2019 Grady College Fellowship class, Sanford Circle honoree announced

The University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is pleased to announce its 2019 Fellowship class: Connie Ledoux Book (PhD ’93), Richard Griffiths, Dean Krugman, Carole Munroe (ABJ ’82) and Brian Robinson (ABJ ’97).

Established in 2008, the Grady College Fellowship honors alumni and friends of the college whose accomplishments and service to their industries have made a positive impact.

In addition, Tom Crawford (1950-2018) will be inducted into the Sanford Circle. A posthumous honor, the Sanford Circle recognizes friends of Grady College whose achievement and generosity of spirit remain with the college.

The induction of the Fellows and Sanford Circle honoree, along with recognition of the Grady College Alumni Award winners, takes place at “Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Commitment and Leadership” on April 26, 2019, at the Athens Cotton Press, 149 Oneta Street, Athens.

Connie Ledoux Book –Book is president of Elon University. Early in her higher education career, Book spent 16 years at Elon University as a professor and senior leader before leaving for a job as provost and chief academic officer, of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. She returned to Elon University in 2018 to become its ninth president. Book earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University, a Master of Education from Northwestern State University and her Ph.D. in mass communication from Grady College.

Richard Griffiths – Before he retired in March 2017, Griffiths spent twenty years as CNN’s editorial oversight, most recently as vice president and senior editorial director. Currently, he serves as president of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, focusing on government access and free speech issues. Griffiths has been named Distinguished Industry Fellow at the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership and serves on Grady College’s Board of Trust. Griffith’s work has been awarded two Emmys, five Peabody awards and two Investigative Reporters and Editors medals.

Dean Krugman – Krugman is professor emeritus in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Grady College. Prior to his retirement, Krugman served as a department head and senior associate dean and director of graduate studies, playing an instrumental role in the creation of the doctoral program at Grady College. He is a prolific researcher, focusing on audience views of changing media environments and health communication, specifically surrounding anti-tobacco strategies. Krugman served as president of the American Academy of Advertising and was named a Fellow of AAA in 2018.

Carole Jackson Munroe – Munroe is a senior director of brand communications for portfolio, loyalty and content for Hilton Worldwide. Prior to Hilton, Munroe served as the director of public relations and content relations for Disney Parks. Her work has been recognized with PRSA and Telly Awards, and several first place awards from the Associated Press early in her journalism career. While she was a journalism student at UGA, Munroe was chosen as the first student selected for a full-time internship with the Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta, where she served as a special assistant to Coretta Scott King. She continues to impact Grady College by serving two terms on the Grady Alumni Board and mentoring Grady’s PRSSA and NABJ chapters, as well as individual students.

Brian Robinson – As an owner of Robinson Republic, a communications consulting firm specializing in public affairs messaging, Robinson works with clients to develop media relations and manage crises. Prior to starting his own business, Robinson served as deputy chief of staff for communications during Gov. Nathan Deal’s campaign in 2010 and 2014. In 2012, he was named UGA’s 40 under 40 class and is an alumnus of Georgia’s 2015 Leadership class. He was also an adjunct professor teaching public affairs communications at Grady College in 2016 and is a member of the Grady College Board of Trust.

By receiving the John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, Chris Holcomb, chief meteorologist for WXIA/WATL-TV, will also be inducted into the Grady Fellowship.

The Sanford Circle honoree, Tom Crawford (ABJ ’72), was the voice of Georgia politics, serving as the founder and editor of “The Georgia Report” (known early on as “Capitol Impact”) for more than 18 years.  He penned a weekly newspaper column that was published in nearly 30 Georgia newspapers, delivering political conversation beyond the capitol to towns and rural communities throughout the state. He was also an early adopter web-based journalism, sharing his political news via an online subscription and through blog posts. Crawford, a former editor of the Red & Black, studied journalism at Grady College and went on to write for the Marietta Daily Journal, the Montgomery Advertiser and The Atlanta Journal. His papers are archived in the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries.

Visit the Grady Salutes ticket website for reservations to the awards dinner.