December 12, 2025
Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Director of the Rhetoric Studio Miranda Rouse received two prestigious awards at this year’s National Communication Association (NCA) Annual Convention, marking a significant milestone in her nearly decade-long career in the field of communication studies.
Held on November 22 in Aurora, Colorado, the NCA convention brought together thousands of scholars, teachers, and practitioners to shape the future of the communication discipline. Among the standout honorees this year was Rouse, who received the highly coveted Von Till Outstanding Newcomer Award, “in recognition of her innovation, scholarship/intellectual work, mentoring, and active participation in NCA’s Communications Centers Section and NACC (The National Association of Communications Centers).”
A distinctive honor, the Von Till Award had not been conferred since 2019, making its presentation this year all the more significant.
"I’ve been working in the communication centers field for nearly 10 years,” notes Rouse. “I started as a student consultant and have now been directing the Rhetoric Studio at Hampden-Sydney since 2022, so receiving this award is a huge accomplishment and a validation of that journey."
Recognition of Rouse’s work did not stop there. Alongside colleagues Laura Stengrim of the University of Illinois and Elizabeth Reeves O’Connor of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rouse was honored with the Top Paper Award in the Communication Centers division. Their winning paper, “Valuing Collaboration Between Foundational Communication Courses and Communication Centers to Support Inclusivity and Diversity,” explores the critical intersections between classroom instruction and support services to foster more inclusive academic environments.
This award-winning research is part of a larger project that has already begun to make waves in the academic community. The team recently published a related article in the Basic Communication Course Annual Journal titled “Connection Over Convention: Promoting Collaboration Between Communications Centers and Foundational Communications Courses to Support Student Diversity and Inclusive Practices.” Making an immediate impact, the paper became the journal’s most popular full-text download within a day of its publication.
Beyond her scholarship, Rouse continues to serve in key governance roles within the NCA. She currently chairs two major divisions: the Communication Centers Section and the Communication Anxiety and Apprehension Division. Her leadership was crucial to bringing this year's successful convention in Aurora to fruition.
Rouse’s dual victory and leadership roles highlight her dedication not only to her own scholarship but also to the broader advancement of communication studies. As she continues her work at Hampden-Sydney College, her recent achievements at the NCA convention underscore the growing influence of the Rhetoric Studio and the vital role of communication centers in higher education.