Gina Baleria Honored as a 2026 Faculty Champion by the Center for Community News
The Center for Community News at the University of Vermont has named Gina Baleria, associate professor of communication & media, as one of 150 journalism leaders from colleges across the country who will be part of the organization’s 2026 class of Faculty Champions. These individuals are being recognized for their efforts to start or expand university-led reporting programs in their region, and their contribution to a national movement of student-powered community reporting.
“At the core of all of these university-led student reporting programs are innovative and entrepreneurial faculty committed to student success,” said CCN Director Richard Watts. “These programs are a win-win for everyone: students receive high-impact experiences and communities benefit from more reliable news. This program is a chance to say thank you to the faculty who make it all possible.”
The Faculty Champions awarded this year represent 41 states and two Canadian provinces. They come from 15 community colleges, 41 Minority-Serving Institutions, 4 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 30 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and seven public media outlets. There are 35 private institutions represented and 113 public ones.
Each Faculty Champion will receive a $1000 reward, peer support and coaching throughout the year. As part of CCN’s expanded approach to the Champions program this year, participants will work in dedicated cohorts that are organized around beats, communities and geographic regions. The cohorts will be led by program alums with expertise in their focus area.
The Center for Community News at UVM is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to grow and strengthen university-led reporting programs around the country to create a more sustainable future for local news outlets and the communities they serve. It works with a network of more than 4,000 faculty and news leaders, and it’s the only organization dedicated to growing the field of student-powered community reporting.
Learn more about why these faculty are so critical to engaging the next generation of journalists and civic leaders – and how universities are stepping up to forge a sustainable future for local news at https://www.uvm.edu/ccn.