Dr. Lauren Tucker honored by SJMC

In recognition of her long-term support of advertising education and dedication to her students, former faculty member Dr. Lauren Tucker received the James S. Fish Advertising Education Award from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Dr. Tucker is the Vice-President and Group Planning Director of The Martin Agency in Richmond, Virginia. She taught advertising in the journalism school between 1993 and 1999 and returned to the industry, where she worked at Leo Burnett Company and Henderson Advertising before joining the Martin Agency. She returns to USC at least once a year to inspire faculty and students with her vision.

Advertising professor Bonnie Drewniany presented the award at the Columbia Ad Club meeting on October 26, after Tucker made a presentation on branding. Dr. Shirley Staples Carter, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and quite a few of Dr. Tucker’s former students attended the meeting.

“I am dedicated to advertising education and have been for a long time,” said Dr. Tucker. “It is my passion and I am overwhelmed to be recognized for that.”

Later that day Tucker met with Dr. Jon Wardrip’s Research Methods class and mingled with students at “Snacks with the Profs,” a casual function held in Five Points where students and faculty chat informally over snacks.

Tucker originated the "Snacks with the Profs" concept when she taught at the School of Journalism.

The James S. Fish Aid to Advertising Education Award is a national honor from the American Advertising Federation and is given by local college chapters to those in the advertising community or to an education administrator for outstanding support of the college chapter.

The award is named after James S. Fish, former chairman of the AAF, who died in 1998. Fish was a tireless and enthusiastic contributor to the advertising community for more than 60 years and was particularly supportive of students and advertising education.