RADFORD UNIVERSITY TASCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION LK VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 2013 IN THIS ISSUE Graduate Program Master’s in Five Page 1 Draws New Candidates WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ebecca Knicely is taking advantage that.” Some top students also are offered Shelly Whitaker Page 3 of a new initiative in the School fellowships or assistantships that help Marty Smith Page 4 Rof Communication. The Corporate defray the cost of graduate school. and Professional Communication graduate The graduate program itself is growing FACULTY PROFILES program has expanded its accelerated more competitive. Previously, applicants Dr. Matthew Turner Page 5 master’s program to include media studies had to have an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 majors, and Knicely signed on. to be admitted. That will change to 3.0 in Dr. Sandra French Page 6 High-performing undergraduate students the fall. Students must earn 30 credits to can earn both a bachelor’s and master’s complete the program. FROM THE DIRECTOR Page 2 degree in five years. Until recently most “I realized that I was going to do a CONTACT US Page 2 who applied to the graduate program were graduate program and it seemed like the STUDENT MEDIA Page 6 studying public relations. Then the school perfect fit,” said graduate student Sheena MEET OUR STUDENTS Page 7 began recruiting accelerated students from Palmer. “It complements my advertising media studies, offering a wider range of degree by making me a more ideal courses and giving all communication candidate for a future job.” NEWS ROUNDUP Page 8 students the chance to take graduate classes The classes are mostly in seminar Tweet the Vote for undergraduate credit. format and the core curriculum consists RU Panelists at VACAS The accelerated program targets of communication theory, communication Ad Students Head to D.C. sophomores and juniors who have at research, organizational communication, least 60 but no more than 96 credits. public relations, and training and Faculty and Free Speech Students take some graduate courses to development. Students also have the Photographer Recognized fill undergraduate electives. Applications option of pursuing either a thesis or non- An All-nighter for a Cause require a recommendation from a School of thesis degree, based on their personal and Communication faculty member, a GPA of professional goals. 3.25 and a B or higher in research methods New courses are being introduced from Neil Young and RU and communication theory. Media Studies faculty. Dr. West Bowers “I decided to do the accelerated program will be teaching interactive media during Prof. Bill after hearing about it because, why not?” the summer term, and in the fall he will Kovarik’s research said Knicely, who is studying journalism. offer a course on change and innovation in on the history of “I was already attending the university and media. alternative fuels I absolutely love it here. The accelerated Most classes are held in seminar format was highlighted program allows me to receive credit for both once a week for three hours to help in rock star Neil undergrad and grad classes while being an accommodate students who commute or Young’s “Waging undergraduate student. ... So, not only am I work full-time. Along with the seminars, Heavy Peace” saving money, but I am also saving time” students have an opportunity to put lessons (Blue Rider Most accelerated students finish both their into practice. Press, 2012). undergraduate and graduate degrees in five “Seminar classes let you openly discuss Young mentions years. your readings,” Palmer said. “But you also Kovarik and Radford University “We don’t want our best students to leave,” have your hands-on classes where you are on Page 22. “It’s my 15 seconds of said Dr. John Brummette, coordinator of the out there in the field getting the experience fame,” Kovarik said of the fleeting graduate program. “If we can keep you here you need. ... It’s so helpful and teaches so moment of recognition by a rock star. then we are going to try our hardest to do much.” # PAGE 2 SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION TA LK From the Director A publication of the School of Communication at Radford University Building for Tomorrow Volume 4, Issue 1 DIRECTOR New Faculty, Classes Lynn M. Zoch, PhD to Benefit Students COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR Lisa Baker-Webster, PhD hange is in the air. The University has started excavation near MEDIA STUDIES COORDINATOR Main Street for an addition to Courtney Bosworth, PhD C the College of Science and Technology, and the student Health and Wellness GRADUATE COORDINATOR Center that will be next to the Bonnie John Brummette, PhD Hurlburt Student Center is rising from I even dipped my toes in the water of the ground. As we write this newsletter, cyberspace by offering a graduate class EDITOR Leigh Anne Kelley we are waiting to find out the status of as a “hybrid” class in the fall. About half the proposed building for the College of the classes were spent online, with STUDENT EDITOR of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences students discussing with each other and Keelia McCaffrey – a building that, if approved, will me the readings I’d assigned. We spent become the new home for the School of in-class time for presentations, guest CONTRIBUTORS Communication. speakers and problem solving. Although West Bowers, PhD • Maggie Comeau, We’ve not put activities on hold, students indicated I needed to be tougher ’13 • Paige Quesenberry, ’13 • Joe however. This spring semester we (me?!) about my expectations for online Rummel, ’13 • Kevin Staats, ’14 • Kelsi completed searches for two faculty discussion, for a first effort I was pleased Whalen, ’13 • Alex Winfree, ’13 members, one in journalism and one with how little different it felt to me. in communication studies. Both Dr. Our graduate faculty have been Most content in this publication was written by Colin Baker, who comes to us from busy making changes that will make students in the School of Communication. Wayne State University, and Dr. Twange our Corporate and Professional S.O.C Talk is published online and distributed Kasoma, who has been teaching at Emory Communication program more appealing to alumni and friends by the School of and Henry, have excellent previous to students in the media studies major. Communication. All content © 2013. If you teaching experience and active research Additional graduate classes are now received this as a forward and would like to be on our mailing list, need to update or change agendas. Even as we still believe that also available in Health Communication an email, or have other comments or questions, excellent teaching comes first, the (offered as a service course for the contact us at [email protected] University is putting more emphasis on Nursing program, as well as for our contributing to our fields through research students) and in Interactive Media, Do you have an interesting story or know alumni who do? Send ideas for stories or profiles to: and scholarship. Both are activities we with both being offered online during [email protected] encourage and support. the upcoming summer. Within the next We also wrapped up our fourth several years we also hope to offer an FIND US ON CAMPUS successful Communication Week in online Certificate Program in Professional 704 Fairfax Street April. Students packed the four evening Communication Strategies and Tactics for Radford, VA 24141 “keynote” talks, all by alumni; several job working professionals. Phone: 540.831.6553 Fax: 540.831.5883 seeking workshops during the lunch hour; I know many of you keep in touch with and two Friday afternoon panels. In the friends from RU. I would appreciate it future I hope that more of you can join us if you would forward this newsletter to and share your experiences. those alumni. We would like ALL of our Another change that’s occurring in the alumni to have the opportunity to read School of Communication is the increase about what is going on with the School by in classes we are teaching either totally, receiving SOC Talk. Through our social or partially, online. Last summer we media and postcard efforts a month or so discovered that the most highly enrolled ago, we got updated emails from about classes we offered were the ones students 150 of you. Thanks to all of you who took Faculty could take online, from wherever they the time to keep us up-to-date! offices are in 704 Fairfax. were spending their summers. Some Have a wonderful summer, Studios, labs classes are even taught online during and equipment space is in our regular semesters because they offer Lynn M. Zoch, PhD Porterfield Hall. flexibility for students balancing a full Professor and Director load of classes with a job to pay the bills. School of Communication PAGE 3 SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION Where Are They Now? Alumna: ‘Choose Your Words Wisely’ Shelly Whitaker’s PR Coursework Led to Career Success By Paige Quesenberry, ’13 n Dec. 1, 2011, Shelly Whitaker and executives from Advance OAuto Parts Inc. traveled to New York to celebrate the retailer’s 10-year anniversary of trading on the New York Stock Exchange by ringing the closing bell. It marked a huge achievement for the company. After touring the exchange, Shelly Whitaker (’95), far left, called the New York Stock Exchange trip a “career high.” Advance CEO Darren R. Jackson was interviewed live from the trading floor. Richmond. She worked at Circuit City for Advance Auto’s annual shareholder The company was presented with several as a media buyer for almost four years. meeting. awards, and Whitaker received a medal of From Richmond, Whitaker moved The job has Whitaker working regular her own.