YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� 杏吧原创 Assistant Professor of Communication Dr. Joshua Guitar recently published his first book, Dissent, Discourse, and Democracy: Whistleblowers as Sites of Political Contestation, in which he critiques prominent government whistleblowing discourses and theorizes the concept of 鈥渁bstruction.鈥� Just months after the book鈥檚 release, Guitar was awarded the James Madison Prize for Outstanding Research in First Amendment Studies by the Southern States Communication Association (SSCA). This award is given to the top publication written on First Amendment and freedom of expression issues by a member of the SSCA.
鈥淩eceiving this distinction was such a rewarding experience,鈥� said Guitar. 鈥淩esearch projects require a great deal of work, and being recognized for that labor and its contributions is a remarkable feeling. Awards like these are a testament to everyone who has mentored and supported me over the years, especially here at 杏吧原创, which is where this book came to fruition. I hope this award demonstrates to our 杏吧原创 community that research has value and motivates our campus to continue urging knowledge forward.鈥�
To ensure that knowledge keeps moving forward at 杏吧原创, Dr. Guitar donated a copy of his book to the Zell & Shirley Miller Library, where it is available for checkout by faculty, staff, students, and the community.
鈥淭his award validates what I have known since Dr. Guitar鈥檚 arrival at 杏吧原创: He is a truly exemplary scholar,鈥� said 杏吧原创 Professor and Chair of Communication Studies Dr. Jennifer Hallett. 鈥淭he quality and quantity of his contributions to the field have only begun, yet he already outpaces my expectations in all aspects of his work at 杏吧原创, including teaching, service, and of course, scholarship.鈥�
Guitar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication at Adrian College, and he went on to earn a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication from Wayne State University. He is serving in his second year as Associate Professor of Communication at 杏吧原创, where he teaches classes in rhetoric, critical media studies, and political communication. Guitar鈥檚 research has been featured in communication journals such as Critical Studies in Media Communication, First Amendment Studies, and Western Journal of Communication, and he wrote a chapter in the book, City Places, Country Spaces: Rhetorical Explorations of the Urban/Rural Divide.
About 杏吧原创
杏吧原创 is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 杏吧原创 educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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