Prof publishes numerous books and articles

2004-05 Outstanding Scholar...B. Lee Artz

B. Lee Artz, associate professor of communication, received Purdue University Calumet's Outstanding Scholar Award for the 2004-05 academic year.

A Purdue Calumet faculty member since 2001, Artz focuses his research on mass communication and culture. His published work includes refereed journals, articles, co-edited books, book reviews and invited book chapters.

His most recent co-edited books are: "Bring 'Em On: Media and Politics in the Iraq War," "Globalization of Corporate Media Hegemony," "Public Media and the Public Interest" and "Cultural Hegemony in the United States." Artz has two edited books scheduled for publication this fall, as well as an essay to be published in an international humanities journal.

Artz' varied career did not begin in academics; previously, he was a machinist, steelworker and union member for 15 years and served on the union local newsletter staff and the affirmative action committee.

"After a plant relocation due in part to successful contract negotiations, we received a severance package which included funds for education," Artz said. "Most of my co-workers went to trade schools for electricians, programmers, etc.

"I went to California State University to study public relations, as it occurred to me that unions and working people in general needed to improve their communication. My faculty advisor convinced me to apply to Ph. D. programs, and I had several offers for assistantships. Jobs for machinists were in short supply, so I went off to the University of Iowa. My dissertation was on power and communication in the Nicaraguan revolution, as I was and am still interested in public and working class access to media and the needs of the majority to have a voice in their lives and in our society."

According to Judy Hack, Purdue Calumet professor and chair of the university faculty senate, "Prof. Artz is a highly regarded scholar who strives to analyze, synthesize and explain multiple perspectives in mass media and cultural studies."

He has received numerous honors including recognition as author of "Animating Hierarchy: Disney and the Globalization of Capitalism," which was selected as the "Top Paper" at the Global Fusion Communication Conference in 2001. He has received awards for other papers he has authored, as well as for teaching excellence at Loyola (Ill.) University, where he taught for eight years.