Allan Richards is an award-winning journalism and media professor with an extensive record in developing innovative programs in journalism, media and communication education. Richards formerly served as Associate Dean of the prior School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Chair of the former Department of Journalism. He also was the Co-founder and Executive Editor of the award-winning South Florida News Service, Director of the SJMC's Language Skills/Writing Program and Founding Digital Director of the South Florida Media Network. Richards was awarded the prestigious Scripps Howard Foundation Teacher of the Year award in 2017. He was a recipient of a Kaiser Family Foundation Fellowship for Global Health Reporting and served as a judge for the Scripps Howard National Journalism Awards for more than a decade.