ETAMU Director of VisCom Honored with AAF Dallas Luminary Award

East Texas A&M University Director of Visual Communication Lee Hackett was recent honored with the prestigious Luminary Award by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of Dallas. Hackett has served at the university in the Department of Art since 1992 and has directed East Texas A&M’s award-winning Visual Communication program since 2005.

The Luminary Awards, presented by AAF Dallas, celebrate women whose contributions have advanced the industry and inspired the next generation of talent. In a press release from the AAF, the federation stated that Hackett was included among the esteemed group of honorees not only for her exceptional skill and innovation but also for her impact as a leader and mentor in the field. The Luminary

“With decades of experience shaping visual communication and design education, Hackett has left a positive and lasting mark both in the classroom and beyond,” the AAF said. “Under her direction, East Texas A&M's Visual Communication program has become a hub for creative excellence, bridging academic insight with industry relevance.”

Hackett is not only a faculty member, but a Lion alumna as well, earning her M.S. in Art from Texas A&M University-Commerce (now East Texas A&M) in 2005. She also holds degrees from Baylor University and Texas State University.

The award from AAF Dallas adds to Hackett’s career accolades and recognitions. She was previously given the Golden Apple Teacher of the Year award by the Dallas Society of Visual Communications in 2005, as well as the organization’s Golden Orchard Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award in 2013.

Featured photo: Lee Hackett was named a Luminary Award Recipient by the American Advertising Federation of Dallas.