Thirty-five hundred professors from more than 40 countries meet annually and only one is chosen as an honoree in the field of communication by the International Communication Association .

OU Professor Young Kim is this year's ICA Fellow. The ICA is an academic organization of communication scholars.

Kim said she was very honored to be recognized by the association.

"This award inspires me to do my very best to live up to the honor," Kim said. "It gives me a renewed dedication to my work."

David Duty, a communications doctoral student and ICA member, knows the significance of the award and said he feels Kim is a worthy recipient.

"It is an extremely high honor," Duty said. "It is a reflection of the work she's done and a reflection of what her colleagues think of her. She is extremely well deserving."

According to the ICA home page, recipients come from California to Israel, and there are only 52 Fellows in the world.

Fellows are chosen by the ICA Board of Directors based on the professor's contribution to the field of communication in original research, scholarship and professional service.

"It is an honor to be considered for this award," Kim said.

Kari Smith, communications department secretary, said ICA selected the right professor because of Kim's knowledge and academic achievements.

"When I think of Dr. Young Kim, I think of her as full of information," Smith said. "Also, she is a good listener. She will always listen to what you have to say."

Along with 56 journal articles and book chapters, Kim has written 12 books on communication.

Smith said Kim is very deserving of the award because of her dedication.

As an ICA Fellow, Kim will be part of selecting next year's Fellows as well as recognizing outstanding books in the field of communication.

"It is my job to continue this honor system," Kim said.

Kim teaches intercultural communication courses at the undergraduate and doctoral levels. Her undergraduate class is part of the Honors College.

"The classes are at two different levels, and I enjoy both," she said.

Duty is a student of Kim's and said she pushes her students, but in a caring way.

"She wants her students to do well. She can be quite demanding and she expects her students to do well," he said. "She wants students to reach their potential."

Not only is Kim known as an excellent researcher, she is an excellent teacher Duty said. He said some professors are good at just researching, but Kim does both aspects well.

Receiving this award has spurred Kim to continue moving forward academically and professionally.

"My goals are to continue to reach for excellence in my work in theorizing, researching and teaching," Kim said. "I want to continue to improve and get better."
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