rob Marino, College of Central Florida
- 2015: Richard Gaspar, Hillsborough Community College
- 2014: Eddye Gallagher, Tarrant County College
- 2013: Rosalind Schliske, Laramie County Community College
- 2012: Lori Clark, Elgin Community College
- 2011: Anita Reed, Seward County Community College
- 2010: Paul DeBolt, Contra Costa College
- 2008: Max Branscomb, Southwestern College
- 2007: Nils Rosdahl, North Idaho College
- 2006: Laura York, Garden City Community College
- 2005: Ian Blake Newman, SUNY Rockland Community College
- 2003: David Levy, Wilbur Wright Community College (IL)
- 2002: Ron Bennett, Brigham Young University-Rexburg
- 2002: Gary Mielo, Sussex County Community College
- 2001: Paul Peterson, North Iowa Area Community College
- 1999: Stacy Sparks, Dodge City Community College
- 1998: Tony Strawn, Henderson Community College
- 1997: Charles W. Little, Rancho Santiago College
- 1996: Richard Conway, Nassau Community College
- 1995: Roger W. Carlson, St. Louis Community College
- 1994: Trum Simmons, Harrisburg Area Community College
- 1993: Thomas Buckner, McLennan Community College
- 1992: Richard Cameron, West Valley College
- 1991: Judith H. Jolly, Tallahassee Community College
- 1990: Mary Hires, County College of Morris
- 1989: Thomas Pierce, Valencia Community College
- 1988: Jerry Elam, Broward Community College
- 1986: Thomas M. Gould, Milwaukee Area Technical College
- 1985: Ray Canton, Santa Barbara City College
- 1984: Mary Ann Wood, Jefferson Community College
- 1983: Nancy White, Hillsborough Community College
- 1982: Jose Quevedo, Miami Dade Community College
- 1981: G. Tom Kramer, Los Angeles Pierce College
- 1980: Peter C. Townsend, Miami-Dade Community College
- 1979: W.B. Daugherty, San Antonio College
- 1978: Karen L. Bosley, Ocean County College
- 1978: Betty Strehlau, Highline Community College
- 1977: Warren Mack, DeAnza College
- 1976: Paul Gerhard, Lake Michigan College
- 1975: Joe Norton, Tarrant County Junior College
- 1974: William Buttler, Pasadena City College
- 1973: Evelyn Claxton, Rend Lake College
- 1972: Kenneth Knapp, Rochester State Junior College
- 1971: Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver, Ocean County College
- 1970: Barbara Garfunkel, Miami-Dade Junior College-South
- 1969: Frederic J. Walker, Vincennes University
- 1968: W.A. Kamrath, El Camino College
- 1967: Albert W. Higgins, Hibbing State Junior College
Four-Year Yearbook Adviser
- 2019: James Carviou, Missouri Western State University
- 2010: Randy Stano, University of Miami
- 2005: Traci Mitchell, University of Mississippi
- 2003: Ann Thorne, Missouri Western State College
- 2001: Kathryn Jenson White, University of Oklahoma
- 1999: Kathy Hamer, Texas Christian University
- 1998: Anne Hammond, Oklahoma Baptist University
- 1995: Adele Lanan, University of Notre Dame
- 1992: David Kyncl, Pittsburg State University
- 1991: Linda Puntney, Kansas State University
- 1990: Laura Widmer, Northwest Missouri State University
- 1989: Twila Smith, University of Oklahoma
- 1988: David Adams, Kansas State University
- 1985: Terry Vander Heyden, Western Kentucky University
- 1983: Ron White, Louisiana Tech University
- 1982: Marilyn Weaver, Ball State University
- 1981: William D. Downs, Ouachita Baptist University
- 1980: Marilyn Peterson, Midland Lutheran College
- 1979: Lesley W. Marcello, Nicholls State University
- 1978: Jerry R. Thompson, University of Texas at Austin
- 1977: Roger Loewen, Western Kentucky University
- 1976: J. William Click, Ohio University
- 1975: Vernon McDaniel, College of the Ozarks
- 1974: Regis Boyle, Catholic University of America
- 1973: Joseph E. Pryor, Harding University
- 1972: C. Thomas Nelson, Pepperdine University
- 1971: Dario Politella, University of Massachusetts
- 1970: Manion Rice, Southern Illinois University
- 1969: Joe T. Kovach, University of California-Santa Barbara
- 1968: Katherine Rogers, Fort Hays State College
- 1967: John A. Boyd, Indiana State University
- 1966: Oliver R. Smith, Brigham Young University
- 1965 : Margaret Garland, Wartburg College
- 1964: Perry Ashley, University of Kentucky
- 1963: Wilbur C. Peterson, University of Iowa
- 1962: Reid H. Montgomery, Florida State University
- 1961: C.J. Medlin, Kansas State College
- 1960: William F. McIlrath, Michigan State University
Two-Year Yearbook Adviser
- 1989: Marla Lord, Garden City Community College
- 1980: William W. (Bill) Walker, Bakersfield College
- 1979: Jean J. Sneed, Lake Sumter Community College
- 1973: Helen Strickland, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
- 1972: Hugh McLaughlin, Mesa Community College
- 1971: William C. Woolfson, Bronx Community College
- 1968: Jim Sullivan, Eastern Oklahoma State College
- 1967: Lewis S. Barrett, Fullerton Junior College
Four-Year Magazine Adviser
- 2021: Linda Barrington, Mount Mary University
- 2019: Laura Otto, Mount Mary University
- 2017: Olive Sullivan, Missouri Southern State University
- 2013: Marta Magellen, Miami Dade College
- 1999: Debra Reddin van Tull, Augusta State University
- 1997: Pat Parish, Louisiana State University
- 1996: Harvey Gotliffe, San Jose State University
- 1995: Paul A. Olsen, Coastal Carolina University
- 1993: Wayne Maikranz, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- 1992: Mary Lynn Polk, Lander College
- 1983: George Winford, University of Alaska at Fairbanks
- 1982: David H. Wendelken, James Madison University
- 1979: Charles Oliver, Ohio Northern University
- 1974: Joann Carlson, Pepperdine University
- 1972: Charles Reynolds, Southern Methodist University
- 1971: Dan Thornburgh, Eastern Illinois University
- 1968: Wilton C. Scott, Savannah State College
- 1967: Ronald Phillips, Black Hills State College
Two-Year Magazine Adviser
- 2021: Geoff Carr, North Idaho College
- 2020: Emily Sendin, Miami Dade College – Padron Campus
- 2016: Karen Bauer, Bismarck State College
- 2012: Ian Newhem, State University of New York-Rockland
- 2011: Richard Gaspar, Hillsborough Community College
- 1991: Jo Ann Kell, Walters State Community College
- 1989: Linda Puntney, Cowley County Community College
- 1988: Nancy White, Hillsborough Community College
- 1983: Robert W. Scheibel, Los Angeles Pierce College
- 1980: Betty Owen, Broward Community College
- 1978: Jan Rawson, Citrus College
- 1977: Nard Taiz, Pima Community College
- 1975: Terry Intyre, Cypress College
- 1973: W.B. Daugherty, San Antonio College
Four-Year Business Adviser
- 2019: Kelly Merges, UNC Charlotte
- 2012: Paul Bittick, Cal Poly State University-San Luis Obispo
- 2002: Annette Forbes, Iowa State University
- 2001: Jeff A. Breaux, Vanderbilt University
- 2000: Evelyn Gardner, University of Texas-Austin
- 1998: Gloria Freeland, Kansas State University
- 1994: Terry Lucas, University of Pittsburgh
- 1993: Dorothy Estes, University of Texas at Arlington
- 1991: Jo Ann Thompson, Western Kentucky University
- 1990: Susan Sasso, University of Oklahoma
- 1989: Glenn Robinson, Eastern Illinois University
- 1988: Frank Ragulsky, Oregon State University
- 1986: Jon E. Fisher, Louisiana State University
- 1985: Richard C. Lytle, Texas Tech University
- 1984: Nancy L. Green, University of Texas-Austin
- 1983: Les Hyder, Southern Methodist University
- 1982: Clarence Anderson, University of Southern California
- 1981: Fred W. Weddle, University of Oklahoma
- 1980: Wesley Calvert, Washington State University
- 1979: Richard Sublette, University of Illinois
- 1978: Ed Barber, University of Florida
- 1976: Lee McCaskey, Appalachian State University
- 1975: E.A. Jerome, Brigham Young University
- 1974: Jack Backer, Indiana University
- 1973: David Whitaker, Western Kentucky University
- 1972: Noel Ross Strader, University of Houston
- 1970: Harry E. Morris, University of California at Los Angeles
- 1969: Brent G. Myking, University of Florida
- 1967: Loyd Edmonds, University of Texas-Austin
Two-Year Business Adviser
Four-Year Broadcast Adviser
- 2021: Jamie Lynn Gilbert, North Carolina State University
- 2020: Leonard A. O’Kelly, Grand Valley State University
- 2019: Jasmine Crighton, Western Illinois University
- 2018: Paul Glover, Henderson State University
- 2017: Isobel Breheny-Schafer, Stony Brook University
- 2015: Chris Wheatley, Ithaca College
- 2014: Warren Kozireski, State University of New York, Brockport
- 2013: Mark Maben, Seton Hall University
- 2012: Anthony Fleury, Washington & Jefferson College
- 2011: Candace Walton, University of South Dakota
- 2010: John Bennett, Savannah College of Art and Design
- 2009: Will Robedee, Rice University
- 2004: Deb Lesser, Illinois State University
- 2002: Joel Willer, University of Louisiana at Monroe
- 2000: Dan Knight, University of Texas-Austin
- 1995: Charles “Chuck” Gene Bailey, Marshall University
- 1994: John V. Madormo, North Central College
- 1993: John Jasinski, Northwest Missouri State University
Two-Year Broadcast Adviser
- 2021: Geoff Carr, North Idaho College
- 2020: Emily Sendin, Miami Dade College – Padron Campus
- 2016: Karen Bauer, Bismarck State College
- 2012: Ian Newhem, State University of New York-Rockland
- 2011: Richard Gaspar, Hillsborough Community College
- 1991: Jo Ann Kell, Walters State Community College
- 1989: Linda Puntney, Cowley County Community College
- 1988: Nancy White, Hillsborough Community College
- 1983: Robert W. Scheibel, Los Angeles Pierce College
- 1980: Betty Owen, Broward Community College
- 1978: Jan Rawson, Citrus College
- 1977: Nard Taiz, Pima Community College
- 1975: Terry Intyre, Cypress College
- 1973: W.B. Daugherty, San Antonio College
Four-Year Multimedia Adviser
- 2021: Steven Sandberg, Oregon State University
- 2020: Lindsey Wotanis, Marywood University
- 2020: Sue Zake, Kent State University
- 2019: Jessica Clary, SCAD Atlanta
- 2018: Kevin Kleine, Berry College
- 2017: Tel Bailliet, Tulane University
- 2016: Candace Baltz, Oregon State University
- 2015: Toni Albertson, Mt. San Antonio College
- 2014: Chris Evans, University of Vermont
- 2010: Steven Listopad, Jamestown College
- 2007: John Bennett, Savannah College of Art and Design
- 2005: Paul Isom, University of Alabama
- 2004: Mary Cory, University of Illinois-Champaign
- 2002: Jim McKellar, University of Illinois-Champaign
- 2000: Michael Agin, University of Kentucky
- 1999: William Lawbaugh, Mount Saint Mary’s College
- 1998: Laura Widmer, Northwest Missouri State University
- 1997: Chris Carroll, Vanderbilt University
- 1996: Ed Bonza, Kennesaw State College
- 1995: David Adams, Indiana University
- 1994: Richard Daigle, Emory University
- 1993: Mark Witherspoon, Southern Methodist University
- 1991: Marilyn A. Peterson, Midland Lutheran College
Two-Year Multimedia Adviser