Academics

Four communications students recognized for ethics, integrity

Four Penn State students earned awards honoring ethics, integrity, and professional and social responsibility that are presented annually under the auspices of the Don Davis Professorship in Ethics.

The Davis Award recognizes College of Communications students who distinguish themselves in the classroom, and in their activities around campus and in the community. Faculty members nominate students who have displayed an above-and-beyond commitment to service and integrity, and who deserved to be recognized as ethical leaders or role for the next generation.

This year’s honorees were: Enica Castaneda, Jei-laya Hassan, Katelyn Mixer and Cheyenne Sexton.

“All of our honorees clearly represent the highest standards in ethics, integrity and service,” said Patrick Parsons, the Don Davis Professor of Ethics.

Castaneda, a first-year doctoral student whose dissertation will focus on mediated interventions for at-risk youth, was honored for her commitment to social justice. Along with her work in the classroom, she is working on recommendations for removal of barriers to study-abroad opportunities for low-income students and she has been an active voice as graduate students address increasing insurance premiums.

Hassan, who’s completing a double major in public relations and sociology with a specialization in race relations, has organized fundraisers for the Alzheimer’s Association, been an undergraduate teaching assistant, and worked on research about the political beliefs and behaviors of millenials. She’s also a member and public relations manager for an a capalla group on campus.

Mixer, a advertising/public relations major, was nominated for her work ethic, leadership and strong commitment to public relations that can “do good.” She has worked on promotions for Northwestern Pennsylvania’s 4-H youth camps, served as the public relations chair for the Penn State Blue Band and worked as an intern with Collegiate Wind Competition Team, based at Penn State, promoting “green” technology and sustainability.

Sexton, an adverting/public relations major with a passion for the environment and sustainability issues, led the communications team for the EcoCAR2 effort at Penn State this year. Sexton also presented a paper about mainstream news coverage of under-represented and under-served communities at the 2013 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication convention in Washington, D.C. She also completed an internship with the Children’s Miracle Network.

The Don Davis Professorship was created by Don Davis Jr. in honor of his father, Don Davis Sr., who established the advertising curriculum at Penn State in 1936 and taught most of his 37 years as a college educator at Penn State. The younger Davis, a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus, was the longtime CEO of Stanley Works who spent his life emphasizing the importance of “doing the right thing.” Both men are deceased.

Last Updated June 14, 2021