IVLA_2025_Awards_Press_Release
International Visual Literacy Association
Announces 2025 Award Recipients
Aguascalientes, Mexico
November 2025
The International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA) proudly announces the recipients of its
2025 Annual Awards, recognizing outstanding scholarship, creativity, and service in the
advancement of visual literacy. These distinguished honorees were celebrated during the
57th Annual IVLA Conference, “The Power of Images in Sacred and Festive Spaces,” hosted
by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Emerging Researcher Award
Dr. Pınar Nuhoğlu Kibar
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology,
Hacettepe University, Turkey
Established in 2022, this award honors members actively building a scholarly record and
advancing research in visual literacy.
Dr. Pınar Nuhoğlu Kibar exemplifies the spirit of this recognition through her rigorous
scholarship, international collaboration, and innovative approaches to visual literacy
pedagogy. Since completing her Ph.D. in 2016 on a design model for infographics as a
learning strategy, Dr. Kibar has made significant contributions to understanding the role of
infographics, visualization, and multimedia in education. Her highly cited publications in the
Journal of Visual Literacy and other international journals have shaped contemporary
conversations around visual complexity and learning design.
As guest editor of JVL (Volume 43, Issue 2, 2024), she curated the special issue “Infographic
Creation for Generation Alpha,” demonstrating visionary leadership and scholarly precision.
Her research, supported by Erasmus+ and IVLA grants, continues to explore emerging
intersections between generative AI and visual communication.
Distinguished Researcher Award
Dr. Dana S.Thompson
Assistant Dean of Libraries, Murray State University, USA
MFA, MA, MLIS
This award recognizes members whose sustained scholarly contributions have significantly
shaped the field of visual literacy.
Dr. Dana S. Thompson’s prolific research, editorial work, and professional leadership have
redefined how visual literacy is taught and understood across disciplines. Her recent
publications, including A Slow Approach to Visual Literacy in Higher Education (ALA
Editions, 2024) and Unframing the Visual (ACRL, 2024), advance human-centered,
reflective pedagogies that emphasize care and critical observation.
The current IVLA President, Dr. Thompson has expanded the association’s global reach
through exhibitions, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and editorial innovation. Her
integrative scholarship continues to inspire both theoretical advancement and practical
application in higher education worldwide.
Creative Achievement Award
Iryna Z. Molodecky
IZM Visuals, Sheridan College, Pilon School of Business, Canada
The Creative Achievement Award honors ongoing creative work that advances visual
literacy through design excellence, innovation, and conceptual insight.
With more than 25 years of experience in design, illustration, and creative facilitation, Iryna
Molodecky has transformed visual pedagogy through her development of accessible,
visually driven learning tools. Her Visual Toolkit for Teaching and Learning Business and
Visual Thinking Strategies for Creative Problem-Solving card deck (launched at IVLA’s 55th
Annual Conference) empower educators to integrate drawing and visualization into
teaching and problem-solving.
Her creative leadership, spanning design education, authorship, and conference
contributions, embodies the spirit of visual literacy as a catalyst for creativity and
connection.
James G. Sucy Distinguished Service Award
Michelle Wendt
Stockton University, USA
This honor celebrates exceptional dedication to IVLA through extraordinary service and
leadership that advances the mission of the Association.
Since joining the IVLA Board in 2017, Past President, Michelle Wendt has provided steadfast
leadership and community-building through her work with the Conference Planning
Committee and beyond. Her initiatives have strengthened IVLA’s role as a hub for
interdisciplinary dialogue, connecting educators, artists, and researchers worldwide.
At Stockton University, her integration of design thinking, technology, and visual literacy
has empowered students and educators to engage deeply with visual communication. Her
inclusive, collaborative approach exemplifies the legacy of James G. Sucy and the ethos of
service through scholarship.
About the International Visual Literacy Association (IVLA)
Founded in 1968, IVLA is a global network of scholars, educators, designers, and artists
dedicated to the study and advancement of visual literacy—the ability to interpret and
create meaning from images in a visually driven world. Through its conferences,
publications, and community initiatives, IVLA fosters interdisciplinary research and
creative practice across education, art, media, and technology.
Learn more at www.ivla.org or contact info@ivla.org for media inquiries