Professor Tom Bivins, known among students as an inspiring teacher and active mentor, was named the 1998 winner of the Jonathan Marshall Award for Innovative Teaching in Journalism and Communication. Bivins was surprised with the award at graduation. Each year, Bivins creates the certificates for all awards given at the School's commencement ceremony. To throw him off track, the committee asked him to create a certificate naming Associate Dean Al Stavitsky as the winner. At the ceremony, Dean Gleason announced Bivins as the winner.

"I didn't have a clue," said Bivins, 50, who was dressed in his trademark kilt when he accepted the award. "Ultimately, any teaching award validates what you're doing. I think a lot of college professors really are in it to teach, and I'm one of those people."

Bivins teaches public relations and media ethics at the School, where he has worked since 1985. He is recognized for developing a cutting-edge curriculum that prepares future public relations professionals for the management roles they will take on in a booming field.

He also has developed a basic media ethics course, which wasn't being taught when he arrived at the School. His first media ethics class had 12 students. Since then, the class has swelled in size to an average 80 students and outgrown the room it was held in--because the field of study is in such high demand from both students and professionals.

"The Jonathan Marshall Award for Teaching is a great symbol of the School's ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in teaching," said Dean Tim Gleason.

"Tom's passion for undergraduate teaching, the innovative work he has done in the public relations sequence, and the creation of the communication ethics course have distinguished him as an outstanding teacher," said Gleason.

"Tom's passion for undergraduate teaching, the innovative work he has done in the public relations sequence, and the creation of the communication ethics course have distinguished him as an outstanding teacher." -- Tim Gleason

An award-winning editorial cartoonist, Bivins also is known around campus for the cartoon ducks he has created to represent the University's mascot for the athletic department, alumni association, marching band and other entities.

Bivins is the faculty adviser for the University's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America--a role he also held while serving on the faculty of the University of Delaware's Department of Communication. Bivins has won four outstanding adviser awards from PRSSA regional districts.

"Tom Bivins deserves recognition for his outstanding efforts, both as a teacher who inspires and motivates students to learn and as an involved participant in out-of-class activities that help students learn hands-on," said former UO chapter President Barbara Grimes. "Tom has provided guidance, structure and a sympathetic ear as needed."

Even in an 8:00 a.m. communication ethics class, Bivins is able to generate a lively discussion among students. He requires them to lead the discussions at least once a term to ensure student involvement in class and understanding of the subject. His exams test students' ability to apply their knowledge to practical situations.

"Every student I have talked with who has taken a class with Tom Bivins enjoys his teaching style and professes a real interest in the class material," Grimes said.

Bivins is a published children's author and has written four textbooks on public relations writing, newsletter publications, publication design and writing, and advertising. Two were written with professors Ann Maxwell and Bill Ryan. Bivins also has written a history of the School. He is working on a media ethics book.

He was a broadcast journalist in the U.S. Air Force and several civilian radio and TV stations. His cartoons have appeared in The Register-Guard and the Alaska Advocate. Bivins worked as a consultant for The Writer's Group, a Delaware-based consulting firm and as a public affairs representative for an RCA subsidiary.

Bivins has served on several University committees, including one reviewing the design of a new Allen Hall entrance, the Library Users Committee and Athletic Department Long-Range Planning Committee. He was a publicity consultant for the Museum of Natural History and served on the PR committee for the Lane County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

He earned his doctorate in telecommunications from UO in 1982. He graduated from the University of Alaska with an M.F.A. in creative writing and a B.A. in English.

Bivins was selected by a committee of emeritus professors. Other professors who have received the Marshall Award include Deb Merskin, Bill Ryan, Ann Maxwell, Tom Wheeler, Al Stavitsky, Roger Lavery, Carl Bybee and Tim Gleason.

The award was established by Jonathan Marshall, '62, and his wife, Maxine. The Marshalls were the owners and publishers of Arizona's Scottsdale Progress for 25 years before establishing a charitable foundation in support of nonprofit organizations.

All teaching faculty in the School are eligible for nomination, including tenure-track professors, visiting professors and adjunct faculty. Nominations are based on specific ways in which the nominee has helped students gain new insight into fields of study, to see connections between theory and practice, and to strengthen and polish their professional skills. The annual award carries a $2,000 cash prize.