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Communication Assistant Professors Amanda Cooper and Elizabeth Hintz Named 2025 Early Career Scholars by NCA

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Portrait of Elizabeth Hintz
Portrait of Amanda Cooper

Dr. R. Amanda Cooper, PhD. (image on right), assistant professor of interpersonal communication, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Leslie A. Baxter Early Career Award, presented by the Family Communication Division of the National Communication Association (NCA).

Dr. Elizabeth Hintz, PhD. (image on left), assistant professor of health communication, has been honored with the 2025 Early Career Scholar Award from NCA’s Health Communication Division. This marks her third early career accolade from the association—having previously received awards from the Interpersonal Communication and Family Communication divisions in 2023. With this trio of recognitions, Hintz has achieved a rare and distinguished milestone in the field of communication.

These awards celebrate the impactful research and scholarly contributions of Cooper and Hintz, as well as their commitment to advancing their respective areas of study.

Awardees will be formally recognized at the 111th Annual NCA Convention this November.

The National Communication Association is a scholarly society committed to promoting excellence in communication research, education, and practice to enrich lives and foster a more informed and connected world.

UConn Communication Faculty Member Highlights Dementia Care Strategies in UConn 360 Podcast

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Portrait of Amanda Cooper

STORRS, CT. — In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21, Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Amanda Cooper, PhD., joined the latest episode of the UConn 360 podcast to share insights from her recent research on dementia care and family communication.

Cooper’s recent study, published in the Journal of Family Communication, examines how families can preserve the personhood of loved ones living with dementia. Her work emphasizes the importance of maintaining emotional connections through everyday interactions. Strategies such as expressing affection, engaging in shared storytelling, and affirming identity are shown to help individuals with dementia feel valued and understood.

The podcast episode, titled “Caring For Family Members With Dementia,” explores the practical and emotional dimensions of caregiving. Cooper draws on both academic research and personal experience to offer guidance for families navigating the challenges of dementia-related transitions.

As a new member of the UConn community, Cooper also reflects on the university’s supportive atmosphere for researchers and educators. She notes that the collaborative environment has been instrumental in advancing her work on family communication and end-of-life care.

The full episode is available via the UConn 360 website.

UConn Professor of Communication Dr. David Atkin, PhD., inducted as ICA Fellow

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Dr. David Atkin receiving fellowship award on stage.
Dr. David Atkin shaking hands with person bestowing award.

Inducted as a Fellow of the International Communication Association (ICA)

DENVER, CO — The International Communication Association (ICA) has named Dr. David Atkin, Professor of Communication at the University of Connecticut, to its prestigious 2025 Class of Fellows, recognizing his distinguished contributions to the field of communication.


The ICA Fellow designation is one of the highest honors in the discipline, awarded to scholars whose work has made a lasting impact on communication research and theory. Dr. Atkin’s selection reflects a career defined by innovation, rigor, and influence across multiple domains of digital and mediated communication.

Since first attending ICA in the mid-1980s, Atkin has built a prolific research portfolio that includes over 190 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and five scholarly books. His work has shaped understanding in areas such as media effects, communication technologies, political communication, and media policy. He is widely recognized for developing and validating key theoretical models, including the Functional Equivalence framework, the Integrated Communication Technology Adoption Model, and Technology Fluidity Theory.


Atkin’s scholarship has earned him a place among the top 1% of researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences globally, with consistent rankings for research output and citation impact. His contributions have not only advanced academic discourse but also informed real-world applications in media and technology policy.

Beyond his research, Dr. Atkin has served in editorial roles for leading journals and played an active role in ICA and other professional organizations. His commitment to teaching and mentorship has been recognized with honors such as the Krieghbaum Under-40 Award and the University Distinguished Scholar Award.