Dr. Brad Love receives 2025 Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship
Brad Love, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations at Moody College of Communication, was recently surprised with the Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship, a $30,000 award presented to University of Texas faculty for outstanding teaching. The award is given annually by The Friar Society, the university’s oldest and most prestigious honor society.
The Friar Society was established in 1911. This award recognizes a faculty member who, first and foremost, has attained distinction in teaching undergraduates; and second, who embodies the Friar ideal in having made a significant contribution to the university beyond the duties of his or her calling.
“The thing that is special about this to me is that it’s student-driven, that’s different than most other recognitions on our campus,” Love said. “The goal in teaching to me is to make sure students are being presented with scenarios and environments that help them feel comfortable and able to learn. So, the idea that students came to the conclusion that the learning spaces I work on are approachable is really special.”
Love’s research investigates the persuasive capabilities of mass media, particularly as applied to pro-social topics like public health. This includes examining the social and psychological elements necessary for persuasion and the influence that digital media can have on the process.
While Love teaches a variety of classes in Moody College and throughout UT, he says that regardless of a course’s subject matter, he hopes for the same outcome of each one.
“I hope what my students take away from all my classes is a better understanding of, and more confidence in, themselves because that’s what matters most over time,” Love said. “When our learners can understand and have enthusiasm for how they’re continuing to grow, that lasts their whole lives. Sure, the content of a class changes, but someone’s ability to recognize their talents and growth as a person, that is really the main outcome for all the classes.”
One of the students that nominated Love for the fellowship was Josh Bedingfield, a public relations and Moody College Honor’s Program senior.
“I can confidently say that Dr. Love has changed my life,” Bedingfield wrote in his nomination. “Dr. Love gave me a place at this university. Though my sister had died of cancer recently before I came to UT, he sat with me periodically to help me create a plan of how to approach life and my time at UT.”
Last year, Bedingfield took part in a cycling trip from Austin to Alaska to honor his sister’s memory.
“If it wasn’t for him, I would have never learned to process my emotions - or more importantly - apply them,” Bedingfield added. “He inspired me to turn struggle into passion through his inspirational life. I’m not the only person who Dr. Love has been transformed by as countless others can say the same.”
Love said that he was incredibly surprised when the award was presented to him recently during class and that It’s something he’s still processing. He said that this award is a career exclamation mark and when reflecting on it, he starts from a place of gratitude.
“In my case, to look at who else has received this is daunting at best,” he said. “I know a fair number of these people and some of them so profoundly exemplified being a leader without a title. Lorie Holleran Steiker for example, the way she lived her whole life helping other people. She created so many student-centered programs on this campus and no one asked her to do that, she just did because it was the right thing to do. That’s what it means to be a leader without a title.”
As graduation approaches, that’s the same advice Love offers to students.
“Choosing to do the next right thing is where opportunity, innovation and goodness comes from, “he said. “Choosing to do the work to be a leader without a title, which is what a lot of our campus promotes, that the best thing. “
