Donna Weimer, Thornbury Professor of Communication and chair of the communication and theatre arts department at Juniata, was named the recipient of the Robert T. Oliver Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Communication Association (PCA). Weimer accepted the award, which honors PCA members for their extensive work in teaching, research, service, and development in all areas of human communication, on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, during the final banquet at the 78th Annual Conference of the PCA, held at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Having been active in the association since her years as a graduate student at Penn State, Weimer has held every major office on the PCA executive committee, including serving as editor for the Pennsylvania Communication Annual for more than six years.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be recognized for this prestigious award and I am thankful for the rich and rewarding relationships and experiences that were cultivated throughout my membership with the PCA,” Weimer says.

“Donna Weimer is an outstanding colleague, an extraordinary teacher, and a dedicated member of every organization to which she contributes,” says Ron Arnett, executive director of the PCA. “The Association is honored to recognize her as an extraordinary colleague and leader.”

Weimer’s areas of expertise include rhetorical theory and criticism, film, media violence, cultural studies in digital media, and communication in business. Her foremost research interest revolves around 21st-century technologies and their impact on the way we think and organize ourselves.

“Donna’s dedication and devotion to students is unparalleled and her commitment to student learning and success is most worthy of this recognition,” says Lauren Bowen, Juniata’s provost. “She is a respected teacher and revered adviser who goes above and beyond to provide meaningful learning experiences for students, including facilitating the Bailey Oratorical, overseeing senior theses, ensuring participation in national conferences to present research, identifying internships, and so much more.”