Campus Digest

Professor Kara Chan receives Charles H. Sandage Award for Teaching Excellence from American Academy of Advertising   

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

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Professor Kara Chan (left) receives the “Charles H. Sandage Award for Teaching Excellence”, as the first Chinese member of the American Academy of Advertising to earn this honour.
Professor Kara Chan (3rd right) builds the capacity of research informed teaching with Community of Practice members from four countries.
Professor Kara Chan (3rd right, 1st row) and Community of Practice members work together to produce teaching resources for public relations and advertising.

Professor Kara Chan, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) of the School of Communication and Professor of the Department of Communication Studies, has received the “Charles H. Sandage Award for Teaching Excellence” presented by the American Academy of Advertising. Professor Chan is the first Chinese member of the Academy to receive this global distinction. The award was presented at the Academy Annual Conference in Austin, Texas, in the US in April.

Sponsored by the US’ University of Illinois, the award recognises scholars for their outstanding and sustained contributions to advertising education. The judging criteria encompass excellence in teaching, mentoring, and related academic activities. It is widely regarded as the most prestigious honour in the field.

A researcher-educator at heart, Professor Chan's teaching philosophy is built around course-based undergraduate research, a pedagogical model she has developed and refined over more than three decades. She has designed over 60 research projects, guiding students through both surveys and interviews to build genuine research competence. By engaging with real communities and industry professionals, students have developed skills that have led many to pursue postgraduate studies or careers in market research.

Professor Chan's commitment to advancing advertising education extends beyond her own classroom. She has organised two Communities of Practice, gathering advertising and public relations educators from across Hong Kong and internationally to exchange pedagogy, co-develop teaching resources, and strengthen research-informed teaching. Teaching materials developed through these collaborations have reached educators in 59 countries.

A Fulbright Scholar and the author of eight books and over 180 journal articles and book chapters, Professor Chan has been recognised among the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University. Her previous distinctions include being named a Finalist for the University Grants Committee Teaching Award in Hong Kong (2020) and receiving the President's Award for Research Supervision (2018) and the General Education Teaching Award (2020/21) at HKBU, as well as multiple Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence presented by Emerald Publishing.