Dr. Chris Mackowski, professor of journalism and mass communication, was recently chosen by the Houston (Texas) Civil War Roundtable as this year's recipient of its Frank E. Vandiver Award.

The award "recognizes the outstanding contributions to Civil War scholarship or preservation efforts by an individual or an institution."

Vandiver (1925-2005) was a widely recognized academic and author, and an administrator at Rice University, University of North Texas, and Texas A&M University. He was also a founding member of the roundtable.

On April 15-16, Mackowski was co-keynote speaker at the annual conference of the American Civil War Roundtable of the United Kingdom, held just outside of London, England. Mackowski spoke about the Civil War battles of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8-21, 1864) and the North Anna River (May 21-25, 1864).