• Skip to Content

Central College

  • Sign in to your Merit page
« Back to Recent News

Professor Linda Laine Awarded Weller Distinguished Professorship by Central College

by Central College

Pella, IA (07/30/2019) — Linda Laine, professor of communication studies at Central College, has been awarded the Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professorship of the Liberal Arts. Named after Central's 18th president who served from 1970-90, the three-year endowed professorship recognizes a distinguished faculty member and provides support for teaching, research and scholarship.

Laine, who joined the Central faculty in 2004, was honored at commencement in May. She will be installed at a later date as the 10th Weller Distinguished Professorship of the Liberal Arts.

"I am deeply honored by this recognition and greatly appreciate the support of President Weller for this professorship," Laine says.

Laine earned her bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University in Texas and completed her master's degree and Ph.D. in communication at the University of South Florida in Tampa. She recently was promoted to professor of communication studies.

A past recipient of the David Crichton Memorial Teaching Award for excellence in teaching, Laine this year also was honored with the Hutch Bearce Community Building and Faculty Leadership Award for her efforts in community building, mentorship and leadership.

Laine has been communication studies department chair, appointed by the board of trustees as a faculty trustee and elected as chair of the faculty policy committee, during which she was instrumental in stewarding colleagues in the transformation of faculty governance. Laine also serves as president of the Iowa Communication Association.

Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private, four-year liberal arts college. Central is known for its academic rigor, leadership and character development, global experiential learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and sustainability education, athletics and service. For more information about Central College: www.central.edu.

Media Attachments

Linda Laine, professor of communication studies at Central College, was awarded the Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professorship of the Liberal Arts during commencement in May.


LL
Linda
Laine
  • Otley, IA

Central College

Jeff Bersch (641) 628-5282, berschj@central.edu

Share this Story

  • Print
  • Email

Recent News

  • A Night to Remember: Members of the New York Philharmonic to perform Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and more
  • Central Theatre to Produce Musical Comedy, First Date
  • Central Professor Publishes Business Cycles and Taxes Article
  • Central College Upward Bound Program Celebrates 60 Years of Transforming Lives
  • Installation of Paulina Mena as the Ruth and Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities
  • 1853 Challenge Gives Lift to Hoo-Rah Day Festivities
  • Central RED Launches Spring Semester Program Schedule
  • Central College Students Attend American Historical Association Meeting
  • Leading with Heart: Central Alum to Headline Commencement
  • Legacy Gift Supports Central College's Future
… View all recent news
Copyright © 2026 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out