In Memoriam: Charles Atkin, 1945-2012
On August 11, 2012 our discipline was profoundly shaken by the unexpected and untimely death of Charles (Chuck) Kenwood Atkin, professor and chair of the Department of Communication at Michigan State University. Chuck was an extraordinary scholar, an exceptional mentor, a beloved administrator, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a wonderful friend. He was also a spirited champion for the field of communication, the International Communication Association, Michigan State, his colleagues, and his students.
A leading scholar of mass media, Chuck's work focused on the design and evaluation of persuasive media campaigns for the improvement of public health and safety, most recently the prevention of extreme drinking among college students and cancer detection, prevention, and treatment. He published 10 books and over 150 articles and book chapters. He was a leading investigator on more than 35 funded projects, including a current five year grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Chuck received many accolades throughout his distinguished career. He was an ICA Fellow, MSU University Distinguished Professor, and the ICA/NCA Outstanding Health Communication Scholar. He received the NCA Applied Scholarship and Distinguished Book awards, the Distinguished Service award from the National Commission on Drunk Driving, and a Decade of Behavior award from the American Psychological Association.
The reach and influence of his work were global and far-ranging. Chuck testified and consulted with subcommittees of the US Congress, Presidential and White House Commissions, the Surgeon General, and other federal and state agencies in the USA, as well as public agencies in Canada, Ecuador, Egypt, England, and Germany.
Chuck served ICA in many capacities including being chair of the ICA Fellows, as an Associate Editor for Communication Theory and as a member of the editorial boards of Human Communication Research and the Journal of Communication. Most recently, immediately following our Phoenix conference, Chuck joined the ICA publication committee. His intellectual contributions as panel participant and respondent at ICA conferences are memorable, including many of his top paper award presentations, his joyous hosting of the Friday night Michigan State parties is legendary, and he was always an avid supporter of ICA activities both social and intellectual.
As the many testimonials that have been written reveal, Chuck Atkin's good cheer, integrity, extraordinary kindness and humility, gentle and generous spirit, and very special sense of humor and delightful mischief were an integral part of the rich and vibrant life he lived with his wife and our colleague Sandi Smith and shared so freely with others. Chuck was my dear friend and I, like so many others, was much better for having known him. He enriched our personal lives as well as the broader academic community and our association. Chuck Atkin will be sorely missed but his presence will continue through his writings, his students, the many scholars he inspired, and the wonderful "Chuck" stories that continue to be told.
ICA sends our condolences to Sandi, his relatives, his colleagues and friends throughout the world and the members of the MSU community. We forever will cherish his memory and his contributions.
For more information about Chuck Atkin go to:
Michigan State U: Rembering Charles Atkin
The Charles "Chuck" Atkin Facebook Page
Image courtesy of Michigan State U