Striving to Support, Educate and Hear All of Our Community Members

Strength in Unity Striving to support, educate and hear all of our community members

I ANNUAL REPORT Letter from the Dean TABLE OF CONTENTS dear alumni and friends, 1 Elon launches local news initiative Embracing change and diversity can best sum up the 2 Building on Momentum 2019-20 academic year. 4 Conversation starters In June 2019, the School of Communications kicked off the academic year implementing our new organizational 5 20 years strong structure with five undergraduate department chairs and 6 Familiar faces, new roles program directors for our media analytics major, our 7 The Year in Review communications core and minor courses, assessment and the interactive media graduate program. 11 Faculty & Alumni News In August, the faculty accepted the challenge to 12 By the Numbers consider how they could better incorporate lessons related to the business of our industries, analytics, 12 Where’s the Class of 2020? diversity, equity and inclusion into their curriculum. CIII National Advisory Board Faculty began analyzing curricula to determine the gaps in what we offered and what the industry expected of us. Then we incorporated some immediate changes to courses, including adding credits to our Creating Multimedia Content and Web and Mobile Communications courses. Additionally, sport management received approval to begin its self-study for the Commission on Sport eloncomm Management Accreditation (cosma). When students returned in the fall, we expanded and provided funding for three diversity-related student organizations: Unity in Communications, Women Influencers MASTHEAD in Sport (wins) and Women of Elon Entertainment Empire (weee). Each of these groups hosted events to mentor and support women and students identifying as Black, Latinx/ President Hispanic, Asian, Native American, multiracial or lgbtqia. Connie Ledoux Book, Ph.D. In September, the school sponsored the National Reconciliation Day initiative, hosting a Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs screening of the documentary “Walking While Black” and a community forum to discuss Aswani Volety, Ph.D. ways to improve relations between the Black and Latinx communities and local law Dean Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR enforcement. By May, as the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum, the school held a new set of screenings and discussions with community members to expand the Associate Deans Don Grady, Ph.D. conversation and advocate for improvements. Kenn Gaither, Ph.D. Change didn’t stop there. During the spring semester, the coronavirus pandemic forced Editor the university to pivot and host all classes remotely. Our faculty learned a lot about online Tommy Kopetskie instruction, advising and mentoring, and have worked tirelessly this summer to make Designer improvements to how they approach engaged learning for the fall. Garry Graham Our students have learned through these changes how to be more nimble, innovative Copy Editor and creative. Now we are focused on remaining ready and resilient as we enter the 2020-21 Alexa Boschini ’10 academic year and being the change agents the nation and world need. This report is published yearly for alumni, friends and partners of the Elon University School of Communications. Published in September 2020 Send inquiries to: School of Communications Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR Elon University Dean 2850 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244 336.278.5658 On the cover: [email protected] Brianna Nobles ’21 (center), a journalism major and Communications Fellow from Randleman, North Carolina, joins the conversation during the first Unity in Communications dinner in fall 2019. The on-campus initiative supports students www.elon.edu/communications interested in enhancing diversity and inclusion in the communications and sport management industries. With support from the dean’s office, the student-run program organizes lectures, discussions and other special activities. Also pictured (left) is journalism major Alex Kaminer ’21. Elon launches local news initiative orth Carolina residents’ dedicated to ensuring that North need for high-quality local Carolinians have access to news news and information is and information so that they can Nobvious — particularly participate in the democratic during the coronavirus pandemic process,” said Elon President and a reeling economy. To help Connie Ledoux Book. address unreported stories and Through partnerships and an underrepresented communities, inclusive, community-focused the North Carolina Local News approach, the workshop aims Workshop was launched this to help North Carolina become spring to provide programming, a national model for fresh resources and ongoing support approaches to journalism as a

for news organizations working to public service. The workshop ’23 BLAKE JAVIK PHOTO: inform North Carolina residents will also support Elon’s students, Riley Davis, who completed her master’s degree in science journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Hussman School about state and local issues. faculty projects and school of Journalism and Media, handles a snake this summer while on Headquartered at Elon’s School initiatives, and pursue partner assignment for the Intern Corps. of Communications, the local projects and support a host news initiative was established of state and national entities interns’ work appeared in the in mid-May with support from a working on research, innovation Greensboro News & Record, indy $180,000 grant from the North or support for local news. Week, Winston-Salem Journal, Carolina Local News Lab Fund. This summer the workshop wral.com, La Noticia and other The workshop is led by Melanie welcomed four student journalists outlets. Susan Ladd, an Elon Sill, a journalism veteran and as part of its inaugural Intern adjunct journalism instructor, former news executive. Corps, assisting state news outlets directed the intern team. “This pooled funding from at no cost and covering important The gift to launch and support a host of community and North Carolina stories, with a the workshop is counted as part national foundations, including reporting emphasis on the impact of the Elon leads Campaign. the Democracy Fund, will be of the covid-19 pandemic. The The partnership with the Local News Lab Fund has a goal of collectively raising funds to support the ongoing programs of the workshop. Elon leads is the largest campaign in the university’s history and will provide new funding for scholarships, access to engaged learning opportunities such as the workshop, faculty and staff mentors, and development of the campus.

For more information about the workshop, visit www.ncnewsworks.org. PHOTO: GRACE TERRY TERRY ’21 GRACE PHOTO: Elon alumnus Anton Delgado ’20 was one of four members of the inaugural Intern Corps program. In addition to extensive COVID-19 coverage, Delgado regularly reported from Black Lives Matter protests including a Juneteenth protest in Charlotte, N.C. In August, Delgado began work as an environmental reporter for the Arizona Republic.

1 Building on Momentum t the onset of the 2019-20 professional goals in sport. Seiden recommended that academic year, School of Dabbs invited successful female audience members take more Communications faculty professionals from across the risks, particularly at a young Aprepared and approved a industry to join the on-campus age, and not be intimidated. list of 17 objectives that advance event in February and offer “Make the call, send the and strengthen the school advice during classroom visits, blind email, knock on doors and its communities. The first afternoon panel and roundtable and see if they will open. Never discussions, and a networking underestimate the power of reception. networking,” she said. The daylong event was “I am so appreciative of in recognition of National the time of our panelists and Girls & Women in Sports their willingness to share Day, an annual celebration in their personal stories,” Dabbs February to acknowledge the said. “Our students gained accomplishments of female knowledge of the industry, athletes, recognize the influence advice on how to excel and of sports participation for made industry connections women and girls, and honor that can grow over time. the progress and continuing Additionally, our male students struggle for equality for women learned from the panelists’ in sports. experiences and the importance “The vision of the day was of male advocates for women in to surround our students with the industry.” strong industry leaders who In conjunction with the Sport could share their experiences, Management Society, wins During the Promise of Possibility panel objective called to formalize insights and advice. The motto, offers regular programming discussion held on Feb. 14, female professionals in the sport industry discussed the Women Influencers in ‘If you see it, you can be it,’ to encourage the development their careers and advice for aspiring Sport (wins), Women of Elon drove the entire vision of the and education of female professionals. Pictured (from left) are Entertainment Empire (weee) event,” Dabbs said. students studying sport panelists Erinn Latta, Monica McCoy, Dana Seiden, Felicia Tittle and Theresa Wenzel. and Unity in Communications During the panel discussion management. Through the student groups as school in LaRose Student Commons, initiative and its mentorship, initiatives to support diversity, five female panelists were female students gain the equity and inclusion. Here’s a prompted with questions about skills, knowledge, networks look at these three fledgling their professional success, and confidence necessary initiatives and their successes what qualities make them to establish themselves in over the past year. strong women in the workplace an overwhelmingly male- and what helped them gain dominated industry. confidence in their own abilities The Promise as professionals. of Possibility Panelists included Erinn Breaking bread and When planning for the spring Latta of Ecore; Monica McCoy, coming together 2020 Promise of Possibility a sport industry consultant; What is dinner without event, Shaina Dabbs, assistant Dana Seiden of Harris Blitzer good conversation? Over professor of sport management Sports & Entertainment; Felicia the past year, the Unity in and director of wins, set Tittle of Duke University; Communications program out to reach female, college- and Theresa Wenzel, former has filled both minds and aged students and help president of the wnba’s Atlanta bodies, hosting three dinner empower them to pursue their Dream organization. discussions with prominent

2 communication leaders and industry executives with diverse backgrounds. In November, Kim Hunter, one of the PR industry’s strongest advocates for diversity, shared insights from his career and his role leading a multicultural executive search firm,klh & Associates. Additionally, Hunter serves as chairman of The lagrant Foundation, which has provided more than $2 million and more than 400 scholarships to increase the number of WEEE welcomed prospective new members during an October meeting in Steers Pavilion. ethnic minorities in the fields of advertising, marketing distinguished career in strategic in the media that were high departments and majors. and public relations. In the communications. profile, whether it was Ellen Originally started in Los last four years, the School of Lastly, the covid-19 [DeGeneres] coming out or the Angeles, weee hosted its first Communications has had seven pandemic pushed Cathy murder of Matthew Shepard, on-campus event in spring 2019 lagrant Scholars, including a Renna’s March visit online, ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ marriage and ramped up its gatherings two-time winner. but it didn’t stop the nationally equality, all those things I during the past year, hosting Mike Fernandez, the first recognized media relations and was kind of at the epicenter,” regular meetings with guest U.S.-born Latino to serve as the communications expert from Renna said. speakers and workshops chief communications officer shedding light on her career pertaining to the members’ of a Fortune 500 company, and the lgbtq community. career interests. kicked off the initiative’s spring The first national news WEEE: Connecting In April, weee hosted a semester. During his February director of glaad discussed alumni and students virtual conversation with conversation with students, he her professional path in the Elon University and the President Connie Book, who discussed career preparation, communications industry and School of Communications stressed both the importance landing a first job and her start in lgbtq media and are fortunate to have active, and power of creating trends in the public relations activism. engaged alumni across the meaningful relationships industry. Fernandez noted “Through the 1990s, all country. The Women of Elon throughout one’s career — an that he’s worked with at least those things that you saw Entertainment Empire is one approach she has consistently seven Elon alumni during his such affinity group, serving as taken throughout her own a key support and networking professional journey. group for Elon alumnae “Given the uncertainty of working in the entertainment current circumstances, we felt industry in Los Angeles that Dr. Book was someone and Elon undergraduate who would provide comfort students interested in and wisdom to our Elon entertainment careers. alums,” said Joyce Choi ’19, More widely known by the a weee board member who acronym weee, the initiative helped organize the online creates opportunities and conversation. “It also reminds programming where female us that our Elon community is students and alumni can always there, no matter when gather and network, making you graduated.” connections across the university’s different schools, Natalie Green ’21, a double major in strategic communications and sociology, speaks to fellow attendees at the Unity in Communications dinner during the fall semester.

3 The School of Communications, in partnership with the CREDE, El Centro de Español and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, hosted the inaugural National Day of Reconciliation event, a nationwide initiative to promote communication and healing between police and people of color. The Sept. 17 event included an on-campus screening of the award-winning film “Walking While Black” and a panel discussion with Alamance County community members and law enforcement leaders. Pictured (far right) is Cliff Parker, chief deputy with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, addressing fellow panelists and audience members.

and democratic processes in our communities. Conversation starters Recommendations have ranged from implementing community ElonComm hosts film Black: L.O.V.E. is the Answer” policing initiatives to opening and engage in meaningful public records related to police conversation. The discussions misconduct. screenings, forums to encourage have centered on improving School of Communications and healing the relationship Dean Rochelle Ford addressed community dialogue between local law enforcement the dire need for such dialogue and the Black and Brown and action in a July 2, 2020, ince fall 2019, the School communities in Alamance column published in the of Communications has County. In the aftermath of Burlington Times-News. “Other convened five sessions the death of George Floyd and strategies to reduce racism of community leaders, S subsequent Black Lives Matter exist and are important to this law enforcement, students, protests, these conversations conversation, but improving faculty and staff to view the became even more critical police and community relations documentary “Walking While to lead as a community must stay at the forefront,” she partner that specializes in wrote. “We need all hands on communications. deck to become aware of the More than 100 people have challenges of ‘Walking While participated in the forums and Black’ in Alamance County made recommendations for and work together to make our action that should not only community safer for all.” improve relationships with The conversation continued local law enforcement, but through the summer with also enhance the economic the dean’s office seeking and development, quality of life receiving permission to conduct private online screenings of the With Dean Rochelle Ford looking on, James Wilkes, senior pastor of Elon First Baptist documentary for community Church, participates in a community forum June and campus members. 11 to discuss improving communication and understanding in Alamance County’s diverse communities, while also building relationships with law enforcement.

4 20 YEARS STRONG The Imagining the Internet Center enters its third decade with an evolution of its own n fall 2019, the Imagining Elon students Maria Ramirez ’20 and Brian Rea ’21 conduct an interview at the Internet Center the U.N.-facilitated Global Internet celebrated a significant Governance Forum in Berlin in November. milestone, completing its I20th year of work chronicling of nine attended the 2019 the evolution of digital Internet Governance Forum, communications networks at held in Berlin with Elon the dawn of the 21st century. undergraduates interviewing Here’s a look back at the past more than 100 experts from year for the center, as well as more than 50 nation-states. what lies ahead. This is the 10th year the center has conducted interviews at the ‘Future of Digital Life’ yearly forum. series continues During the 2019-20 academic A reimagined focus year, the center partnered with and Rainie co-author of “The Student teams The university’s new strategic Lee Rainie, director of internet Future of Democracy in the travel to Costa Rica, plan, Boldly Elon, calls and technology research for Digital Age,” with nearly half of Germany for the enhancement and the Pew Research Center, to the report’s experts predicting evolution of the Imagining the Assistant Professor Alex produce three reports tied to that humans’ use of technology Internet Center into a broader Luchsinger led two student the center’s “Future of Digital will weaken core aspects of interdisciplinary research video teams to international Life” series. democracy and democratic center on the future of digital events to document experts and Assistant Professor Kathleen representation between now life that will include faculty world leaders. In September, Stansberry served as the first- and 2030. The report was and students from across Elon’s four Elon undergraduate draft writer of “The Next 50 published in February. campus and operate out of students participated in the Years of Digital Life,” which Lastly, Anderson and Rainie the Provost’s Office. Provost official video coverage of the was co-authored by Professor teamed with Emily Vogels of Aswani Volety has appointed Internet Society’s 2019 Internet Janna Anderson and Rainie. Pew’s Internet and Technology an advisory group to begin Hall of Fame induction in In celebration of the Oct. 29, Project to produce a report to outline possibilities for San José, Costa Rica. Two 2019, 50th anniversary of the published in June titled “The the center. months later, a student team first computer-to-computer Future of Social and Civic connection of the internet’s Innovation.” The third report precursor, the arpanet, explored how experts expect 530 experts responded to a organizations and individuals series of questions about how to address the “techlash” — individuals’ lives might be emerging concerns about affected by the evolution of the the ways in which digital internet over the next 50 years. technologies are being used to The respondents were largely the detriment of society. optimistic — provided people The center’s ethnographic documentary work embrace reforms allowing at Global IGF 2019 in Berlin was conducted by (pictured, from left) Paloma Camacho ’22, better cooperation, security, Maggie Brown ’20, Cameron Wolfslayer ’21, basic rights and economic Jack Haley ’21, Jared Mayerson ’20, Assistant fairness. Professor Alex Luchsinger, Brian Rea ’21, Oliver Fischer ’19, Maria Ramirez ’20 and Julia Anderson was lead author Walter ’20. 5 Familiar faces, new roles most interesting and dynamic because of this continued and one of the largest programs Derek Lackaff academic program I’d ever excellence in leadership and on campus — with more heard of, and I still feel that way the willingness of our faculty than 500 begins tenure as today,” Lackaff said. “We have to adjust to our changing majors and this remarkable opportunity to industries and prepare our 17 full-time iMedia director rapidly innovate to keep pace graduate students for their professors. with the industry while at the future careers.” An Elon same time being guided by an alumna, Lucia enduring core of humanistic Bravo, Lucia named returned and intellectual values.” department chairs to campus in 2012 and is On June 1, Lackaff officially Associate Professors Vanessa tasked with leading the Sport became director of the Bravo and Cara Lucia have been Management Department Interactive Media program, appointed to the top leadership through its final stages succeeding David Copeland, positions of the Strategic to obtain accreditation A.J. Fletcher Professor and Communications Department from the Commission iMedia’s founding director, and Sport Management on Sport Management who announced his resignation Department, respectively. Accreditation (cosma). in December. Copeland will The new chairs began June 1. “Our two new chairs bring a remain on faculty in the school. During their unique blend of teaching and “The iMedia program has respective professional experience to their hen Associate been undoubtedly fortunate to Elon tenures, respective departments,” Ford Professor Derek have great, forward-thinking the two faculty said. “They are both leaders Lackaff joined leadership from Dr. Copeland members have in their fields and industries, Wthe School of the past 11 years, building been active and capable of developing Communications a decade a diverse student body with teachers, engaging and progressive ago, assigned to teach in the majority of students mentors and researchers, elements to our curriculum to the school’s then year-old being African-American publishing, presenting and ensure our students’ academic Interactive Media graduate in recent years. And we are volunteering regularly in their and professional success. program, he immediately saw excited about what Derek academic pursuits while also Additionally, and it can’t be the potential of the 10-month, Lackaff, a wonderful teacher, participating in campus and overemphasized how proud full-time program that prepares scholar and mentor, will community initiatives. we are to have two strong graduates to think strategically bring to the program,” School Bravo, who came to Elon female leaders taking on these across media platforms. of Communications Dean in 2011, oversees the school’s top roles. Their perspectives “I joined the iMedia faculty Rochelle Ford said. “The largest academic program — and leadership will only help in 2010 because it was the program’s future is bright strengthen the school.”

New full-time faculty & staff

Genevieve Barnes Abby Igoe Jenny Jiang Amber Moser Melanie Sill Shannon Zenner Program Assistant, Assistant Director of Assistant Professor of Director of Internships, Executive Director, Assistant Professor of School of Multimedia Projects Communication Design School of Communications North Carolina Local Communication Design Communications News Workshop 6 THE YEAR IN REVIEW JULY/AUGUST ssistant Professor Carolyn Desalu was one of 15 faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide Ato participate in the Scripps Howard Journalism Entrepreneurship Institute, held at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Senior Lecturer Randy Piland served as the lead of a volunteer staff of 28 photographers and videographers at the World Scout Jam- boree, chronicling the 12-day international event in West Virginia. More than 45,000 Scouts from 150 countries attended. Associate Professor Vanessa Bravo participated in AEJMC’s yearlong Institute for Diverse Leadership training program, which is The elondocs program, directed by Associate Professor Nicole Triche (top right), reaches a milestone, celebrating 10 years. dedicated to increasing the number of people of color and women who serve in leadership Instructor and Director of Student Engage- positions in journalism and communication ment and Alumni AffairsColin Donohue education. Bravo was one of nine awardees organized a dinner conversation with the selected from across the country. university community and local Muslims on Lecturer Hal Vincent was appointed to Sept. 11 at the Burlington Masjid. The discus- the head leadership position for AEJMC’s sion included how the media cover Islam, the Advertising Division. The election and an- impact of 9/11, the role of the Masjid in the nouncement were made at AEJMC’s August community, the five pillars of Islam and more. conference in Toronto, where Vincent co-led a elondocs, a yearlong program for students daylong teaching workshop. passionate about documentary film production, celebrated its 10th cohort this fall, Derrick Redwine ’20 highlights his internship with the SEPTEMBER welcoming eight new members. New York Red Bulls. The school hosted its Careers in Public Relations: Diversity & Inclusion Panel OCTOBER Associate Professor David Bockino traveled Discussion on Sept. 16, featuring strategic to India during fall break to lecture at the Thirty-one students completed the Sport communications professionals and human Global Institute of Sports Business, India’s Management Department’s 400-hour resources executives from G&S Business internship requirement in summer 2019. The first and only industry-designed and Communications, W2O Group, Taylor Strategy, department offered a look at how its students internationally certified sports management Mower, and Charlotte Pipe and Foundry. spent their summers at the Sport Manage- program. Bockino previously spent time in ment Internship Forum. India while working for ESPNcricinfo. Lecturer Kelly Furnas traveled to Shanghai In recognition of her contributions to teach- to serve as the lead judge for the 2019 Youth ing and mentoring students and supporting Observation Contest, a student competition PRSSA, Dean Rochelle Ford was presented organized by the Journalism Education with the Public Relations Society of Amer- Association of China. ica’s 2019 Outstanding Educator Award at the PRSA 2019 International Conference in Associate Professor Vanessa Bravo served as San Diego. the keynote speaker at the Diaspora Studies series on Oct. 10, presenting her research As part of the school’s W2O Group Health examining state-diaspora relations in the Day, Elon alumnae Nicole Friend ’15 and Emily Thomas ’22 listens as Jordan Kaye of W2O Group governments of El Salvador, Costa Rica and Brooke Muller ’19 met with three classes and talks at the Careers in Public Relations reception. Colombia. Live Oak Communications students and hosted 19/20 7 THE YEAR IN REVIEW

case study competition. This was the team’s second straight year as a finalist. ElonComm and Pitney Bowes hosted a Diversity and Inclusion in News Coverage luncheon at the 2019 National High School Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C. Panelists included Al Drago ’15, a freelance photographer; Craig Herndon, a retired Wash- ington Post photojournalist; and Cheriss May, president of the Women Photojournalists of Washington. Dean Ford moderated the panel. In November, ElonComm faculty and students learned how to use the Bloomberg terminals located in the Love School of Business’ William Garrard Reed Finance Center to gather real-time data, news, research and analytics. Bloomberg Market Specialist Alex Wisch led the sessions. DECEMBER Associate Dean Don Grady edited a book, “The Golden Age of Data: Media Analytics in Study & Practice,” that was published by Routledge. It examines the current state of First-year Communications Fellows pose outside CNN’s offices after an October tour. legacy media analysis and social media ana- an interactive workshop and informational during a faculty-led panel Nov. 5. The visit was lytics, including research and contributions session on Oct. 29. Twelve Elon alumni work part of the International Visitor Leadership from several ElonComm faculty and alumni. for W2O Group, a leading provider of market- Program’s Edward R. Murrow Program for ing services for the healthcare industry. Journalists, which annually brings more than JANUARY 100 emerging international journalists to During the last weekend of October, 36 first- Lecturer Kelly Furnas was named to the examine journalistic practices in the U.S. year Communications Fellows traveled to Student Press Law Center’s board of direc- Atlanta to tour media outlets and network The Elon softball team participated in a study tors, one of four new appointees joining the with communications professionals. Students abroad program during Thanksgiving break 15-person board. Directors oversee the Wash- visited CNN, InterContinental Hotels Group that featured a class led by Associate Profes- ington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, splitting into sor Dan Haygood, “Cellphones and Samurai: that defends, supports and promotes the First groups based on their major of interest. The Cultural Clash of Japan’s Traditional Amendment rights of student journalists. Students interacted with Elon alumni at all Culture and Modern Digital Communica- Associate Professor Rich Landesberg and Di- three stops. tions Society.” rector for Global Educational Initiatives Mark A team of four sport management majors Dalhouse led 28 students to Des Moines NOVEMBER attended the 2019 Sport Marketing Associa- ahead of the Iowa Democratic caucuses. Elon News Network won a national News- tion Conference in Chicago, advancing to the As part of their Iowa: The Trail Starts Here paper Pacemaker, an Online Pacemaker and finals of the three-day event’s undergraduate Winter Term course, students interacted with a 4-Year TV Station Pinnacle Award at the news outlets and presidential campaigns and Associated Collegiate Press/College Media developed a better understanding of Iowa’s Association National College Media Conven- political culture during the election season. tion in Washington, D.C. The Pacemaker is the Twenty-one students enrolled in The Sun- highest honor awarded by ACP for excellence dance Experience Winter Term class traveled in student journalism. Communications Man- to the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, ager Tommy Kopetskie, staff adviser to Phi where they attended screenings, interacted Psi Cli, Elon’s yearbook, won the 2019 Honor with alumni and gained an up-close view of Roll Four-Year Yearbook Adviser Award, given the nation’s largest independent film festival. to a CMA member with fewer than five years J McMerty ’00, director of the Elon in Los An- of advising experience. geles program, and Maggie Mullikin, manager of graduate and global programs, led the A dozen African and Caribbean journalists Journalism majors Grace Morris ’20 (left) and Maeve discussed U.S. democracy, freedom of speech, Ashbrook ’22 speak with John Fritz Moreau, director of a course. Two alumni, Katrina Taylor ’04 and new technology and the media industry digital news agency in Haiti. Alex Hadden ’13, were credited as editors on

8 immediate loss of revenue from the cancellation of the NCAA basketball tournament and the future of college athletics following the COVID-19 outbreak. Associate Professor Amanda Sturgill served as editor of “Mind the Gap: Global Learning at Home and Abroad,” which was published by Stylus in March. The book expands the context of global learning, examining its an- tecedents and impacts as a part of the larger higher education experience. The Diversity and Inclusion in News Coverage luncheon was held at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. At the school’s “Media and the Culture of zation’s annual gathering held at East Carolina Shame” panel discussion on March 4, partic- University. Nearly two dozen students were ipants explored the perils of social media and also honored in the individual categories. information overload, the increasing demand Associate Professor Doug Kass produced a to unpublish news, and the need for media public service announcement, titled “Data,” for members and consumers to be more empa- the United Nations AIDS outreach program, thetic. Brooks Fuller, director of the North building awareness of the more than 37 Carolina Open Government Coalition and million people around the world with HIV. The assistant professor of journalism, moderated project won the best PSA TV advertisement the event. Panelists included Frank LoMonte, categories at the L’Age D’Or International Film director of the Brechner Center for Freedom Faculty members Nagatha Tonkins, William Moner and Brian Festival (Kolkata, India) and the Druk Interna- of Information at the University of Florida; Walsh gain insights into Bloomberg terminals. tional Film Festival (Paro, Bhutan). Deborah Dwyer, a UNC doctoral student; Ryan Tuck, a media consultant; and Christal films that premiered at this year’s festival. Several members from Live Oak Commu- Carmichael, a psychology instructor at North nications attended AIGA Raleigh’s two-day Associate Professor David Bockino and 14 Carolina Central University. Elon students visited ESPN’s Bristol, Conn., creative conference, THRIVE 2020, which in- campus in January as part of the Through cluded workshops and lectures from creative the Lens of ESPN course, where they met professionals from across the graphic design APRIL with “SportsCenter” anchor Sage Steele and and strategic communications industries. ElonComm collected a series of awards in the Norby Williamson, executive vice president 2020 BEA Festival of Media Arts, including for production and member of the school’s MARCH first-place finishes in the television sports National Advisory Board. The class also visited story feature (long form) and mobile apps cat- In separate articles for SB Nation, Deadspin FOX Sports, Bleacher Report and the NHL, egories. Assistant Professor Alex Luchsinger and Front Office Sports, ProfessorTony among others, and spent a week in Argentina. won an Award of Excellence in the competi- Weaver offered insights on schools’ tive faculty documentary category for his film FEBRUARY Elon News Network and WSOE 89.3 FM collaborated on Feb. 5 to livestream the Ala- mance County Commissioners forum, which was hosted by Elon University. The forum took place in McKinnon Hall and featured the 12 Democratic and Republican candidates running for county commissioner ahead of the primary election in March. Led by Associate Professor Amanda Sturgill, two ElonComm students and two Elon alumni provided media coverage at the International Collegiate Programming Contest’s North America Championship in Atlanta. The event featured top computer programming students from the United States and Canada. The Pendulum, the newspaper of Elon News Network, and Phi Psi Cli yearbook won Best of Show awards from the North Carolina College Media Association during the organi- Students received an all-access visit at ESPN thanks to Norby Williamson and alumna Amanda Braunlich ’09.

9 THE YEAR IN REVIEW

cy of America as the 10th ranked collegiate sports broadcaster in its Jim Nantz Award competition. Blake is the highest ranked first- year student in the award’s history, and the only freshman to place in this year’s top 20. Rachel Cifarelli ‘21 earned a gold medal in the Innovation Center for Design Excellence’s 2020 Environmental Graphic Design Compe- tition for her poster series emphasizing going plant-based, reusable and thrifting. JUNE

Frank LoMonte addresses his fellow panelists at the “Media and the Culture of Shame” panel. As part of his Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellowship, Anton Delgado ‘20 traveled to “First Chances,” about a man’s entrepreneurial General News Reporting for her story about the state of Pará in northern Brazil to report journey after spending nine years in some of Elon’s decision to join the Common Applica- on the spike in leprosy cases that has gone California’s most notorious prisons. tion. Clare Grant ’23 won for Feature Photog- underreported internationally. In June, the Associate Professor Phillip Motley was raphy for a photo of two dancers performing at the Gaspard and Dancers show “L’esprit,” center published Delgado’s in-depth story, named Elon’s next Faculty Fellow for Academ- “Shorthanded Specialists Struggle to Address ic Service-Learning and Community Engage- which came to Elon in September. the Resurgence of Leprosy in Brazil,” and five ment. He will work with the Kernodle Center Gayatri Chopra ’23 earned one of the 49 in- field notes compiled during his investigation. for Civic Life staff to promote the value of and augural scholarships created to honor the 49 deepen the learning that emerges from ser- people who lost their lives in the PULSE night- Ashlyn DeLoughy ’21 was awarded a sum- vice-learning and community engagement. club shooting in Orlando in June 2016. The mer grant and a scholarship for the fall 2020 49 Legacy Scholarships initiative was created semester through the Scripps Howard Foun- MAY by the onePULSE Foundation, a nonprofit dation. DeLoughy spent her summer with organization established to memorialize the Two students were named national winners RadicalMedia, a global media company with victims and their lives. in two categories of the Society of Profession- offices in New York, Los Angeles and abroad, al Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards Communications Fellow Javik Blake ‘23 was as part of the production remote program competition. Abby Gibbs ’21 was honored in recognized by the Sportscasters Talent Agen- team for the “PBS American Portrait” series.

Expansion and Remembrance The North Carolina Open Government Coalition focused on expanding its presence and reach in the state during the past year, with an emphasis on improving the racial, gender and institutional diversity of its board of directors. In fall 2019, the board welcomed two new members: Ju-Don Marshall, chief content officer of WFAE radio station in Charlotte, and Rick Mercier, public information officer for the town of Garner. These members bring diverse experiences to the coalition’s leadership core and contribute to the coalition’s diversity efforts. The NCOGC also focused on fundraising efforts to promote citizen outreach and recognizing successes in government transparency and reporting. During the 2019-20 year, the coalition raised approximately $5,000, which exceeded the previous three fiscal years combined. With these funds, it developed resources for members of the public interested in open government matters and established the Frank Barrows Award for Excellence in Student Journalism. The award honors the memory of Frank C. Barrows, the former managing editor of the Charlotte Observer, a founding member of the NCOGC and its first president. The Sunshine Center held its annual Sunshine Day event on March 9 at The Daily Tar Heel received the inaugural Frank Barrows Award for Excellence in Student North Carolina A&T State University with programming addressing transpar- Journalism at the 2020 Sunshine Day event in Greensboro for its coverage of the “Silent Sam” controversy in Chapel Hill, exposing a settlement between the UNC Board of Governors ency issues in the 2020 presidential election and the North Carolina police and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. body cam law, among other topics.

10 PAUL PARSONS GEORGE PADGETT NAGATHA TONKINS Faculty & Alumni News FOND FAREWELLS in the school, fulfilling a pledge a leadership role serving as chair of students and alumni through he made to himself to return to a of the Department of Commu- the internship process, Tonkins hree of ElonComm’s most recognizable faces resigned professorial role. nications from 1992 to 2000. His concluded her tenure in Tduring the past year with Associate Dean Don Grady, who research and writing interests mid-December. served on the search committee focused on media ethics and di- The former television broadcast Professor Paul Parsons, Associate that hired Parsons nearly two de- versity in media, and he regularly journalist turned educator had a Professor George Padgett and cades ago, commended the former taught the school’s Media Law and remarkable impact on the school, Nagatha Tonkins announcing dean’s many accomplishments, Ethics course. the university and Elon students their departures. growing the school’s faculty size, Prior to arriving at Elon, Padgett during her tenure, Parsons said. Parsons, who came to Elon in facilities and national profile. worked professionally as a news- “Nagatha Tonkins has created 2001 as a professor and founding “Looking back, it seems clear paper reporter and editor in South an enormous awareness of the dean, concluded his service as that Paul figured out the expec- Carolina and Illinois and as director value of internships,” Parsons said. dean at the end of the 2017-18 tations (at Elon) quickly and over of publications at a specialty “She talks to our COM 100 classes. academic year. At that time, his 17 the next 17 years he transformed a publisher in Indiana. Additionally, She has workshops for students. years in the school’s top leadership well-established department into he taught a variety of courses at She’s out there spreading the position made Parsons the nation’s the nationally recognized school Mississippi State University and word and the value of internships. longest-serving dean of a single of communications that it is today,” Illinois State University. I’ve been thrilled with how our communications school or journal- Grady said. After 11-plus years as the internship program has grown ism college. Following a sabbatical, Padgett came to Elon Univer- school’s internship director, both in quantity and, most Parsons returned to teach full time sity in 1991 and quickly took on helping shepherd hundreds importantly, quality.”

PROMOTIONS AND OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS AWARD TENURE The School of Communications got an early start with its In March, the board of trustees Homecoming & Reunion Weekend celebration, presenting announced the promotions, ten- Brad Holloman ’09 with its Outstanding Alumnus Award ure and continuance of School of during a Nov. 1 alumni networking event. The corporate Communications faculty members: partnership account manager for the nba’s Orlando Magic was • David Bockino, tenure and recognized for both his work as an undergraduate as well as promoted to associate professor his continued excellence as a professional in the sport indus- • Kelly Furnas, continued as try. During the award presentation, Holloman was lauded for a lecturer maintaining a close relationship with his alma mater, welcoming Communications Fellows to his Orlando Magic offices • Ben Hannam, tenured as an and returning to campus in 2017 as the keynote speaker of the associate professor Sport Management Department’s senior banquet. • Sana Haq, continued as an assistant professor SCHOOL AWARDS • Denise Hill, tenure and promoted to associate professor Faculty and staff members were honored during the School of Communications virtual awards program on May 14. • Doug Kass, continued and promoted to associate professor • Julie Lellis, promoted to professor • Jessalynn Strauss, tenure and promoted to associate professor • Tony Weaver, promoted to professor Associate Professor Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Program Assistant Amanda Sturgill received Kathleen Stansberry received Shaina Dabbs received Alyssa Donohue received • Ryan Witt, continued as the Excellence in the Excellence in Scholarship the Excellence in the Outstanding Staff a lecturer Teaching Award Award Leadership Award Member Award

11 BY THE NUMBERS Class of 2020 Here is a sampling of 78 recent Where’s the Class of 2020? Elon graduates who were surveyed Zoe Ashburn Gwyneth Donahue Kristen Koch Julia Paneyko by the School of Communications Communications intern, Recruiter, Insight Global Client representative, Acquire Commercial banking and the Student Professional Reingold Inc. Brendan Duff Emma Kopkowski analyst, Citi Bank Elisabeth Bachmann Field organizer, Montana Associate story producer, Sam Parlato Development Center about their Public relations Democratic Party Discovery Studios People operations & strategy post-graduation plans. coordinator, COM 616 Oliver Fischer Michael Kuchinski assistant, Wayfair Abigail Barcus Graduate student, North Customer experience associate, Ben Piatt Property manager, Carolina State University DraftKings Digimax Full-time Long & Foster Kate Fowler Hannah Lacey Kat Recio 53 employment Maria Benton Resident teacher, Zeta Associate account Digital marketing and Marketing specialist, American Charter School executive, imre content associate, Health Telemedicine Association Leah Graf Sarah Little Recovery Solutions Post-graduate Josh Blank NBC News public relations Project manager, Lumiere Rostick fellowship/internship Junior rotational program, coordinator, NBCUniversal INNOCEAN USA Communications fellow, 14 National Football League Democracy North Carolina Zoie Griffin Ginger Looney Maggie Brown Studio operator, WGHP Communications John Sadler Part-time Multiplatform producer, WRAL Fox 8 News intern, Reingold Business banking development Kaitlin Brozek Claire Grisolano Logan Marcus program, PNC Financial 10 employment Graduate student, Trinity Marketing intern, Ropari Beauty Analyst, MediaLink Services Group Inc. College Dublin Astrid Gross-Hutton Carter Martin Josh Schwaner Hailey Burkett Social media manager, Gameday intern, Media tech associate, NBC Volunteer Graphic designer, DPL Sleepy Bee Cafe Aberdeen Ironbirds Nicole Seay 1 service Financial Partners Kaitlyn Heit Hogan May E-commerce rotational Madison Burress Graduate student, Peabody Championships & tournaments associate, Wayfair Public relations intern, French/ Institute of The Johns Hopkins intern, Mass Golf Anna Shine West/Vaughan University Jared Mayerson Junior designer, Syneos Health Kristen Chase Joseph Henry-Penrose Editor, Gunpowder & Sky; Lauren Shur Marketing analyst, Accenture Assistant media graduate student, University of Intern, Charles Aris Laura Clarkson planner, McKinney Southern California Executive Search Web UX research intern, Red Hat Isaiah Hill Christina Mazziotta Wes Smith Courtney Close Sales associate, William Kuchta Graduate student, Boston Video producer, Shallco Associate, AlphaSights Lenna Iskenderian University Sadie Stuart Reid Cobb Graduate student, Boston Grace McGuirk Marketing associate, Analyst for data and University Financial product analytics and SHHHOWERCAP sales, Bloomberg analytics, Digitas Renee Janis Rachel Sword Darby Cochran Graphic designer, Margaux NY Grace McMeekin Social media intern, March Client relations Benjamin Johnson Content marketing Communications fellow, Solstice associate, Vanguard Social media manager, Sophia Tasselmyer Rory Coleman Cornelius Muller Productions Crosby Melendi Marketing coordinator, The Sea Marketing communications Raleigh Jones Social content writer, Flagship Pines Resort Liam Collins, a journalism and political intern, Carolina Ballet Fellow, IRTS Foundation Consuelo Mendoza Bruno Sophia Theriault science double major, started his career in Liam Collins Annie Kane Account associate, W2O Group Corporate communications local news in May serving as the Jacksonville Jacksonville (N.C.) bureau Junior account executive, G&S Anna Messalles intern, Hertz Corporation bureau chief and multimedia journalist at chief and multimedia Business Communications Graduate student, ESADE Victoria Traxler journalist, WITN-TV Business School WITN News, covering three counties in eastern Emma Kanell News21 Reporting Fellow, North Carolina. Collins spent four years on Ryan Cranston Graphic design and Grace Morris Arizona State University Assistant manager, Winstate product strategy associate, Multimedia journalist, KLBK campus reporting for Elon News Network, and Kelly Valerio Annie Cuoco Pawsitivity Collin Murray Corporate communications he covered the Iowa Democratic caucuses in Design and sales intern, Richie Kasper Sales executive, Miami Marlins coordinator, Hilton January as part of the Winter Term course Iowa: Morgan Harrison Home, LLC Account intern, Taylor Livi Murray Sonya Walker The Trail Starts Here. Lyndsay Dalimonte Kellie Kaufman Assistant account manager Graduate student, University “Elon’s real-world experiences B2B sales development Sales associate, Nauti Paws Pet intern, Leo Burnett of Montana Law School program, AT&T Boutique & Dog Bakery Daniela Nasser Gavrielle Weiss pushed me to the point where I Alison Danahy Chloe Kennedy Digital investments associate, Graduate student, could begin a career in broadcast Social media and marketing Marketing intern, Havas Media Istituto Marangoni news right out of college, during manager, E & L by Design Needham Bank Sam Newman Natalie Zagorski Samantha Defina Maddie Kenny Associate video specialist, Intern, Greensboro a pandemic no less, without Intern, Jenna Schulman College Junior associate, Sard OpenExchange Grasshoppers missing a beat,” Collins said. Consulting, LLC Verbinnen & Co. Felipe Osses-Konig Anton Delgado Paige King Head tennis professional, Saw Environmental reporter, Educational tour consultant, Mill Tennis Club Arizona Republic EF Education First 12 National Advisory Board Roger Bolton (chair) Ben Davis Sunshine Overkamp President, Arthur W. Page Society, CEO, Phizzle, Inc., San Francisco Chairman, Overkamp Overkamp-Smith, New York Monica Fee ’04 Atlanta Karen Albritton Property Sales Agent, CAA Sports, Kim Parsons Partner, Newport Board Group, New York Chief Operating Officer, Taymar Sales U., Raleigh, N.C. Michael Friedenberg Greensboro/Winston-Salem, N.C. Matthew Anderson President, Reuters, Blue Bell, Pa. Colleen Penhall ’98 Chief Marketing Officer, Roku, Bill Kanarick Chief Communications Officer, San Francisco Global Customer Leader, EY, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C. Sheryl Battles Boston Barri Rafferty Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclu- Renee Kopkowski Head, Corporate Communications, sion, Pitney Bowes, Stamford, Conn. Vice President, Institute Communications, Wells Fargo, New York Jeff Blumb Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Lee Rainie Founder, Blumb Communications & Eric Kraus Director of Internet, Science & Technology Consulting, Green Bay, Wis. Executive Vice President, Corporate Research, Pew Research Center, Michael Clemente Affairs, Clean Harbors, Inc., Norwell, Mass. Washington, D.C. Former CEO, NewsMax TV, Luke Lambert Troy Senkiewicz ’98 New York President and CEO, G&S Business Com- Founder and CEO, DigiMax Consulting, Angela Connor munications, New York Los Angeles Founder & CEO, Change Agent Kathy Lewis Hugh Stevens Communications, Raleigh, N.C. Senior Vice President, Communications, Attorney, Stevens Martin Vaughn Carol Cunningham NYU Langone Health, New York & Tadych, PLLC, Raleigh, N.C. Vice President, Consumer Insights Jack MacKenzie Norby Williamson BET Networks, New York Founder, CollegeAPP, Los Angeles Executive Vice President, Production, Steve Daniels ESPN, Bristol, Conn. Anchor, WTVD-TV, Raleigh/ Durham, N.C.

REMEMBERING LONGTIME BOARD MEMBER KEN WHITE

en White, a longtime broadcast television news director and built relationships with our faculty, member of the School of Communications National Advisory opened doors for students through in- Board for nearly two decades, died on Oct. 11, 2019. ternships and jobs, and even became K Most recently, White served as news director at WVVA-TV, an Elon parent himself,” Parsons said. an NBC-affiliated television station in Bluefield, West Virginia. During “Ken believed in our school becoming three-plus decades in the news industry, White also worked in television the best in the nation at preparing markets in Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New York. students for careers and life, and he White’s participation on the school’s advisory board dates back almost had an immeasurable impact on the as long as the existence of the school itself. A search of the school’s ar- school we are today.” chives provides numerous examples of White’s interactions with students, In an email to Elon colleagues including a 2003 seminar to guide students in landing their first job — following White’s passing, Associate and in a better market than they might expect. Professor Rich Landesberg noted the Former Communications Dean Paul Parsons called White a “phenom- immense impact of White’s contribu- enal advisory board member” who was devoted to developing the next tions throughout the years. “He was a good friend and a great mentor to wave of professional journalists. our students,” Landesberg said. “In the nearly two decades he was associated with the School of Com- White’s son, Mack, graduated from Elon in 2016 with a degree in media munications, he spoke about the broadcast world in dozens of classes, arts and entertainment. Nonprofit Org US Postage School of Communications PAID PO Box 398 Elon, NC Elon, NC 27244 Permit No. 1

Change service required

In January, 32 ElonComm students participated in The Fellows Experience, a Winter Term course that leads first-year Communications Fellows on a tour of media companies in Florida, meeting with professionals in their industries and learning about future job opportunities. While in Tampa and Orlando, the Fellows toured 11 companies during the two-week trip, including stops at Diamond View Studios (pictured), Poynter Institute and the Pulse nightclub memorial.