Marietta College’s Lori Smith receives Ohio Communication Association Distinguished Teacher Award

MARIETTA -- A member of the Marietta College faculty has received the 2023 Distinguished Teacher Award from the Ohio Communication Association.

Lori Smith is an assistant professor and chair in the Department of Communication. The recognition celebrates Smith's teaching skills and unwavering dedication to the field of communication.

"I am honored to receive the 2023 Ohio Communication Association Distinguished Teacher Award," Smith said. "For the past 20 years, I have cherished the opportunities to work closely with our talented and dedicated students. I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on our students and community."

She has had a positive impact at Marietta College through her commitment to academic excellence and serving as a mentor to hundreds of students, the college said.

Beyond the classroom, Smith is the Internship Coordinator for the department, playing a role in providing valuable hands-on experiences for students. Her efforts have resulted in the acquisition of corporate grants to support WRMT-FM, underscoring her commitment to enhancing opportunities for experiential learning.

Smith's commitment to nurturing talent has yielded results. Her Campaigns class achieved national semi-finalist status in the Collegiate Effie competition for three consecutive years.

Her contributions to teaching have earned her multiple awards, including the Alpha Sigma Delta Academic Excellence in Teaching Award and the Edward G. Harness Outstanding Educator Award.

Prior to her career in academia, Smith amassed over 15 years of experience in the newspaper industry, including a prominent role as the advertising director of The Marietta Times. Her career with the Gannett Co. encompassed various advertising positions, during which she earned the prestigious President's Certificate of Achievement, an accolade reserved for the top 10 Gannett advertising managers.