Angela (Prater) Mensah, an alumna of Ferris State University’s Television and Digital Media Production program, was recognized for her efforts to empower students through a service-learning designated course.

Mensah received the Pedagogy Award from the Activism and Social Justice division of the National Communication Association, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization established in 1914 with membership including educators, practitioners, and students in every state.

Mensah earned a Bachelor of Science degree in what had been Ferris’ Television and Video Production program in 1996. She is a teaching assistant professor in Communications and a joint faculty member of African and African American studies and communication at the University of Arkansas.

Her course, Communicating Body Image, was one of five selected from a field of entries for a National Communication Association honor.

“My course is a social justice-directed work, and I applied though at that time, I had only offered it for one semester at the university,” Mensah said. “I went into this, hoping I might get an honorable mention but am thrilled to have been recognized with this selection.”

A faculty peer with the University of Arkansas was asked by a Washington County, Arkansas court staffer if there was a course appropriate to present to young women at risk. 

Mensah said graduate students aware of the Communicating Body Image course assisted in creating modules appropriate for those students, while offering them mentorship as part of a service-learning opportunity.

Angela said there was much work needed to complete supporting documents for consideration from the National Communication Association.

“The topic of body image has many ‘hot button’ considerations, ranging from providing medication to adolescents, or approving them for bariatric surgery,” Mensah said. “Having the resources and support of body image experts Lexi and Lindy Kite is intentional, so our participants have tools to serve them for every state of their lives.”

The partnership was developed in greater Fayetteville with community groups and organizations is designed to empower the participants.

“Theirs is a difficult time of life, where learning and encouragement might keep them from entering self-destructive behaviors. Ultimately, we are striving to be an element of a transformative opportunity for all involved,” she said.

As a Pedagogy Award winner, Mensah will serve in the field of judges considering submissions for the 2024 cycle of consideration.