Dr. Kay L. Colley, assistant professor of communication, has been named the 2011 Teacher of the Year by the Small Programs Interest Group of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

SPIG will present Dr. Colley the award Thursday, Aug. 11, at a meeting held in conjunction with AEJMC’s annual convention in St. Louis. She will receive a plaque and $100.

Dr. Colley, who serves as the Research Co-Chair for SPIG, earned a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of North Texas in 2007. Her dissertation was titled “Latino Success Stories in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study of Graduates at a Health Science Center,” and is available digitally.

Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in international journalism from Baylor University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M, as well as an associate’s of arts degree in journalism from Blinn College. In 2010, Dr. Colley received special training at the Newsplex, the University of South Carolina in practicing, teaching and researching convergent journalism.

At Texas Wesleyan, she serves as the student media faculty liaison. Prior to joining Texas Wesleyan University as an adjunct assistant professor in 2008, she taught at five other Texas institutions in an adjunct, instructor or visiting capacity, including University of North Texas Health Science Center, University of Texas at Arlington, University of North Texas, Texas A&M, and Blinn College and Blinn College Education Center.

She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and made numerous conference presentations. Her leadership positions include serving on the board of directors for the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication.