Dr. Shawn T. Wahl, Founding Dean of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) at Missouri State University, has been inducted into the Central States Communication Association (CSCA) Hall of Fame.

Wahl was recognized for his distinguished accomplishments in leadership, scholarship and education at an awards ceremony April 5, held during the 2024 CSCA Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“I am most proud of the accomplishments in the former College of Arts and Letters and now RCASH, including fundraising and construction projects,” Wahl said. “I believe I was ultimately selected for my work in higher education leadership, in addition to serving a four-year term as president with CSCA.”

According to the CSCA website, the Hall of Fame distinction is awarded “to those who have contributed to the discipline of communication through meritorious scholarship, teaching/mentoring, participation at conventions and service to the association.”

Nominees must also be current CSCA members and have joined the association in 1999 or before.

Honored for dedicated service to CSCA and communication field

Wahl has been involved with CSCA for over two decades, making the organization his primary regional communication association.

He won an election covering 13 states and served as CSCA’s 2nd Vice-President (2014-2015), 1st Vice-President (2015-2016), President (2016-2017) and Immediate Past President (2017-2018). Wahl has also been secretary, vice-chair, and chair of the CSCA Communication Education Division (2009-2011).

In thanking the Executive Committee for the Hall of Fame honor, Wahl acknowledged that the CSCA “has shaped some of the best years in my career.”

Wahl was nominated by a long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Chad McBride, professor of communication at Creighton University.

“The Hall of Fame award is incredibly special to me because of the person who nominated me for this award, Dr. Chad McBride,” Wahl said.

“Chad is someone who is a hero to me,” Wahl continued. “He’s been living with ALS for a number of years, and so this particular moment is something that will always remind me of Chad.”

Wahl has also devoted time and energy in service to the National Communication Association (NCA), where he was vice chair, chair, and immediate past chair of the organization’s Instructional Development Division (2012-2014).

During that tenure, Wahl also served as a member of the NCA’s Professional Awards Committee: Samuel L. Becker Distinguished Service Award/Robert J. Kibler Memorial Award (2014) and as a faculty participant in NCA’s Learning Outcomes in Communication Project (2014).

Commitment to academic research and teaching

Wahl has never abandoned his passion for research and teaching while helping lead MSU into the 21st century.

“While working in higher education leadership, Shawn has maintained a robust research profile with a special interest in advocating for marginalized groups,” McBride said. “[He] has made it his life’s work to leverage higher education resources to advance communication studies, arts, social sciences and humanities education throughout the nation.”

Wahl’s current research focuses on communication education, college teaching and higher education leadership.

One of his research teams received the 2021 Instructional Development Division Distinguished Article Award from NCA, which recognized a 2013 article published in Communication Education.

Prolific writing portfolio

Wahl’s research efforts have translated into a prolific writing portfolio as well. He has published several peer-reviewed articles, co-authored eight books in multiple editions, served as editor of the Texas Speech Communication Journal (2007-2011) and been a reviewer for a variety of communication journals.

“Shawn is one of the rare academic leaders who also maintains an active research profile,” said Dr. Steve Beebe, who supported Wahl’s Hall of Fame nomination.

“This is not easy to do as an administrator,” agreed Dr. Dawn Braithwaite, who also supported Wahl’s nomination. “He has consistently pursued his scholarship over his career to the present day.”

“I want to stress that I have met few university administrators who have stayed as active with their scholarship as has Dr. Wahl,” Braithwaite continued. “I believe this goes back to his love of the discipline, his fundamental belief in the power and opportunity of communication, and his passion for work on projects that lead and maximize the impact of our discipline and contribute meaningfully to students and faculty.”

Career reflects impressive leadership record

Wahl already had a solid leadership portfolio before coming to MSU.

He was the Department Head of Communication, Mass Media, and Theatre at Angelo State University and the founding Director of Graduate Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

But it is his leadership at MSU that highlights an impressively successful career.

Wahl currently serves as the Founding Dean of the Reynolds College and as steering committee co-chair for the MSU Long-Range Plan for 2021-2026.

Previously, he served first as Interim Dean, then Dean, of the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters from 2017 to 2023. Prior to that, Wahl was Department Head of Communication at MSU from 2012 to 2017.

Notably, it was Wahl’s efforts while Dean that contributed significantly to the College receiving an eight-figure endowment—the largest gift in the history of the university to date.

“Springfield’s vibrant performance, visual, verbal, and written arts scenes simply would not be the same—many may not even exist—without Shawn,” said McBride.

The heavy responsibilities have not stopped Wahl from seeking to improve his already accomplished leadership skills. In 2016 he completed the Harvard Management Development Program, and in 2022 he attended the Harvard Institute for Education Management.

“He has put that leadership training to good use,” said Beebe.

Meanwhile, Wahl’s efforts continue to be recognized by his peers and community.

In 2023, he was named one of the top ten influential educational leaders by The Education Magazine. In 2022, he was recognized by the Springfield (MO) Business Journal as one of Springfield’s Men of the Year.

Leadership at MSU defined by three principles

Wahl said his approach to his role as Dean of the Reynolds College is defined by three specific principles: access to education, affordability and advocacy.

Advocacy in particular “covers so many things,” he explained. To be an effective advocate for the Reynolds College, Wahl believes he must reinforce the “value and importance of education.”

Protecting all academic programs is part of that advocacy, as well as identifying private money sources to ensure that those who cannot afford college can find a way to attend.

“These things are difference-makers for people’s lives,” he said.

“With high quality and heart”

Braithwaite expressed admiration for Wahl’s attitude as well as his accomplishments.

“He promotes and serves our discipline at every opportunity on the campus, in the discipline, in our associations, and in the many communities in which he moves, always with high quality and heart,” Braithwaite said.

“I have known many, if not most, of the top leader/scholars in the Central States region for the past half century,” Beebe said. “[Wahl] is the most accomplished leader-scholar I have known during my 50 years of association with CSCA.”

Inspiration shaped by the past

When thinking about who has inspired him to lead and achieve, Wahl said he could think of several examples.

First in mind were his long-standing working relationships with MSU President Clif Smart and former provost Dr. Frank Einhellig, both of whom he described as especially influential.

Another inspirational example for Wahl has been Tim Reynolds, who gifted his wife Judy’s name to the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

“Tim Reynolds and Judy Reynolds definitely inspire me to advocate for students,” Wahl admitted.

Perhaps, however, no one has “lifted up” Wahl more than his own family. He paid special tribute to his late mother Evelyn and his late brother, Larkin Wahl.

“When I think about who has really shaped me, who’s inspired my purpose, and what gives me motivation every day is my mother,” Wahl explained. “And I also have to recognize my brother, Larkin. I would not be receiving this award without them.”

Inspiration fueled by the future

For Wahl, continued leadership means not resting on one’s laurels. In fact, he is excited about the future.

“What’s next is about optimism,” he said. “We have to continue the hard work to build something that’s beyond ourselves.”

This means shaping the future with education, Wahl said, and never giving up on that effort.

“We need to make sure that we’re continuing to lift people up instead of knocking them down.”