The Chair’s Award is conferred annually upon volunteer IABC members whose efforts, which include positively enhancing the organization’s reputation and image, have gone above and beyond that of what volunteers may usually undertake. Selected by the international executive board (IEB) Chair, any current IABC member active for the previous five years may be nominated for the award.
The Chair’s Award is presented annually at IABC’s World Conference. In June 2022, 2021-2022 IABC Chair Danielle Bond named Matt Tidwell, Ph.D., APR as the recipient of the 2022 Chair’s Award.
Matt Tidwell, Ph.D., APR
Matt Tidwell is the assistant dean for professional and graduate studies at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. He also serves as a marketing consultant to companies in healthcare, insurance services Matt also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Business Communicators – one of the world’s largest communications associations.
Prior to his academic career, Matt worked in marketing communications as a vice president at two Midwest communications agencies and served in communications leadership roles for companies including Great Plains Energy, St. Luke’s Health Systems and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. At KU, Matt directs multiple graduate programs and teaches courses in relationship marketing, audience analysis and crisis communications. He conducts academic research in organizational values programs and crisis communications. He has a master’s degree in communications management from Syracuse University and earned his Ph.D. at KU.