Anderson named distinguished professor emeritus

CONWAY — Joseph Anderson, former chairman of the University of Central Arkansas’ department of mass communication and theater, was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus during commencement May 12 at UCA.

“I spent many years in the university because I wanted to be where learning and thinking were practiced and highly valued,” Anderson said. “Sometimes I was able to share my enthusiasm for the pursuit of knowledge with like-minded colleagues and students. Those were my best moments, along with this one.”

Anderson is credited with helping to transform the department of mass communication and theater. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. The Arkansas native joined UCA in July 2002 from Georgia State University and served seven years as the department chairman before retiring in 2009.

“Joe Anderson founded several programs at UCA, including our digital filmmaking programs, organized a new department and brought great vision to the College of Fine Arts and Communication,” said Dr. Rollin Potter, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. “He is truly one of our most distinguished faculty members and truly deserving of this award.”

Anderson established the undergraduate degree program in digital filmmaking and developed the Master of Fine Arts degree program in digital filmmaking, the only programs of their kind in the state.

He founded the Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image, an international organization of film scholars that hosts annual conferences around the world. He will give an opening address in New York at the 2012 conference, June 13-16, hostedjointly by Sarah Lawrence College and New York University.

“The Distinguished Professor Emeritus is an extraordinary and rare honor that demonstrates the impact Dr. Anderson has had on the department of masscommunication, the university and the field of film studies,” said Bruce Hutchinson, director of graduate studies of digital filmmaking and an associate professor of digital filmmaking. “His vision as a department chair helped create a thriving department that gives students a cutting-edge education in digital filmmaking, journalism and theater, while his vision as a film scholar has changed the very nature and direction of film studies.”

“Joe Anderson is a great scholar and a hard act to follow,” said John Gale, who succeeded Anderson as UCA department of mass communication and theater chairman.

Anderson, previously a faculty member at the University of Kansas, the University of Iowa, the University of Wisconsin and Louisiana State University, also worked for several years in the motion-picture industry. A graduate of North Little Rock High School, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a doctorate from Iowa.