University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications professor Amy Struthers has been promoted to full professor. She received her doctorate in educational studies on May 6.
“I speak for everyone at the College of Journalism and Mass Communications when I say that Amy Struthers is a valued member of our team and we are all incredibly proud of her accomplishments this year,” said Maria Marron, dean of the college. “Dr. Struthers is a strong advocate of hands-on experience for students, and it is a privilege to have her here working with our students.”
Struthers teaches promotional strategy, copywriting and integrated marketing communications campaigns. She’s also the faculty founder of Jacht Ad Lab, the CoJMC’s student-run advertising agency.
Her dissertation looked at Jacht as a teaching model, exploring theories of experiential education, apprenticeship and situated learning. Her research included a survey of the 200-plus former Jacht students and the industry professionals who have co-taught at Jacht over the last six years.
“I hypothesized at the start of my research that experience is critical to learning for students who aspire to careers in advertising and public relations,” Struthers said. “My research set out to build and test a functioning student communications firm, founded on learning theories.”
She has been very involved in the CoJMC, and the university, since she joined the faculty in 2003. For nine years, Struthers served as advisor to UNL’s student chapter of the American Advertising Federation, UNL Ad Club, and she founded UNL's student team for the National Student Advertising Competition. She has served on UNL's Faculty Senate, has been a member of the Senate's executive committee and represents the college as a commencement marshal.
Struthers has received numerous awards her teaching and research, including the College Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2011, the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Minority Student Nominator award in 2010 and the college’s Outstanding Faculty Service Award in 2005. She was also selected as a scholar in the Advertising Educational Foundation’s Visiting Professor Program in 2006 and was posted at McCann Erickson New York.
Her research agenda focuses on work in public health messaging, particularly to teen audiences. She has worked closely with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate on campaigns to encourage high school students to be more physically active and make better food choices.
Additionally, Struthers has been on two interdisciplinary teams of researchers working on large health-related grants, The World of Viruses, a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Award, and a $1.8 million grant called The Omaha Science Media Project.
Struthers has also worked with undergraduate and graduate students to research the social phenomenon of trends to shed light on the dissemination of ideas and products with particular audiences, funded by the Archrival Faculty Fellowship for Trend Research.
Prior to joining the faculty, Struthers was a marketing professional for 15 years for IBM. She also worked for a variety of programs at UNL and was the first full-time professional advertising manager for the Daily Nebraskan. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English, French and comparative literature and a master’s in French language and literature at UNL following her teaching in the French public school system.