Extended Bio

Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver is Dean and professor in the
School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Florida International University.

  Scholarly Activities

She is nationally known as an expert on ethics and law as they relate to the scholastic and collegiate press, and one of the primary researchers in the field; her book, College Media Advising: Ethics and Responsibilities, with J.W. Click, is in its fourth edition in 2003.

Kopenhaver has published nearly 40 refereed journal articles in Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, J/MC Educator, Public Relations Review and College Media Review, and nearly 60 others in publications as diverse as Quill, Contemporary Education, Community College Journalist, Newspaper Marketing and Education Week. She has presented 100 invited and refereed papers and addresses.

She has published three monographs, served as editor of two special publications for AEJMC, is associate editor of College Media Review and the FIU Hospitality Review, was book reviewer for J/MC Educator, served on the editorial board of Public Relations Research Annual and reviews manuscripts for a number of academic journals, including Communication Law and Policy.

For the past 25 years she has taught seminars and workshops throughout the U.S. for high school and college student publications advisers and editors on First Amendment rights and responsibilities, ethics, advising, design and policy-making.

  Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

Kopenhaver served as president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in 1998-99.

In her years in AEJMC, she served on the executive committee, chaired the Publications Committee and the Membership Committee, was elected to two terms on the Teaching Standards Committee, and served on the Nominations and Elections, Status of Women, Reorganization, External Funding and Convention Site committees. She also chaired the Diversity in High School Journalism Committee in 2001 and the AEJMC Miami Beach National Convention Host Committee in 2002.

She was chair and vice chair of the Newspaper Division, receiving its Distinguished Service Award in 1990 & again in 2000; chair of the Teaching Standards, Professional Freedom and Responsibility and Research committees of the Public Relations Division and a member of the executive committee; and chair and vice chair of the Council of Divisions and the Council of Affiliates. She has moderated 12 AEJMC research paper sessions and served as research paper judge for the Newspaper, Public Relations, Law and Scholastic Journalism divisions. In 2000 she was selected as the 2000 Honors Lecturer by the Scholastic Journalism Division. In 2001 she was awarded AEJMC’s Distinguished Leadership Award. She serves as chair of the Professional Freedom and Responsibility Committee of the Law Division, 2001-03.

  College Media Advisers

Named to the National College Media Adviser Hall of Fame in 1994, she was president and vice president of College Media Advisers, authored its Code of Professional Standards and Code of Ethics, received its Distinguished Service Award, and directed its annual national convention in New York City for 19 years.

  Society of Professional Journalists

One of the first women inducted into the Society of Professional Journalists, during her 10-year tenure as chair of the national Professional Development Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists, Kopenhaver worked to bring professional development and continuing education to journalists across the country through the SPJ national conventions and through a variety of national, regional and local seminar series. For her work in serving journalists nationally, she was only the second woman in 77 years to be awarded the Wells Memorial Key, the highest honor given each year by the Society of Professional Journalists for service to the Society. She also chaired the society’s International Journalism Committee for four years.

  Other honors

Other experience and honors include president of the Community College Journalism Association and induction into its Hall of Fame; president of the Student Press Law Center and corporate board member since 1976; National Teaching Award in Newspaper Graphics and Design at the Poynter Institute, and invited faculty member; Gannett Ethics Fellow at the University of Missouri; FIU Faculty Service Award; and book manuscript reviewer for Longman, Harcourt Brace and Prentice-Hall. She has received the Gold Key and the Joseph M. Murphy Outstanding Service Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association, the Gold Medallion from the Florida Scholastic Press Association, and the Outstanding Faculty Award for 2000 from the FIU Alumni Association at its Torch Awards 2000 Celebration.

  Other Professional Experience

Prior to joining FIU in 1973, Kopenhaver was assistant professor of journalism and student media adviser at Ocean County College (NJ) and Miami-Dade Community College. She has professional experience as a daily newspaper reporter and editor and also served as public relations and special events director for Florida International University.

  Education

She holds the bachelor's degree from Glassboro State College, master's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University.

E-mail