Charles W. Little Jr. began his professional career as a magazine writer and editor, covering sports, health, science and technology issues. His credits include ESPN Inc., American Sports Network, Muscle Digest, Flex, Fit and senior writer at the Energy Research Institute.
He has served as a design and journalism consultant for numerous organizations including The Orange County Register, General Dynamics, Sullivan Corp., American Sports Network, and scores of colleges and universities.
Since 1986 Little has served as a communications and media studies professor, department chair and journalism adviser at Santa Ana College. During his tenure at SAC student media have enjoyed great success, winning numerous state and national honors, including more than 21 Associated Collegiate Press National Pacemaker Awards, considered the Pulitzer Prize of college journalism. The student newspaper,
el Don, that he advises, was inducted into the Associated Collegiate Press Hall of Fame in 2008.
Several of his former students have distinguished themselves professionally, winning multiple Emmy Awards, Golden Mic Awards, and numerous global design, and national reporting honors.
He has been honored by his peers for excellence in teaching, innovation and curriculum development at the state and national level, and has been recognized by the governor of California, the state legislature and the City of Santa Ana for excellence in teaching.
In 1997, The College Media Advisers, Inc. awarded him the
National Distinguished Community College Adviser Award.
He was selected as Santa Ana College's
Distinguished Faculty Award recipient in 2000.
The University of La Verne named Professor Little one of its "Top 75 Graduates" at its Diamond Jubilee Celebration.
In 2015 The College Media Association honored Professor Little with the
Reid H. Montgomery Distinguished Service Award presented to an individual or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to collegiate media.
The award is given only when meritorious candidates are brought forth. Notable past winners include Dorothy Chandler, Poet and Critic John Ciardi, the Gannett Foundation and Paul S. Swennson, Executive Director, Newspaper Fund, Inc.
Professor Little is an avid cyclist and fitness enthusiast.
