James D. Ponder is the recipient of the Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate Student Award from the School of Communication Studies for 2011. Ponder is studying to become a Doctor of Philosophy in Media Effects.  The award was presented during an awards ceremony in October as part of a Homecoming reception hosted by the school and held in Taylor Hall, home to the School of Communication Studies.

Ponder’s research interests include media effects, political communication, sports communication, and advertising. He plans to obtain a position at a university where he can contribute both as a teacher and a researcher. Ponder, whose hometown is Waverly, Kansas, earned his undergraduate degree from in 2005 from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, and his master's degree in 2007 from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.

As a doctoral student at Kent State, Ponder is active in the Communication Graduate Student Association (CGSA) and has served as CGSA Research and Information Chair since 2008. Ponder was CGSA President during academic year 2010-2011.

Criteria for the Outstanding Ph.D.Award recipient include having at least a GPA of 3.5 overall and be in good standing. The recipient is a current student at the time of the award and has made appropriate progress toward completing his/her degree. The winner will have presented at least one professional conference paper annually during his or her program, and have had at least one paper under peer review for publication, if not published at least one peer-reviewed manuscript. The award winner is selected by vote of the graduate faculty members.

Dr. Paul Haridakis, interim director of the School of Communication Studies, presents the Outstanding Ph.D. Graduate Student Award to James D. Ponder.