College Senior Associate Dean Receives Alumni Honor For Service

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Senior Associate Dean Shawn Long has received the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award from the University of Kentucky Lyman T. Johnson African American alumni group, honoring his impact on other people’s lives.

The awards honor one African-American alumni member and one African-American student from each University of Kentucky college whose faith, hard work and determination have positively impacted the lives of people on the university campus, the city, state or nation. Long received his award as the College of Communication and Information’s alumni honoree on Oct. 19 at the 28th annual awards event, as part of the 2018 Lyman T. Johnson Homecoming Celebration.

“This special night honored Lyman T. Johnson’s legacy at the University of Kentucky and acknowledged the many men and women of color who work every day to continue carrying the torch of diversity and inclusion on our campus, in our local community and across the world,” said African American Alumni Group President Lee Jackson.

Long recently assumed the position as Senior Associate Dean for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences following a stint as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and, prior to that, as chair of the Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte.

“Service to others is an important component of my professional and personal life,” Long said. “I am honored that the alumni association at my alma mater where I earned my graduate degree would recognize me in such a way.” Long earned his doctorate in communication from the University of Kentucky and his Master of Public Administration and his bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State. Among other honors, he has received the Outstanding Service Award from the African American Communication and Culture Division and the Black Caucus of the National Communication Association.

Image: Maria Jones (left, with trophy), Torch Bearer, and Shawn Long (right with trophy), Torch of Excellence recipient; image courtesy of the University of Kentucky Alumni Association