Paul H. Boase was regarded as a visionary in the field of communication.  He was influential in advancing the study of interpersonal communication, and because of his vision the School of Interpersonal Communication at Ohio University (then called INCO) was the first academic unit to use that name.  Dr. Boase was the first director of the School, serving in that role from 1964 to 1981.  Dr. Boase died December 13, 2000.  The Boase Prize for scholarship was created to, in the words of his wife Connie, "keep his name alive" in the field.  The award is given annually to scholars who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in any area of communication.

2011 Recipient: Dr. Brenda Allen

Boase Prize Lecture Friday, October 21 3:30-5 PM in Baker Center room 231. COMS faculty, graduate students, and friends are welcome to attend the lecture and a pre-lecture reception beginning at 3:00 PM. Dr. Allen is as Associate Dean and Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado Denver.  Her work on organizational communication, diversity, and group communication have been very influential in the field. Among her numerous publications is the groundbreaking book, Difference Matters: Communicating Social Identity.  We are honored to have her receive this prize. More information about Dr. Allen can be found at her faculty page

Past Recipients:

• 2010 Dr. Barbara Sharf
• 2009 Dr. David Seibold
• 2008 Dr. Bonnie J. Dow
• 2007 Dr. Carole Blair
• 2006 Drs. Robert Hariman and John Lucaites
• 2005 Dr. Gerry Philipsen
• 2004 Dr. Martin Medhurst
• 2003 Dr. James Andrews (inaugural recipient).