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Indian American professor receives Alex Trebek Legacy award
Sonali Kudva will represent Methodist University at a three-day Television Academy Foundation conference in California, highlighting her work in media literacy and global storytelling.
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Anushka Pathak - Thu, 23, Oct 2025
- 14:20 EDT
- 23
Sonali Kudva, assistant professor of Communication and Media at Methodist University / Courtesy: Methodist University
Indian-American assistant professor of Communication and Media at Methodist University, Sonali Kudva, has been awarded the Alex Trebek Legacy Award Fellowship by the Television Academy Foundation.
The fellowship recognizes exceptional media educators and includes an all-expenses-paid trip to a three-day conference in North Hollywood, California, from Oct. 22 to 24.
The fellowship, created in 2021 to honor the late 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek, connects media professors with industry professionals through seminars on television production, storytelling, and media innovation.
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Kudva’s selection underscores her distinctive teaching approach that integrates media literacy and global perspectives into a liberal arts framework. She integrates international media into her curriculum, using global cinema and non-English content to explore cross-cultural narratives.
Her courses feature guest speakers from countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden, encouraging students to understand media in a global context.
Within the Communication, Composition, and Rhetoric Division, Kudva focuses on student-centered learning, emphasizing critical thinking, ethics, and digital literacy. Her research examines media consumption, misinformation, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in communication.
“I had applied, but I truly didn’t expect to be chosen,” Kudva told the university press. “Methodist University isn’t a community college or officially a minority-serving institution, which are usually the focus of this award. I still don’t quite know why they picked me—but I feel incredibly privileged.”
The fellowship experience includes access to industry sessions, behind-the-scenes tours, visits to Netflix Studios, and a one-year Television Academy membership. For Kudva, who will be visiting Los Angeles for the first time, the opportunity offers a direct link between academia and the evolving media landscape.
Born and raised in India, Kudva transitioned into academia after a journalism career that began unexpectedly. “I call myself an accidental academic,” she said. “One opportunity led to another.”
Despite her new honor, Kudva admitted she had not seen 'Jeopardy!' before applying. “Jeopardy never made its way to India, so I didn’t really know much about Alex Trebek,” she said.
Kudva views the fellowship as an opportunity to enhance her teaching. “I’m proud to represent our students and our program,” she said. “Every opportunity I have, I see it as a way to make their learning experience richer.”
J.R. Hustwit, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Sciences at Methodist University, praised Kudva’s recognition. “Dr. Kudva is a gifted educator and is very popular with students,” Hustwit said. “She is well known for provoking compelling classroom discussions about journalism, media ethics, and information literacy."
"I am impressed and pleased that she has been awarded the Trebek Fellowship and grateful for the development opportunity it affords to media scholars." Hustwit added.
The Television Academy Foundation established the Alex Trebek Legacy Award Fellowship to strengthen ties between education and industry as media continues to evolve through streaming and AI-driven innovation.
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