The Carolyn Caudell Tieger Chair in Public Affairs Communications has been created in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The first of its kind within a college of journalism and mass communication, its purpose is to prepare students to lead and compete effectively in the world of policy, politics and advocacy communication.
Funded by a gift made by Tieger in December, the Tieger Chair will begin as the Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professorship and will continue with an annual pledge to reach the $250,000 endowment threshold for a professorship. When combined with a commitment from her estate, the Tieger chair endowment will reach or exceed $1 million.
“Carolyn’s vision is born of her 40-year career in Washington’s highest echelons of influence and her continuing work today as a public affairs consultant of the first rank,” said Grady Dean E. Culpepper “Cully” Clark. “From her student days, Carolyn blazed her own trail as a public affairs leader and asked in many wonderful conversations that began this gift, ‘What if we could help students get ahead by creating a program that gave them a leg up in public affairs communications?’ Grady students and faculty for generations to come will benefit from what Carolyn has boldly envisioned and accomplished.”
Tieger said her vision for the chair and its focus grew from her desire to use her experiences to help students get ahead on a track she had to forge herself with on-the-job training.
The professorship and eventual chair will provide leadership for about 100 students.
