-- The Women's Caucus of the National Communication Association has chosen UC Davis American studies professor Carole Blair as the 2000 recipient of the Francine Merritt Award for mentorship and leadership. Blair, who directs the UC Davis Washington Center, was chosen for her role in advancing the status of women in academic professions. The international association is a nonprofit organization of 7,100 educators, practitioners and students whose purpose is to promote study, criticism, research, teaching and application of the artistic, humanistic and scientific principles of communication.