ASU communication professor earns Distinguished Scholar Award

Sarah J. Tracy, professor and former director at the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University, received the 2026 Distinguished Scholar Award from the Western States Communication Association (WSCA), recognizing her sustained contributions to the study of human communication.

The Distinguished Scholar Award honors researchers who have made a lasting impact on how scholars and students understand communication. Each year, the award recognizes scholars with a sustained research program that is theoretically grounded, analytically rigorous and widely influential across the discipline.

For Tracy, the recognition reflects a career focused on understanding communication in organizational life, particularly how people navigate challenges such as workplace conflict.

“My work has centered on helping people better understand and manage organizational problems like burnout, bullying and work-life stress,” Tracy said. “Ultimately, I hope it contributes to more compassionate and life-giving workplaces.”

Her research spans qualitative studies of emotion in the workplace, theoretical work on identity and organizational life, and methodological contributions that have advanced how qualitative research is conducted and evaluated. Through her scholarship and teaching, Tracy has also played a key role in mentoring graduate students and faculty in qualitative research methods.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping others tackle their research,” she said. “Whether through teaching, mentoring or writing, I try to create resources that help people do meaningful and rigorous work.”

Tracy’s work also has direct implications for students as they prepare to enter the workforce. By examining communication practices in real-world organizational settings, her research provides tools for navigating complex professional environments.

“I hope my work helps students better understand the realities of the workplace and how they can use communication and leadership to improve those situations,” she said.

In addition to her research, Tracy has contributed extensively to the field through publications, training and ongoing engagement with the academic community. Her work has been widely cited and has helped shape conversations around qualitative research and organizational communication.

The WSCA Distinguished Scholar Award highlights not only Tracy’s scholarly impact, but also her commitment to advancing communication research in ways that are both rigorous and relevant to real-world challenges.