Four Communications Leaders to be Inducted into 2026 LSU Manship School Hall of Fame

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
July 20, 2026 

For more information, contact: 
jbarbe10@lsu.edu

 

BATON ROUGE—The LSU Manship School of Mass Communication will celebrate the achievements of four distinguished communicators as they are inducted into the Manship School’s Hall of Fame at The River Terrace at the Shaw Center for the Arts on Thursday, November 5th, 2026.

The 2026 inductees are:

·       Rebecca Bentley, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Dow;

·       Jerry Ceppos (in memoriam), Former Dean and William B. Dickinson Distinguished Professor of Journalism, Manship School of Mass Communication;

·       Todd Schexnayder, Board Member, Fidelity Bank; Retired Senior Vice President and Human Resources Director;

·       John Snow, Partner, Emergent Method;

These honorees join a prestigious group of more than 145 professionals who have advanced the field of mass communication and brought distinction to the Manship School and its community.

 

Night of Excellence Event Details:

·       Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026

·       Time: Cocktails at 6 p.m. | Ceremony at 7:00 p.m.

·       Location: The River Terrace at the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St, Baton Rouge, LA 70801

·       Tickets: Available now at Buy Tickets

About the 2026 Inductees:

Rebecca Bentley, LSU ‘96
Rebecca Bentley is Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Dow, a global materials science company with 2025 sales of approximately $40 billion and nearly 35,000 employees operating manufacturing sites in 29 countries.

She is a member of the company’s Enterprise Leadership Team and has executive oversight for managing internal and external stakeholder engagement; leading global government affairs, policy and advocacy priorities; driving marketing communications; advancing the company’s brand and reputation; and managing enterprise risks.

Since joining Dow in 2002, she has helped guide communications and strategy through major enterprise transformations, joint ventures, M&A activity, and high-profile corporate moments, including the DowDuPont transaction.

A 1996 graduate of the Manship School of Mass Communication, Rebecca brings deep expertise in corporate affairs, reputation leadership, and stakeholder engagement, grounded in 30-year career spanning roles with Dow, Georgia Gulf Corporation, and International Paper Company.

 
Jerry Ceppos (in memoriam)
Jerry Ceppos served as dean of the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication from 2011 to 2018 and later as the William B. Dickinson Distinguished Professor of Journalism, leading a transformative era of innovation, experiential learning and academic excellence.

During his tenure, the Manship School launched the LSU Manship Washington Program, the Statehouse Bureau and the Social Media Analysis and Creation (SMAC) Lab, while also establishing the nation's first endowed chair in race, media and cultural literacy, expanding faculty diversity and strengthening the school's digital journalism curriculum. He also enriched the Manship and LSU communities by recruiting nationally recognized voices such as James Carville and journalist, Carl Bernstein, elevating the school's national profile.

A nationally respected journalism leader, Ceppos spent more than four decades as a newspaper journalist and executive, serving in leadership roles at Knight Ridder and the San Jose Mercury News, where he helped guide two Pulitzer Prize-winning newsrooms and championed ethics, diversity and excellence throughout the profession.

Jerry Ceppos, who passed away in July 2022, is remembered for his unwavering commitment to ethical journalism, democracy and student success, leaving a legacy that continues to shape the Manship School and the journalism profession.

 

Todd Schexnayder, LSU ‘81
Todd Schexnayder is member of the Board of Directors at Fidelity Bank, after retiring as senior vice president and human resources director.  In a career spanning more than three decades in human resources, corporate communications and corporate leadership, he has held senior roles at several organizations.  Some of his current community involvement includes the 2025-2026 President the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, past Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, the National Board of Directors for Volunteers of America Puerto Rico and LSU Foundation Advisory Board.  He was inducted into the LSU Alumni Association Hall of Distinction in 2021.

 

John Snow, LSU ‘07
John Snow is a partner at Emergent Method, where he helps lead the nationally recognized, award winning management consulting firm – advising organizations and leaders across the country on strategy, communications, and organizational transformation. He has worked with university presidents, Fortune 500 companies, elected officials, local communities, and state and federal leaders on initiatives that strengthen institutions, drive growth, and improve outcomes. A two-time LSU graduate, John earned his bachelor's degree from the Manship School of Mass Communication and his MBA from the E.J. Ourso College of Business and currently serves as president of the Manship School Dean's Advisory Council. His work spans higher education, economic development, workforce development, infrastructure, and government, with a focus on helping organizations solve complex challenges and achieve lasting results.

We are also offering sponsorship opportunities at various levels, each with exclusive perks. If you or your organization are interested in supporting this prestigious event, please email Madeline Volland at mvolland@lsufoundation.org for details.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Joseph Barber at jbarbe10@lsu.edu.

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Created in 1975, the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication Hall of Fame honors alumni, faculty and friends whose distinguished careers have contributed to or reflect credit on the various academic programs in the school. All Hall of Fame inductees have demonstrated outstanding professional or public service leadership, a tangible connection to the Manship School of Mass Communication, either as an alum or a strong supporter of the school and its mission, and a personal reputation for outstanding character and citizenship. View the full list of honorees on the Manship School's website.

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: Master of Mass Communication, Ph.D. in Media and Public Affairs, Certificate of Strategic Communication and a dual MMC/law degree