Engaged Learning Takes Flight

School of Communications ENGAGED LEARNING TAKES FLIGHT Celebrating 10 years of excellence in the Interactive Media master’s program ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 Letter from the Dean dear alumni and friends, I am excited to present the School of Communications annual report for the 2018-19 academic year. This first annual report during my time as dean showcases many of the events and achievements that demon- strate we are living our mission to prepare students to be exemplary communicators in an increasingly diverse, interactive and global age. Thanks to the outstanding work of my faculty and staff colleagues and the strong support of President Connie Ledoux Book, Provost Steven House and founding Communications Dean Paul Parsons, the School of Communications continues to excel while growing. We continue to focus on providing dynamic undergraduate and gradu- ate programs where students learn to appreciate the roles, responsibili- ties and social impact of media around the world. We value freedom SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS of expression and the importance of serving the public good. We are committed to helping students become better writers, speakers, The School of Communications consists of more creators and thinkers. We want them to learn and innovatively harness TABLE OF CONTENTS than 80 faculty and staff members who are the technologies that are transforming the way we communicate. We engaged-learning educators, striving to deliver PR Week Awards 1 promote the primacy of accuracy, integrity, professional standards and a student-centered academic experience. New Leadership 2 ethical principles. iMedia Celebrates Milestone 3 We prepare students for careers and lives of purpose through excellent Baseball Analytics 4 classes, outstanding student media, professional internships, School of Communications earns top honor Imagining the Internet 5 entrepreneurial experiences and other forms of engaged learning. The Year in Review 6 We recognize that communication is central to our lives and our world, in PRWeek Awards competition Distinguished Alumni 11 and we are committed to upholding the responsibility that comes with that. Where’s the Class of 2019? 12 Thank you for your support. We will work hard to continue earning it. Advisory Board 13 Powered by the teachers, scholars and Judges also noted that students have Sincerely, mentors pictured above, the School of completed internships at “heavy-hitter Communications was named Educa- PR agencies and organizations,” high- On the cover: tion Program of the Year by PRWeek. lighted the accomplishments of the Lecturer Brandon Booker leads a drone training The honor, part of the annual PRWeek award-winning student-run agency Live session with Interactive Media students Cuquis Awards, which are considered one of Oak Communications, and championed Robledo and Ellington Hayes in the Historic rochelle l. ford, ph.d., apr the communications industry’s highest the school’s “close industry connections” Neighborhood. The iMedia program celebrated its dean accolades, was announced at a ceremony that lead to professionals frequently visit- 10th anniversary during the 2018-19 school year. March 21 in New York City. ing campus and speaking with students. In their assessment of Elon, the PR- Additionally, Anissa Cooper ’19 Week judges commended the school’s was named honorable mention – or President Associate Deans This report will be published yearly for alumni, “hybrid faculty members,” who possess runner-up – for PRWeek’s Outstanding Connie Ledoux Book, Ph.D. Don Grady, Ph.D. friends and partners of the Elon University both terminal degrees and significant Student of the Year award during the Kenn Gaither, Ph.D. School of Communications. professional experience. The judges ceremony. The strategic communications Provost and Executive Vice President Published in September 2019 (2018-19) echoed the sentiments of the Accrediting major was one of five finalists for the Editor Send inquiries to: Steven House, Ph.D. Tommy Kopetskie School of Communications Council on Education in Journalism and national award. Cooper attended the Provost and Vice President Elon University Mass Communications, saying the school ceremony with Dean Rochelle Ford, eloncomm for Academic Affairs (2019-20) Designer 2850 Campus Box adapts “nimbly to the demands of a digi- Associate Dean Kenn Gaither and Anissa Cooper ’19 Elon, NC 27244 Aswani Volety, Ph.D. Billie Wagner 336.278.5658 tal, multimedia world of communication.” Associate Professor John Doorley. Dean Copy Editor [email protected] Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR Alexa Boschini ’10 www.elon.edu/communications ANNUAL REPORT | 2018-19 1 Mitch Pittman ’09 FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE IN WITH THE accompanies iMedia students to Cuba Before a decade-long career in television news, where he collected more than a few awards, and the recent launch of his own production company, Elon alumnus Mitch Pittman ’09 was an undergrad gleaning the basics of photojour- NEW nalism from Senior Lecturer Randy Piland. Faculty and leadership adopt Ten years later, Pittman joined Piland in January to assist and mentor seven Interactive a new departmental structure Media students conducting their Interactive Project for the Public Good work in Matanzas, With the School of Communications’ new restructuring, implemented June 1, Senior Lecturer Randy Piland Cuba. In a region known for its poets and cul- has been named chair of the Department of Communication Design. ture, the group turned their cameras on artist Jesus Alberto Mederos, who hosts art therapy sessions for youths with behavioral issues, Interactive Media celebrates To further strengthen student-centered learning, the School this fall, as faculty begin a curriculum review to create more children with cancer or other chronic illness- decade of excellence of Communications has adopted and implemented a new enhancements based on industry needs. es, and seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and departmental structure. Beginning in fall 2019, the school will Costello expects the restructuring should be a welcome dementia. The student group’s objective was to With the presentation of Simone “We have discovered over the last have six undergraduate programs, each with a faculty leader. change for both instructors and students. “With more than bring global attention to Mederos’ charitable Young’s diploma on May 22 in Whitley decade that this program filled a niche The programs and their respective leaders are: 1,000 student majors and 60 faculty, the previous communi- efforts and the larger Matanzas community. Auditorium, the M.A. in Interactive that wasn’t available at other universi- cations department had reached critical mass, where adminis- Media program put the finishing ties,” he said. “We’ve created a program Cinema and Television Arts – Vic Costello “It was a dream story to tell,” said Pittman, tratively, it could no longer be effectively managed as a single touches on its first decade of preparing that prepares students to fill a multi- Communication Design – Randy Piland academic unit with one department chair,” Costello said. “The who has earned several regional Emmy Awards. “Mederos has painted murals all over the city, multimedia professionals to succeed in tude of jobs, not just in communica- new administrative structure strengthens our ability to strategi- Journalism – Anthony Hatcher and he’s a local celebrity there. Now he is using a digital age. tions, but across all types of profession- Media Analytics – Brian Walsh cally plan for the future while specifically addressing the needs his clout to help others.” This spring, Young was one of 28 al fields.” of our faculty and students within their professional discipline iMedia graduates, a group educated According to Copeland, one of Sport Management – Tony Weaver or chosen major.” Elon alumnus Mitch Pittman ’09 (left) accompanied to think strategically across platforms, iMedia’s greatest strengths is its Strategic Communications – Bill Anderson Jr. On the surface, Lellis doesn’t expect that students will notice iMedia students during their fly-in project in Cuba, create data-driven media content, and condensed schedule. The August-to- much of a change when they return in the fall. “As a School of where he struck up a conversation with a local resident. explore new avenues in interactive and May degree program allows the faculty Additionally, Associate Professor Julie Lellis has assumed the Communications, we still value, and will strive to maintain, the digital media delivery. These students and curriculum to remain nimble and role of communications core and minor director, overseeing benefits of a holistic and interdisciplinary program where we discovered new technical skills and adjust to always evolving industries. the school’s opening and closing core courses, communications embrace the academic and professional intersections that unite career paths in UI/UX design, VR, “We have created a program that electives and the communications minor. Professor Naeemah us across all majors,” she said. gaming and digital storytelling. has been right for the times – and a Clark has been named the school’s assessment coordinator, The new structure’s real benefit to students will be the In total, 318 students have graduat- little bit ahead of what others were ensuring academic quality in accordance with program accredi- increased access to department and program leaders, whose ed from the 10-month program since doing,” Copeland said. “And because tation guidelines. expertise aligns closely with their professional

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