Texas Tech University

CoMC founding dean and alumni honored at 2018 Hall of Fame dinner

College of Media & Communication

The CoMC National Advisory Board 2018 award winners: (L-R) Dean David Perlmutter, Tony Wright, Jill Hockenbury. (Not pictured: Joe Fairless.) (Far right) - Jerry Hudson, Ph.D., former dean of the college, was inducted into the CoMC Hall of Fame.

The College of Media & Communication honored its founding college dean and three alumni at the annual Outstanding Alumni and Hall of Fame Awards dinner at the Overton Hotel on Nov. 2.

The College of Media & Communication honored its founding college dean and three alumni at the annual Outstanding Alumni and Hall of Fame Awards dinner at the Overton Hotel on Nov. 2.

Jerry Hudson, Ph.D., was inducted into the college's Hall of Fame. Hudson is the founding dean emeritus of CoMC, and holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from West Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas.

During his time at Texas Tech, Hudson served as director of the School of Mass Communications and went on to become the founding dean of the College of Mass Communications (now Media & Communication). Hudson also held positions as the coordinator of graduate studies and director of the Institute of Communication Research in the college.

He served as president of the Texas Association of Broadcast Educators and the Southwest Council of Journalism and Mass Communication, and was awarded the President's Academic Achievement award in 1995.

"No one has made such an enduring contribution to the birth and success of our College as Dean Hudson," said David D. Perlmutter, professor and dean of the CoMC. "We are proud to give him our thanks in the form of our highest honor and award."

Additionally, three CoMC alumni were recognized as outstanding alumni: Joe Fairless (Advertising, 2005), Jill Hockenbury (Journalism, 1987), and Tony Wright (MA, Mass Communications, 1999).

Fairless earned a bachelor's degree in advertising from the College of Media & Communication at Texas Tech in 2005, and has spent the majority of his career transferring his knowledge of advertising and communication to the fields of finance and real estate. He is a co-founder and managing principal of Ashcroft Capital, a multifamily investment firm.

Hockenbury earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from the then-Department of Mass Communications at Texas Tech in 1987, and has built a career in the world of health care marketing and communication. She now serves as director of physician outreach at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Wright earned his master's degree in mass communications from the college in 1999, and has crafted a career in interactive marketing, public relations and journalism. Founder of WrightIMC in 2009, his company was named one of the top 10 search engine marketing firms by Ad Age.

CoMC's Outstanding Alumni Awards program began in 1981 to recognize alumni who have made significant contributions to the field of communication. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have contributed to the quality education in the college. Award recipients were chosen by a committee of faculty college administrators and alumni.

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