Education Arts and Humanities Culture and Society General

James Sernoe honored for his lasting impact on student lives

Reanna Gonzalez
16 April 2026
3 min read

James Sernoe, the Department Chair and a professor of Mass Communication at Midwestern State University, received the Texas Tech University System’s Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award on Wednesday.

The annual award spotlights the dedication and achievements of professors at MSU Texas. Sernoe was selected for the award because of his student-centered teaching style.

Sernoe’s passion for his work and the foundation of mutual respect he establishes with students in his class contribute to student success and confidence, which many students have attested to. This commitment to his work is further demonstrated through his role as Department Chair, previous role as interim dean, and his involvement with various groups such as the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Small Programs Interest Group (SPIG).

Sernoe started his career as a journalist with the goal of making an impact, but he realized the path he was on wasn’t bringing about the results he’d hoped for. He decided to pursue teaching.

“I thought teaching was something I could do to give back to the world and improve the world and change the world for the better,” Sernoe said.

Sernoe has taught for the last several decades, including 30 years at MSU Texas.

He took the job at Midwestern State University, believing it would be a place where he could find a sense of community and make a difference in the lives of students and those he works with. Sernoe said what has stood out to him the most and allowed him to commit so heavily to the job is how devoted the students are to pursuing their education. He finds students genuinely want to learn about the field they’re pursuing.

Sernoe was surprised to receive the Distinguished Teaching Award.

Admittedly, he thought it was a scam at first. After accepting its reality, he said he was honored and flattered, knowing there are many quality teachers on the MSU Texas campus.

Sernoe also has a passion for the community. When he’s not teaching, he’s very involved with the Backdoor Theatre group and the Adult Literacy Council, and he has served in multiple leadership positions for both. He also enjoys staying active and traveling as a means to restore his energy and refresh his perspective of the world around him.

As for looking ahead in his career, Sernoe said he’s already accomplished much of what he aspired for. Moving forward, his greatest hope is to continue to inspire students to grow and reach for their goals. He is currently focused on the Student Documentary Showcase coming up just before graduation – something he looks forward to each semester.

“There are always a couple of students up there that I never thought would be there, and it’s very gratifying to think – and it’s not just me, it takes a village – but that there are students who would not have made it without faculty support or faculty pushing them,” Sernoe said.

Sernoe said he hopes he has made a lasting impact on each of his students. He wants them to believe in themselves and believe in what they do when they leave the program. He noted that the field of journalism can create significant change – maybe not always on a large scale but certainly in a local community -- and he hopes his students understand that as they move into their careers.

“Journalism, what we do in a democracy, what our mission is, and the written word all still matter. These days, in a world of social media and technology and a million voices and a million critics, it’s easy to say this doesn’t matter or this doesn’t make a difference. I think I would be a hypocrite teaching it if I didn’t still believe we can make a difference,” Sernoe said.

CHANCELLOR’S COUNCIL DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AND RESEARCH AWARDS

The Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards recognize academic excellence across the Texas Tech University System. The honors are the most prestigious awards granted to faculty throughout the TTU System.

The awards are funded by gifts to the Chancellor’s Council, a giving society that supports the chancellor’s priorities across the TTU System. Since the honors were established in 2001, 281 faculty members have received awards totaling more than $1.6 million.

“The Distinguished Teaching and Distinguished Research Awards are the highest honor that our system can give,” TTU System Chancellor Brandon Creighton said. “Since 2001, these awards have recognized faculty whose work transforms classrooms. They are possible because of the investment of our Chancellor’s Council members who continue to help us build and sustain the very best.

Recipients receive a $5,000 stipend and an engraved medallion.