SFA’s Greule awarded Texas Broadcast Educator of the Year

Dr. Al Greule, center, associate professor emeritus in Stephen F. Austin State University's Department of Media and Communication, received the 2025 Broadcast Educator of the Year Award from Texas Association of Broadcasters' President Oscar Rodriguez, left, and awards show Master of Ceremony Natalie Morales, right, of CBS.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Dr. Al Greule, associate professor emeritus in Stephen F. Austin State University's Department of Media and Communication, has been named Broadcast Educator of the Year by the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

Greule received the award, which recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding leaders in the broadcasting field, during TAB's annual convention in Round Rock.

According to Greule, the award was initiated by colleagues from colleges and universities across Texas. His work was reviewed by media professionals throughout the state who recognized its quality through feedback and evaluations from hundreds of his former students who went on to become interns and employees.

"It's always a great achievement to be recognized by one's profession - in this case the recognition came from both the industry and the academic sectors," Greule said. "Becoming a media professional requires developing a series of practical skills to become marketable and effective - and the profession is needed to also judge the effectiveness. It is a very high honor to be considered among the best."

Greule began his 32-year tenure at SFA by revitalizing a broadcasting program that was on the brink of closure. He reinstated key courses, secured equipment for television production and launched a weekly football coaches' show that aired regionally.

Later, he expanded student opportunities through remote event broadcasts, collaborations with industry professionals and the early adoption of internet streaming for student-produced programming - well before it became common practice.

His greatest impact, however, was seen in his students' success. Many went on to award-winning careers across all areas of media, a legacy he viewed as the truest measure of educational achievement. Greule cites over a dozen Emmy winners; several successful producers, directors, and on-air and behind-the-scenes talent; and several educators who have learned from his courses.

"Dr. Greule is deserving of this award," said Dr. John Allen Hendricks, professor and chair of SFA's Department of Media and Communication. "Throughout his long tenure at SFA, he has mentored and guided countless students who have gone on to achieve remarkable success in the media industry across the nation. His dedication and influence have made a lasting impact on the professional lives of many Lumberjacks who have pursued careers as broadcast journalists."

Greule began his broadcasting career in the mid-1970s at WDWN-FM, the Cayuga Community College radio station, where he became program director by his second semester while also working at a local AM station as a reporter, board operator and DJ. After transferring to State University of New York at Oswego, he served as a lab assistant in radio and television courses, which led to full teaching responsibilities in radio production and announcing at Ohio University in 1978 while completing his Master of Arts in media management. He later joined Murray State University in Kentucky, where he managed the campus TV station, guided students to regional and national awards, and launched remote telecasts of the university's football and basketball games.

While a full-time faculty member at SFA, Greule earned his doctorate from Texas A&M University and worked for a number of television productions.

Greule also was a devoted member of the Texas Association of Broadcast Educators and served two consecutive terms as president.

For more information on SFA's Department of Media and Communication, visit sfasu.edu/media-communication.