Hussman Professor Emerita Jane Brown honored with lifetime achievement award

UNC Hussman’s James L. Knight Professor Emerita Jane Brown was honored with the Jonathan B. Howes Lifetime Achievement Award at the April 8 business meeting of the Retired Faculty and Professionals Association.

Brown, who was also the featured speaker at the event, is being recognized for her scholarship and extensive service to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus as well as her engagement in community activities outside the University.

One nomination letter noted, “Jane has had an enduring impact by serving as a role model and inspiring others to continue her work to ensure our country, state and community are places where everyone can live, learn, love, work and grow to the full potential.”

Specifically, nominators pointed out her academic research on adolescent portrayals in mass media, contributions to faculty governance as Faculty Council chair, her support and mentorship of junior faculty especially women, and service on numerous campuswide committees and centers, including the Women’s Center. They also noted her leadership roles in community organizations working to support democracy and ensure social justice.

Professor Emerita Bobbi Owen, chair of the Howes Award committee, said the award is meaningful because it is presented from a group of colleagues who recognize the accomplishments of one of their peers.

First established in 2015, the Howes Award honors previous Retired Faculty and Professionals Association President-elect Jonathan B. Howes, who was professor of city and regional planning at Carolina from 1970 to 2010 and the mayor of Chapel Hill from 1987 to 1991.

Former recipients of the Howes award include William Leuchtenburg, John L. Sanders, Joe W. Grisham and, most recently in 2020, Ray Dooley. Brown is the first woman to receive the award.

Read more about Brown and the award in The Daily Tar Heel.