Book of the Year
Article of the Year
Dissertation of the Year
Edited Volume of the Year
Book Chapter of the Year
JCR Article of the Year
Mentor of the Year
The deadline for submission of nominations and materials for all awards is Friday, June 27, 2025.
The RCA Book Award is given for the outstanding scholarly book on religious communication published between January 2024 and May 2025. Those wishing to nominate a book for the award should send four copies of the book (e-books are acceptable), a one-page letter of nomination outlining the value of the book in its area of study, and a short synopsis of the book (3-5 double-spaced pages).
The RCA Article Award is given for the outstanding article on religious communication published between January 2024 and May 2025. Nominators should send a copy of the article as a PDF file along with a one-page letter of nomination (a PDF attachment is acceptable) outlining the significance of the article.
The RCA Dissertation Award is given for the outstanding dissertation on the topic of religious communication successfully defended during the prior academic year. To be eligible the author must have successfully defended the dissertation during the period between January 2024 and May 2025. Dissertation advisors or department chairs should submit a one- to two-page letter of nomination as a supporting document to accompany the nomination. The award committee requires that the nominee or the nominator make available an electronic version (PDF or MS Word format) of the completed dissertation. (A URL address where there is open, online access to the dissertation is preferred).
The RCA Edited Volume Award is given for the outstanding edited book on religious communication published between January 2024 and May 2025. Those wishing to nominate a book for the award should send four copies of the book and a one-page letter of nomination outlining the value of the edited book in its area of study. For consideration, please include a short synopsis of the book (3-5 double-spaced pages; a PDF attachment is acceptable).
The RCA Book Chapter Award is given for the outstanding book chapter on religious communication published between January 2024 and May 2025. Nominators should send a copy of the chapter as a PDF file along with a one-page letter of nomination (a PDF attachment is acceptable) outlining the significance of the chapter.
The RCA Journal of Communication and Religion (JCR) Article of the Year Award is given for the JCR article published between January 2024 and May 2025, recognized for exceptional insight, rigor, and relevance to the field. Nominators should send a copy of the article as a PDF file along with a one-page letter of nomination (a PDF attachment is acceptable) outlining the significance of the article.
The RCA Mentor Award is given to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to nurturing the next generation of scholars and professionals in the field of religious communication. Recipients of this award embody the highest ideals of mentorship, providing invaluable support, guidance, and encouragement to their mentees. Outstanding mentors go above and beyond in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for learning and growth. They generously share their expertise, wisdom, and resources while also advocating for the needs and aspirations of their mentees. To nominate an individual, send a letter of nomination (a PDF attachment is acceptable) along with the names (with contact information) of 2-4 additional individuals who can speak to the nominee’s qualifications.
Deadline: Friday, June 27, 2025, is the deadline for submitting nominations and materials for all awards.
RCA encourages self-nominations for each category of awards. Individuals may make one submission per category, but they may submit to multiple categories. Past annual RCA Scholarship Awards winners may be viewed on the association’s website.
Recognition: RCA will recognize award recipients at the RCA 2025 Annual Awards Banquet on Wednesday, November 19, during the association's Annual Conference. Each award category carries a cash award.
Inquiries: Jim Vining, RCA 2nd Vice President, jvining@govst.edu
Send letters of nomination and materials to:
James Vining
Associate Professor Communication Studies
Division of Arts and Letters
Governors State University
1 University Parkway University Park, IL 60484
jvining@govst.edu
(708) 534-4580 (o)