Knight Foundation endowed the James L. Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte  to teach digital and media literacy to students and the community. Here, Susan Patterson, Charlotte program director, writes about a distinguished member of its faculty. 

A professor in the new Knight School of Communication was honored with a Distinguished Professor Award this week at the university’s annual spring convocation.

Dr. Zachary White joined the faculty just two years ago and says the teaching experience at Queens has been even better than he could imagine it. He is part of the Knight School team introducing digital and media literacy to freshmen students in the university’s core curriculum.

Here’s what one of his students had to say about him: “If I had to explain his style, it would be personable, witty, intelligent and fun. Whenever he teaches I can tell it is with true passion….the most used sentence I have heard is he is such a cool guy…What stands out to me…is how much he loves learning, even though he is the expert. His facial expressions when students give great answers that make him think, speak for that.”

The Joseph W. Grier Jr. Distinguished Professor Award was established in honor of the former chairman of the Queens University of Charlotte board of trustees. Nominations for this award are solicited from members of the board of trustees and the alumni board, from faculty, students and staff. The recipient must have made an outstanding contribution to Queens University of Charlotte and the teaching and learning process.

White holds a PhD in contemporary rhetorical theory from Purdue University, a master of critical-cultural studies from San Diego State University and a bachelor of arts in speech communication from the University of San Diego. He is active across the university, serving on the Honors Committee, and also teaching in the John Belk International Program.