University of Miami School of Communication announces Professor Ana François as this academic year’s recipient of the Robert and Christine Staub Faculty Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Effective Teaching. François was recognized at the school’s annual end-of-year celebration and award show.

The Staub award recognizes a School of Communication faculty member for effectiveness in teaching, advising, mentoring, and service roles in and outside the classroom and is made possible through an endowed gift from UM alumnus Robert Staub, B.B.A. ’56, and his wife, Christine. Recipients of the Staub Faculty Excellence Award are nominated by students and alumni, and then selected by a school committee.

“It feels very humbling to be honored by students after three short years teaching,” said François. 

François began teaching at UM School of Communication in Fall of 2013 for the Department of Journalism and Media Management. Before coming to UM, François was an independent consultant specializing in media management issues and before that worked at NBCUniversal as an executive managing sales support in Worldwide Television Distribution and at MGM in television distribution.

“Maybe all the hard work that faculty put into preparing for classes doesn’t go unnoticed!” she quipped.

Also recognized at the award show were Ph.D. students Jessica Wendorf and Yi “Grace” Ji, recipients of the Outstanding Doctor of Philosophy Student award; Virgilio Capote, recipient of the Outstanding Student Worker award; and Gabriel Brackman, recipient of the Outstanding Staff Member award.