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Baylor Professor Mia Moody Receives Educators’ Award for Advancing Diversity in Journalism
DALLAS, Oct. 31, 2025 — Mia Moody, Ph.D., two-term chair of Baylor University’s Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Barry Bingham Sr. Fellowship. The national award honors educators making exceptional efforts to encourage and support minority students pursuing careers in journalism.
Moody, a nationally recognized scholar and fearless advocate for diversity and inclusion in media education, becomes the first recipient of the fellowship under the stewardship of the nonprofit diversity monitor, Journal-isms. She also begins her term as president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) later this year.
“This honor reflects Dr. Moody’s lifelong commitment to shaping a more inclusive future for journalism,” said Marlene S. Neill, Ph.D., Baylor professor and graduate program director, who nominated Moody. “She has championed structural change and equitable hiring while ensuring that all students — particularly those from underrepresented groups — see themselves in the field.”
Under Moody’s leadership, Baylor’s Journalism Department strengthened its diversity initiatives, including the creation of a departmental diversity plan, participation in the university’s Commission on Historic Campus Representations, and involvement in the Faculty and Staff of Color Association. She has served as adviser to Baylor’s chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) since 2003 and mentored hundreds of students who now work across media organizations nationwide.
“One of the most meaningful moments in her career was the establishment of the Moody-Ramirez Belden Endowed Scholarship for Diversity in Journalism,” Neill added. “It not only recognizes her influence but also continues her mission of opening doors for future journalists.”
Former student Joy Wells credited Moody’s mentorship with helping her persist and excel as a first-generation college student. “Dr. Moody leads and guides us with warmth and integrity,” Wells said. “Her boldness has shaped countless students’ paths, including my own.”
The Bingham Fellowship includes a $1,000 grant and carries a legacy rooted in the values of the late Barry Bingham Sr. (1906–1988), patriarch of the famed Bingham publishing family of Louisville, Kentucky. The fellowship, established in 1990, continues to celebrate educators who expand access and opportunity for journalists of color.
Moody’s recognition arrives amid renewed national debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Journal-isms’ decision to honor her work underscores how vital educators remain in preparing the next generation of media professionals to foster fairness, representation, and trust in journalism.
Moody’s career distinctions include the Lionel C. Barrow Jr. Award for Distinguished Achievement in Diversity Research and Education (2018), Baylor’s Cornelia Marschall Smith Award for “superlative contribution to the learning environment” (2022), Professor of the Year (2021), and the Educator Award from the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication (2024).
“Encouraging diverse voices is essential to journalism’s future,” Moody said. “This recognition inspires me to continue helping students find their voice and their place in the profession.”
Journal-isms’ ongoing mission has been described as “chronicling diversity in the media industry through words and conversations.” The organization continues to spotlight educators, journalists, and institutions that embody inclusion and accountability within the media landscape.
For interviews and more information about the award, contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications, 214-448-3765.
