The retirement of Dr.

Callahan

Blair Barnes

After educating students in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC)

since 1996, Dr. Linda Florence Callahan is set to officially retire in the spring of 2020 from North

Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

She is no stranger when it comes to all mediums of media including print, radio, broadcast, and

public relations. Throughout her professional career, North Carolina native has embodied leadership

throughout her career as she has served on several regional, state and national executive boards.

“She knows how to get stuff done and is known nationally. Anytime I go to a conference, I say

I’m from N.C. A&T and the first thing I hear is, ‘How’s Dr. Callahan?,’” said Dr. Kimberly Smith, jomc

associate professor.

While working as a director of Public Relations at Johnson C. Smith University for four years,

Callahan uncovered her passion for the industry. She decided to go to graduate school to further her

education.

“While working at a higher education institution, I decided I needed some more degrees,”

Callahan said. “When I went to graduate school, I had every intention of going back and working in

public relations full-time.”

However, it was during graduate school at The Ohio State University where Callahan discovered

her love for teaching through her teaching assistant position.

“When I started doing it, I liked it! I never went back full-time doing public relations,” Callahan

said. “I enjoy working with the students and their light-bulb coming on. It’s a good feeling.”

When she returned from the Ohio State, she was recruited by the dean of the College of Arts and

Sciences at NC A&T. “I was particularly interested in coming back to an HBCU when I worked at

Alabama A&M. Then The Ohio State recruited me to come back,” Callahan said.
 Devoted to the JOMC department, Callahan would arrive early in the morning and leave late in

the evenings. As she balanced her personal and professional lives, she never let challenges within either

parts of her life interfere with her duties as a leader. She was the first educator to serve on the National

Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) National Executive Board. She is the founder of High School

Media day, also known as the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association, which encouraged students

to come to N.C. A&T. She also serves on the board of The Association of Journalism Educators.

Callahan has set the example for educators everywhere to follow in terms of teaching and

providing student guidance. As the N.C. A&T advisor for the Public Relations Student Society of

America (PRSSA), she created opportunities for public relations students to gain valuable hands on

experience in the industry. For instance, PRSSA students received the chance to plan and organize an

Earth Day fashion show food drive.

With numerous awards under her belt, Callahan was named Teacher of the Year for the College

of Arts and Sciences. The State of North Carolina also recognized Callahan as a trail blazer as she formed

the foundation for the Regional North Carolina Scholastic Media Association.

As Callahan moves toward the next stage of her professional life, she plans to travel and spend

time with her family while participating in recreational activities.

“I’m looking forward to traveling. I’m looking forward to going to the gym as much as I’d like. I

like going to the gym. I like going to Zumba classes,” Callahan said. “I always wanted to play the piano,

but I never had time to practice.”