Dr. Andrew Billings, a leading voice in the study of sports media, has been selected as UA’s recipient of the 2026 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award.
The annual SEC Faculty Achievement Awards recognize individuals whose work advances knowledge, elevates their universities and reflects the highest standards of excellence across the SEC. Selected by the SEC provosts, awardees are recognized as leaders in the SEC’s academic community.
Billings serves as the associate dean for faculty and Ronald Reagan Chair of Broadcasting in the College of Communication and Information Sciences. He is also the co-director of the Beyond Sports Initiative and editor-in-chief of the prominent academic journal Communication & Sport.
“Dr. Andrew Billings has played a defining role in establishing sports communication as a global academic field, and his scholarship continues to shape how we understand sports, media and culture,” said Dr. Lesley Reid, interim provost. “His dedication to mentoring students and supporting faculty strengthens our entire academic community. Dr. Billings’ impact reaches far beyond campus, and The University of Alabama is proud to have him as a leader and scholar.”
Billings’ research interests lie in the intersection of sport, mass media, consumption habits and identity-laden content. He is the most published sports media scholar in the world and has been interviewed more than 700 times.
Billings has authored 27 books and more than 290 journal articles and book chapters. His work has been featured by The New York Times, Associated Press, and ESPN, and translated into several languages. Last year, the Broadcast Education Association honored him with its Lifetime Achievement in Scholarship Award.
Prominent organizations that have honored Billings include the International Communication Association, National Communication Association and Association for Education in Mass Communication and Journalism, among others.
“Receiving this award means a great deal to me,” said Billings. “Sometimes professors wonder if their work is making a difference and reaching the audiences that it should and something like the SEC Faculty Achievement Award tells me that my peers believe in my work and, even more, find value in it.
“Faculty don’t typically do the work in hopes of an award like this, but after doing so for 30 years, it’s affirming to hear that UA administration believes my scholarship has made its mark on society.”