Dr. Julia Johnson and senior Communication Studies major Sally Spalding traveled to Los Angeles for Spalding to receive a national award from the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language, and Gender. Spalding and Johnson participated in the conference, and Spalding was honored at a banquet held as part of the conference.

Spalding’s paper was chosen for the 2009 Organization for the Study of Communication, Language and Gender Undergraduate Paper Award.  Her paper, “Power Play: The Intersection of Religion and Gender in Christian Women’s Narratives,” was written for her capstone last semester and a version of this paper will also be presented in Chicago next month at the National Communication Association Convention.Dr. Johnson and Dr. Thornton are also presenting papers at the NCA Convention in Chicago.

When the presenter explained why Spalding won the award, she mentioned that Spalding’s theory was strong, her analysis of intersectionality important, and the quality of writing and analysis at the graduate level.