Real-world impact: Auburn journalism professor brings field expertise into the classroom

Dylan Duke | 12/5/2025

Brian Delaney, an assistant professor of journalism in the School of Communication and Journalism, received the 2025 Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award from Auburn University.

Delaney began his career at The Ithaca Journal, then worked at an ESPN radio startup and freelanced as a sports reporter and editor. Across the Central New York area, he covered a plethora of high school sports as well as Division 1 and Division 3 college sports.

“I had such a wide range of experiences reporting and editing and that has really helped here at Auburn,” Delaney said. “As soon as I got here, our gymnastics program got really big and student journalists were interested in covering it, so I was able to use my experience covering gymnastics to help.”

After a flourishing 16-year career in journalism, Delaney decided to transition to teaching. Currently in his fifth academic year at Auburn, Delaney has taught a variety of classes, including news writing, sports reporting, advanced sports reporting, multimedia journalism and a graduate course teaching methods and communication.

“So much of what I can bring to a classroom is from my newsroom experiences; working on deadlines, covering dramatic sports events on multiple platforms, covering it on social media, building out web audiences," Delaney said. “I also received my PhD in education, so I get to marry both my research in critical thinking and my life experience in my classes.”

Delaney praised the school’s faculty for their dedication, noting how hard they work to support the program. He also commended the graduate students who serve as teaching assistants or instructors for their great work.

“It's hard not to enjoy the day-to-day when you're in an environment with such smart and kind people who are as invested in my success as I am in their success,” Delaney said. “I feel fortunate to really enjoy my work. It's such a privilege to be around great people that make me better at my job.”

Alongside praising the faculty, Delaney said he is impressed by Auburn students.

“The Auburn students are terrific to work with. That's a real strength of being at this university,” Delaney said. “Everyone I get to see or work with has a professionalism to them, a respect, intellectual curiosity and a passion that is just fun to be around. It makes teaching that much more enjoyable.”

Delaney received an outpouring of support from former students.

“It means everything to know that you've had such a strong positive impact on students who have a lot of amazing professors,” Delaney said. “Having that recognition from the students you've had a chance to work with is meaningful and is something that I very much value and am proud of. As a teacher, that really is the impact you hope you can make.”

Delaney gives credit for his success at Auburn not only to his colleagues and students, but also to the technical assistance he has received during his time here. Delaney expressed his gratitude toward the Biggio Center and the training he has received through them.

“You're so supported here at Auburn that it's almost weird to accept an individual award. It's not something that exists at every school,” Delaney said. “What we have in place here values good teaching, promotes it and works to actively support it.”

Learn more at the 2025 Faculty Awards website.

Tags: Communication and Journalism Faculty