Mullins Named Behringer Distinguished Professor at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Ed Mullins, professor and chair of the journalism department in The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) was recently named the Blair and Nan Behringer Endowed Distinguished Professor of Communication at UA.

Before serving as journalism chairman, Mullins was associate dean and dean of the College for 19 years.

Mullins joined the University faculty in 1977 and became C&IS dean in 1983. In 1996, Mullins became chair of the journalism department where he leads students and faculty in new ventures in community journalism, Web journalism and service learning in which students work as journalists in underserved communities.

Dr. Culpepper Clark, C&IS dean, congratulated Mullins on his selection as the inaugural holder of the Behringer Professorship. “Ed Mullins is my dean, and it was my privilege to nominate him for this honor,” Clark said. As dean, Mullins had hired Clark as a department chair.

Mullins said he would use earnings from the endowment to advance the College’s journalism program, especially its community journalism and outreach emphasis.

Clark said gifts such as the one by the Behringers are especially valuable in helping the University recruit and maintain a strong faculty.

Mullins is a national leader in accreditation for journalism and mass communication programs, having served as national chairman of the accrediting committee and as chairman of numerous site visits.

A 1958 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University, Mullins received the Kappa Tau Alpha (journalism honorary) award for excellence in teaching in 1999. He received his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974 and his master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1966.

As C&IS dean, Mullins led multimillion-dollar campaigns to improve facilities and equipment and hired dozens of new faculty and department heads for the College.

Mullins is one of the most recognized figures in Alabama’s journalism community, receiving the Distinguished Achievement in Education Award from both the Alabama Press Association and the Alabama Broadcasters Association, and the Silver Medal Award from the Tuscaloosa Advertising Federation.

Mullins, a native of Enterprise, was a reporter and city desk editor for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution in 1958-59 and managing editor of The Temple (Texas) Daily Telegram, 1962-64. From 1959-61 he was a platoon leader, executive officer and public information officer at Fort Hood, Texas, first with the 2nd Armored Division and later with Headquarters Company of the 1st Armored Division.

He has served as professor in residence or consultant for more than 50 newspapers, including the Dothan Eagle, Andalusia Star-News, Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, Dayton (Ohio) Journal-Herald, Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Mobile Register and Tuscaloosa News.

The Behringers, who now live in New Jersey, are former Tuscaloosa residents, where he was an orthopedic surgeon and she was a nurse and hospital administrator. Four of their six children received at least one degree from the University and both Blair and Nan have degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Creating the professorship has been a dream of many, many years,” said Blair Behringer, a former Strategic Air Command B-52 pilot and aircraft commander.

“Our kids did well in school. That sparked the idea of wanting to give something back to the institution that educated them. I wanted to do something that would outlast me, advance the reputation and prestige of the College and also reflect the great importance that education has played in the life of the Behringer family. Nan and I are very grateful for what our family received from the University. It feels even better to be on the giving end,” he said.

“And having Ed Mullins, a long-time family friend and mentor to two of our children, be named the first Behringer professor is a special pleasure, indeed,” Behringer added.

Mullins is married to the former Penny Huggins of Temple, Texas. They have four children and 11 grandchildren.