Ray Chávez, faculty member at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been named the 1999 recipient of the Barry Bingham Sr. Fellowship from the National Conference of Editorial Writers Foundation.
The fellowship is presented annually to a journalism educator committed to preparing minority students for successful careers in journalism.
Chávez is also the director of the SJMC Office of Student Diversity. He was selected because of his dedication to recruiting, teaching, mentoring and retaining minority students at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder.
"We in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication believe deeply in the value of cultural diversity in our faculty, our students, and the industries we serve," said Stewart Hoover, SJMC interim dean. "We are very pleased to have Ray Chávez recognized for the important work he does on this issue on our behalf."
The award includes an offer of assistance to conduct a project proposed by the award recipient. Chávez is invited to participate in any or all NCEW convention activities of his choosing and is also invited to conduct a student session during the convention.
"I am deeply humbled by this award," Chávez said. "It is extremely gratifying to know that such a well-respected organization such as the NCEW recognizes and appreciates the body of work I've completed over the years.
"The only greater reward is knowing that many of my former students are having a profound impact on the journalism profession."
Barry Bingham Sr., for whom the fellowship is named, was a journalist and crusader who used his position as publisher of the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times in Kentucky to attract minority students into newspaper careers.
Chávez was also recognized for his efforts to promote diversity in his newspaper career. He was city editor of the El Paso Herald-Post in Texas before joining the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder faculty in 1991. His journalism experience spans over 20 years, from posts as general assignment reporter to city editor. He is a founder of the National Association for Hispanic Journalists, and was recently elected chairman of the Colorado Press Association's Diversity Committee.
Chávez is a two-time winner of the National Teaching Award for Excellence from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Texas Tech and a master's degree in communication from the University of Washington.
As director of the SJMC Office of Student Diversity, Chávez speaks to students from all over the country, sparking their enthusiasm and motivation to pursue journalism as a career.
OSD provides minority students with academic and professional advising, as well as career placement opportunities. OSD also sponsors the Multi Media Ethnic Organization and Cultural Currents, a publication by, for and about students of color.
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder's School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students interested in journalism careers. Undergraduate program offerings include advertising, broadcast news, broadcast production management, news-editorial and media studies.
Degree programs at the graduate level include mass communication research, newsgathering, integrated marketing communications, environmental journalism and communication. For more information visit the SJMC Web site at
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