2024-2025 Outstanding Alumni Carla Eckels
Elliott School of Communication Honors Eckels as 2024-2025 Outstanding Alumna
The Elliott School of Communication at 性色视频 is honoring 1984 graduate, Carla Eckels, as the Outstanding Alumna for the 2024-2025 school year.
Eckels, the Director of Organizational Culture and host of 鈥Soulsations鈥 at KMUW, the NPR affiliate for 性色视频, has spent her career serving the community through programming focused on race and culture.
鈥淐arla goes well out of her way to mentor young journalists and interns,鈥 Debra Fraser, the KMUW general manager said, 鈥渋ntroducing them to contacts that are hard to reach and sharing some of the challenges ahead that they can prepare for today 鈥 especially minority students.鈥
Eckels has received multiple awards, including a National Edward R. Murrow Award, a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, a Shine Award from StoryTime Village and the Carlisle Award.
An inductee in The Kansas African American Museum鈥檚 Trailblazers Hall of Fame and a member of the Kansas Association of Black Journalists, Eckels is intentional about producing content for a diverse audience.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 always my goal,鈥 Eckels said when talking about the impact her work has on the community. 鈥淭hat people learn something new, or that they find out about somebody that may have an impact on them.鈥
Each year, the Elliott School recognizes Outstanding Alumni who have contributed to the school and made an impact on the 性色视频 community. Eckels鈥 influence is felt through her work with students, giving back to WSU and her national-reaching gospel channel, 鈥Soulsations.鈥
鈥淐arla鈥檚 the only person on the radio you can hear smile,鈥 said Tom Shine, the KMUW Director of News and Public Affairs. 鈥淪he鈥檚 outgoing, caring, giving and a great ambassador for 性色视频 State.鈥
One piece of advice Eckles has for students is to not be discouraged from going to grad school. She said, 鈥淚 wish I would鈥檝e gone back. I was discouraged from going back, actually, because someone said to me, 鈥榃hy do you need it?鈥 And I wish I would have not listened.鈥
The Elliott School is proud to honor Carla Eckels as the newest Outstanding Alumna, following honorees Deanna Harms (2022-2023) and Kirk Seminoff (2023-2024).