The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) was founded as Theta Sigma Phi on April 8, 1909, by seven female journalism students at the University of Washington in Seattle.  Theta Sigma Phi was changed to Women in Communications, Inc. at the 1972 convention and allowed men to become active members.  The name was changed again to The Association for Women in Communications at the annual conference in the fall of 1996.

The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) is the one organization that recognizes the complex relationships that exist across communications disciplines. Modern communicators must demonstrate competence in varied disciplines and be able to network and make career moves across the broad spectrum of communications fields. 

Disciplines represented within the association include: print and broadcast journalism, television and radio production, film, advertising, public relations, marketing, graphic design, multi-media design, and photography.