Celebrating Jack M. McLeod: Highlights from ICA

On June 14, UW–Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication proudly honored the legacy of Jack M. McLeod at the International Communication Association’s annual conference in Denver. The evening was organized by Jack M. McLeod Professor of Communication Research Dhavan Shah and included remarks from many of McLeod’s colleagues and friends, including his son, SJMC professor Doug McLeod and SJMC professors Shah, Mike Wagner and Hernando Rojas among others. Through out the speeches, similar themes emerged: McLeod’s generosity and ability to gently convey hard feedback, the importance of concept explication, his love of research and his quiet and developmental leadership skills.

“Jack’s greatest legacy as an academic may not be his research on interpersonal and mass communication; it is his students and his students’ students. He took an interest in us. He made us feel special. He listened to and improved our ideas. He taught us how to think and share our thoughts and findings. And he helped us do it with patience, charm, wit and grace. I know I am not alone in saying I owe a large part of my career to Jack. He fundamentally shaped how I try to support students and junior faculty, learning from the ways he supported us.” – Professor Dhavan Shah in his opening remarks

(From left) Jack McLeod, Doug McLeod and Zongdang Pan at the SJMC Alumni Awards ceremony in 2018. Jack McLeod was awarded the Director’s Award for his impact on SJMC.

McLeod passed away in 2024 and profoundly shaped the field of communication through his exceptional scholarship, advising and mentorship. He did so with kindness, good humor, an abiding sense of justice and a deep commitment to democracy and citizen participation. Through a 38-year career at the SJMC, McLeod left a legacy of inspiring teaching, thoughtful mentorship and field-defining scholarship. A leader in political communication, media effects, public opinion and democratic participation research, he stands as one of communication’s most influential scholars, building communication theory, refining social science methods and mentoring multiple cohorts of students. His impact on communication research is far-reaching. A scholar and mentor until the very end, McLeod will have a research article

McLeod also led the Mass Communication Research Center for 34 years. His strong belief that the best scholars learn by doing was and still is a cornerstone of the MCRC, a tribute to his lasting legacy. McLeod’s impact as a researcher, mentor, colleague and friend will be felt for years to come within Vilas Hall, across the field of communication and around the globe. Among many recognitions, he was named a Fellow of the International Communication Association and received the Association for Education and Journalism and Mass Communication’s Deutschmann Award. He will be remembered by those who knew him for his character, generosity, warmth, good humor and insight.

“As a scholar, he refused to be entrapped in one doctrine. He pushed for more holistic and integrative perspectives. It was one of the intellectual attributes that made it possible for him to advise and work with so many Ph.D. advisees from all over the world. I treasure all my fond memories of working with him, chatting with him, and traveling with him. I consider myself truly lucky to have him as my mentor.” – UW–Madison Professor Zhongdang Pan, former advisee and colleague of Jack McLeod