Communication News Faculty Win Major University Awards Ast Year Was a Great Year College and the University

FALL 2019

Communication News Faculty win major university awards ast year was a great year college and the university. Profes- for the Department of sor Juanita Anderson was named Communication, as several the Murray E. Jackson University of our faculty and staff Creative Scholar in the Arts for Lreceived university recognition 2019–2020 to support her docu- for their outstanding achieve- mentary project, Hastings Street ments in a variety of areas. Blues. Stephanie Tong, PhD, was Loraleigh Keashly, PhD, was awarded a Career Development honored with an inaugural Dis- Chair from the Office of the Pres- tinguished Service ident for the 2019–2020 year to Professor award to support her research on how peo- recognize exem- ple perceive and evaluate artificial plary service. This intelligence algorithms in the con- classification, text of disease prevention. Tong is bestowed by the first in the department and Loraleigh Wayne State’s pres- one of the first in the college to Keashly ident on the advice Several other awards were pre- Above from left are receive this distinction. of the provost, is sented at the 2019 Academic Rec- Vicki Dallas, Fred Vultee, The Graduate School also rec- used in rare instances to designate ognition Awards Ceremony, held Stephanie Tong, Chair ognized two of our faculty — senior faculty members who have in April at Wayne State’s McGre- Kat Maguire, Juanita Kelly Young, PhD, with an Out- made extraordinary contributions gor Memorial Conference Center. Anderson, Dean Matt standing Graduate Mentor to the university outside their Academic Services Officer IV Seeger and Kelly Young. Award, and Fred Vultee, PhD, own disciplines or who, by Vicki Dallas received the Distin- with an Outstanding Graduate unusual service outside of the uni- guished Staff Service Award in Director Award — for their dedi- versity, have brought great honor recognition of her career of service cation to the success of our MA and recognition to the institution. to students, the department, the and PhD students. •

Grad students, faculty honored at Welcome Back Lunch

Every year, the Department of Commu From left: Kelly nication starts the fall semester with the Young with Welcome Back Lunch, where we share a Sydney Wallace, meal and bestow awards on our faculty Young with Scott and graduate students. This year’s lunch Burgess, and took place at Wayne State’s McGregor Fred Vultee with Conference Center on Aug. 27. Kelsey Husnick. PHOTOS: Kelly G ott e s man We are pleased to announce that Stine Eckert, PhD, won the Bernard Bill McMillan won the Outstanding Part- Research Award; and Scott Burgess won Brock Award for Outstanding Scholarship Time Faculty Award. the Graduate Student Teaching Award. in Communication; Denise Vultee, PhD, In addition, Sarah Walker won the Finally, the Communication Graduate won the Inspire Award for Teaching and Graduate Student Service Award; Sydney Student Association bestowed its Mentor Mentoring Excellence; and Professor Wallace won the Graduate Student ship Award on Fred Vultee, PhD. FROM THE CHAIR | Katheryn C. Maguire

Shaping the conversation

Department of Communication s I reflect on my first year as chair, and all that has happened in the world, I am 585 Manoogian Hall convinced that we have an important role to play as active participants in these Detroit, MI 48201 A larger conversations. We live in a world of messages, and as you will see in this 313-577-2943 year’s Communication News, our wonderful faculty, staff, students and alumni thrive in this world, receiving recognition for their teaching, service, and scholarly and cre- [email protected] ative achievements. They are truly making a difference both inside and outside of Manoogian Hall. I’m proud of our award-winning faculty whose work is About us shaping conversations about important issues. Indeed, many The Department of Communication faculty and staff have received university-level recognition for is part of Wayne State’s College of Fine, their teaching, research and service (Page 1). As in previous Performing and Communication Arts. years, they also have won other awards, received grants to sup- With approximately 630 undergraduate port their work and published cutting-edge research in books majors and 150 graduate students, the and journals (Pages 12–14). Many have invited graduate and department is diverse and dynamic, undergraduate students to join their research teams (Pages 14, featuring programs in communication 15) as well. Our faculty’s outstanding reputation has led media outlets and profes- studies, media arts and studies, film, sional organizations to invite them to serve as experts, featuring them in person, in journalism, public relations and dispute print and on the radio. resolution. Our students are also making a difference in their programs, professions and communities. The forensics and debate program saw students impressively competing at Our students experience the benefit the local, regional and national levels (Page 8). Our undergraduate students continue of a world-class education in a real-world to earn scholarships (Page 8), prestigious internships and jobs across the country. Our context. The department comprises broadcast journalism students finished filming the eighth season of the weekly show 30 tenure and tenure-track faculty and MetroArts Detroit, which airs on Detroit Public Television (Page 11). Our alumni 35 part-time faculty with strong back have maintained a long legacy of professional excellence and community engage- grounds in both scholarly and profes ment, with Mary Henige, recipient of the 2019 Career Achievement Award in Com- sional approaches to communication. munication at the 40th annual Arts Achievement Awards ceremony in April, as an exemplar of how Wayne State Warriors make a difference (Page 4). Communication News The Department of Communication also welcomed many acclaimed professionals Produced by the Department to campus in the last year, including Thom Powers, documentary programmer for the of Communication Toronto International Film Festival and artistic director of DOC NYC, as well as Department Chair: Katheryn C. Maguire scholars Cara Finnegan and Linda Steiner (Pages 10–11). Designer: Sheila Young Tomkowiak Many changes in the department will influence the coming year in exciting ways. Newsletter Assistant: Allison Elam Kelly Young, PhD, has taken over as director of graduate studies; Ron Stevenson, PhD, is the new director of forensics; and Sydney Pasquinelli, PhD, was hired as the director of debate. We also welcomed academic adviser Mary Grenfell and internship coor- dinator Perry Farrell, who comes to us after a long career with the Detroit Free Press. Also this year, we’re offering new programs for our students, including an online graduate certificate in risk and crisis communication, a dual interdisciplinary PhD program in communication and urban sustainability, and a yearlong sequence for MA students in documentary film. Some changes, however, have been bittersweet, such as bidding Bill Warters a happy retirement in May, while others have been painful: We continue to mourn the loss of George Ziegelmueller, Joel Silvers and Don Pillette (Pages 6-7). I am proud to be chair in this dynamic and diverse department, where what we do helps shape the future of Detroit, our profession and our community. With the continued support of our incredible alumni, faculty and staff, I am certain we will continue to shape important conversations in the months ahead. — Kat Maguire

2 • Communication News • Fall 2019 STUDENT ACTIVITY

Warriors reach the top in DIA Student Design Summit

multi-interdisciplinary Other team members are The Wayne State team’s area. Features include an amphi- team of Wayne State from the Department of Urban plan to modernize theater and a pedestrian-friendly A graduate students took Studies and Planning, College the area surrounding street design. home the top prize in the of Engineering, College of the Detroit Institute The team beat out 22 other Detroit Institute of Arts Student Education, and School of of Arts includes an competitors from the University Design Summit, part of the DIA Social Work: Xiao Zhou, Shelby amphitheater as shown of Michigan, University of Plaza & Midtown Cultural Con- Holmes, Heather Washington, in this rendering. Detroit Mercy, College for Cre- nections international design Tori Williamson, Krupa Vora, ative Studies and Interlochen competition. Jessica Stroble, Mariah Bosquez Center for the Arts. In addition Competitors submitted a and Ashaki Zeigler. WDET’s to winning the main Cultural three-minute video describing Sascha Raiyn provides the District Jury award, the Wayne how to make the DIA and sur- video’s voiceover. State team also received the rounding area more modern. Inspired by site visits, con People’s Choice award, garnering Three members of Wayne State’s versations with Detroiters and the majority of the more than team are from the Department of information from an online sur- 1,500 votes from the public. Communication: Gus Navarro vey, the team designed a green View the winning video at (MA ’19), Allison Elam (MA space that connects the DIA https://vimeo.com/309317072. • ’19) and Kristin Shaw (BA ’14). with other institutions in the

Fall 2019 • Communication News • 3 ALUMNI RECOGNITION

40th Arts Achievement Awards honor 4 alumni

he College of Fine, Performing and TCommunication Arts in April celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Arts Achievement Awards, where four outstanding alumni were recognized for their artistic achievements and dedication to the arts.

Mary Henige spent 30 years at GM.

G Career Achievement Award:  Career Achievement Award: Communication Art and Art History Mary Henige spent 30 years at General Motors A preeminent animation histo- in a variety of communications leadership roles, rian and animator in his own including overseeing social media and digital com- right, Ray Pointer began munications for nearly six years, beginning one experimenting with anima- month prior to bankruptcy. In December 2015, tion in 1963 — at the age Henige founded Magnetica Communications of 11. His work over the LLC, a consultancy that specializes in providing next 10 years led to his first communications counsel to the C-suite. She is professional exposure, at currently director of strategic communications auto-industry filmmaker for the Archdiocese of Detroit. the Jam Handy Organiza- Henige earned a BA in speech communication tion. Pointer graduated in 1986 and an MA in organizational communi- from Cass Technical cations and public relations in 1993, both from High School with a commer- Wayne State. She is working toward an MA in cial art degree and received his BA in film and theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. She television production has been the professional adviser to Wayne State’s from Wayne State. He PRSSA Chapter since 1993, served as the 2003 was awarded the first president of the PRSA Detroit Chapter, and Student Oscar in 1973 co-chaired PRSA’s 2008 International Conference for his cartoon short, in Detroit. She was inducted into the PR News Goldnavel, and he directed Hall of Fame in 2011 and elected to the PRSA Ray Pointer wrote The Rosa Parks: Modern Day College of Fellows in 2016. Henige has a heart Art and Inventions of Heroine for Wayne State for Detroit, volunteering and mentoring college Max Fleischer: American Urban Studies. students and new professionals. Animation Pioneer. Pointer served as a

4 • Communication News • Fall 2019 ALUMNI RECOGNITION | CONTINUED

motion picture specialist in the U.S. Navy and was recorded copiously thereafter, including with promoted to producer for the Navy Office of Infor- Eddie Gómez, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, mation in Washington, D.C. He was also a writer Maria Schneider, McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea. and director of corporate video programs for Gen- He also composed a saxophone concerto and two eral Dynamics Land Systems. In the 1990s, Pointer symphonies for orchestra. worked as a storyboard artist, animator and direc- Margitza, who has long been regarded as one tor for Film Roman, DIC, Hanna-Barbera, Disney of the “Young Lions” of the international jazz Interactive, MGM and Nickelodeon. In 1996 he scene, is one of the most respected musicians of was inducted into the Television Academy of Arts his generation. An excellent tenor and soprano and Sciences Animation Peer Group. saxophonist, inspired largely by John Coltrane, Since returning to Michigan in 2008, Pointer Michael Brecker and Wayne Shorter, Margitza has has been an adjunct professor in digital media at expanded and developed his own voice — highly Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rap- poetic and sharply incisive. ids. He is the author of The Art and Inventions of Max Fleischer: American Animation Pioneer. E Career Achievement Award: Theatre During his 40-plus-year theater  Career Achievement Award: Music career, Frank Hartenstein was The grandson of a cellist and son of a violinist involved in more than 35 produc- with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, saxophon- tions both on and off Broadway. He ist and composer Rick Margitza has been around was the first assistant stage manager music since he was a child. He learned to play the of the original production of Frank violin at the age of 4, studied classical piano for a A Chorus Line and the original Hartenstein bit and also played oboe before switching to tenor production stage manager of many saxophone in high school. He attended Wayne musicals, including Big River, Into the Woods, Star- State, Berklee College of Music, University of light Express, The Who’s Tommy, the 2001 revival Miami and Loyola University New Orleans. of 42nd Street, Baz Luhrman’s production of La Margitza toured with Maynard Ferguson and Boheme and the 2012 revival of Jesus Christ Super- Flora Purim in the 1980s, and moved to New York star. In addition, Hartenstein has stage-managed City in 1988, where he played with Miles Davis. 10 musicals at the La Jolla Playhouse, several tours Between 1989 and 1991, Margitza released and many industrials. He has taught at Rutgers three sessions for Blue Note Records, and he has University and the Yale School of Drama. •

Rick Margitza is one of the most respected jazz musicians of his generation.

Fall 2019 • Communication News • 5 IN MEMORIAM

George Ziegelmueller: The face of Wayne State debate

istinguished professor of communication and inter- Dnationally recognized debate educator George William Ziegelmueller passed away on May 18. Ziegelmueller was a professor of communication and debate coach from 1957 to 2006, leading Wayne State debaters to hundreds of championships in the college debate circuit. Under his direction, Wayne State was A young George established as one of the most Ziegelmueller, above, successful programs in the nation. with trophies. He led Ziegelmueller was an elder in debaters to hundreds of the First Presbyterian Church in championships. At right, Royal Oak and a member of a more recent photo of Debate Tournament, the George • Deodorant — Teams travel numerous speech organizations: Ziegelmueller judging Ziegelmueller Award was created long distances in small vehicles. • American Forensic Association student work. to recognize Ziegelmueller for his Participants are expected to (president; journal editor, 30-plus years of excellent coach- practice appropriate hygiene. 1973–1978; recipient of ing, timeless commitment to the • Delivery — Students are the Distinguished Member activity and numerous contribu- encouraged to persuade and Award, 1981). tions to the forensics community. move their audiences with both • Speech Communication The George Ziegelmueller Award the better argument and the Association. is presented annually at the best performance. • Central States Communication National Debate Tournament • Decorum — Students are Association (journal editor, to a faculty member who has expected to act as ambassadors 1986–1988). distinguished him- or herself in of the university and the • Michigan Association of the communication profession program. Speech Communication (presi- while coaching teams to compet- dent, honorary life member). itive success. “It’s hard to overstate the • Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Ziegelmueller was known for impact George had on the debate Alpha (president; Distin- his deep commitment to his stu- community and on Wayne State,” guished Alumni Award recipi- dents, often providing personal said Matthew Seeger, dean of the ent, 1974). support and sometimes even College of Fine, Performing and paying their bills. Alumni fondly Communication Arts, and for- Ziegelmueller received the remember, and often cite, the mer chair of the Department of Alumni Service award from “Five D’s” that Ziegelmueller Communication. “Generations Wayne State in 1983, and was used to define the culture of his of Wayne State students learned named the 2000 Michigan Pro- program and the expectations about the power of critical think- fessor of the Year by the Carnegie he had for his debaters: ing, reasoned discourse and prin- Foundation for the Advance- • (No) Drugs and alcohol — cipled argument from George. ment of Teaching and the Coun- Competitors are forbidden He was a supportive colleague cil for Advancement and Support from consuming alcohol or and mentor, and an engaged and of Education. His book Argu- illegal substances while at committed teacher who helped mentation: Inquiry and Advocacy competition. every student he touched. For was considered the standard in • Dress — Students are 45 years, he was the face of the field. expected to dress in a profes- Wayne State debate.” • During the 1999 National sional manner.

6 • Communication News • Fall 2019 in Memoriam | CONTINUED

Joel Silvers: Filmmaker, activist, friend

oel Silvers, a longtime faculty member in the Department Jof Communication, died on December 8, 2018, at the age of 72. Silvers received his MA from Wayne State in 1997, where he studied film, media criticism and screenwriting. He started teaching in the department in 1999, and continued to do so until his death, leading classes such as introduction to film, screenwriting, film history, editing and documentary film. As a Wayne State professor, he taught generations of future filmmakers to A ll iso n E lam think about the impact of their choices, research deeply into areas new to them, look at cultural differences and embrace diversity. In 2012 he received a Susan Palazzolo. Close to home Joel Silvers was an Festival in April 2019, where President’s Award for Excellence he fought to bring attention to accomplished filmmaker several of his films and paintings in Teaching. the health threats caused by the and painter. were shown, Silvers was fondly As a filmmaker, Silvers gave a Detroit incinerator and those remembered as a social activist, voice to those who stood in defi- that would exploit the land as a an artist, a filmmaker, a mentor, ance of all that was wrong in this dumping ground for industrial a teacher and most importantly world, notes Adjunct Instructor waste. During the Freep Film a friend. •

Don Pilette: Master of journalistic fundamentals

on Pilette, an adjunct adjunct instructor at the Uni- first name used instead professor in journal- versity of Michigan–Dearborn, of last name Dism who taught news as well as a licensed pilot. 3. Arithmetic incorrect editing and reporting in the An old-school journalist, 4. Direct quote changed Department of Communication Pilette expected excellence and 5. More than two misspelled for 37 years, passed away on precision from his students. words in a story December 4, 2018, at the age He was legendary for his “Fatal 6. Major error of fact of 90. Flaws” policy, which stated that Pilette, known as a “master students would fail an assign- Dean Matthew Seeger of the journalistic fundamen- ment if they made one of six Don Pilette was a described Pilette as an “amaz- tals,” was a 32-year veteran of errors in their work: 32-year veteran of ing man, warm, thoughtful The Detroit News who served 1. Missing or incorrect time The Detroit News. and caring. Many, many stu- in several capabilities, including element dents benefited from his national editor. He was also an 2. Name spelled wrong or skilled instruction.”

Fall 2019 • Communication News • 7 Department Highlights

Celebrations of excellence

very winter, the Department of Communication celebrates Eits students with scholarships awarded at different ceremonies. At the Spirit of Diversity event in April, faculty members recognized the 2019–2020 journalism scholar ship recipients. The department awarded 19 students a total of $70,000 for the next academic year, in addition to the scholarships awarded by Professor Alicia Nails and the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity program. The annual PRSSA breakfast, also held in April, recognized eight tal Twenty-three new Endowed Student Award for two Angela Cowen Memorial Award: ented PR students, awarding them members were inducted communication studies students, Tiffany Foust $10,000 in scholarships for the into the 2019 class of and the Dan Sicko Memorial schol Armand and Eleanor Gebert 2019–2020 year. Lambda Pi Eta. arship for two media arts and stud Endowed Scholarship in the The Celebration of Excellence, ies students. College of Fine, Performing formerly known as the Lambda Pi Finally, five scholarships in and Communication Arts, and Eta honors ceremony, was forensics and debate were awarded The Automotive Press Associa- expanded to include undergradu to 11 competitors at the 85th tion Al Vinikour Journalism ate and graduate scholarships. A annual DSR-TKA Student Award Scholarship: Lucas Bell total of 23 new members were and Alumni Banquet. Communication Arts: Laura Ahee, inducted into the 2019 class of Lauren Buhl, Sean Taormina Lambda Pi Eta. The ceremony also Scholarship winners Berg Muirhead Scholarship celebrated two Skinner scholar (Awarded in May 2019) for Public Relations Student ships, the Plochocki scholarship, the Alfonso Rodriguez Memorial Advancement: Fernanda Stanley H. Marx Endowed Endowed Scholarship in Bottini-Sinzato, Lakiya Neal scholarship for two dispute resolu Debate: Alexander Azzopardi, Benjamin J. Burns Endowed tion students, the Jane Fitzgibbon Kristina Curtiss Scholarship for Excellence

Forensics and debate program delivers another strong season

The Wayne State debate and speech finish second overall and was the tourna Alex Azzopardi and Shannon Flory. teams continued the program’s tradition of ment’s fourth-place speaker. Juniors Doug Burklow was the state champion and NFA competitive excellence with another strong Husic and Kristina Curtiss made a semi quarterfinalist in the informative category. showing in their 2018–2019 season. Under finals appearance in varsity and scored Azzopardi was the state champion in the guidance of former Director of Foren third and eighth speaker awards. after-dinner speaking and extemporaneous sics Kelly Young, PhD, and Director of The speech team was ranked in the speaking and national champion in Debate Ron Stevenson, PhD, the squad nation’s top 20 by the American Forensics impromptu. Flory was the national cham won numerous team and individual Association (18th) and National Forensics pion in communication analysis and awards. Association (13th) and fourth overall by after-dinner speaking and finished fifth Junior TK Khan lost on a close 2-1 the National Speech Championship. The in the country in rhetorical criticism at decision in the final round of the NEDA strong showing was led by graduating the NFA National Championship. National Debate tournament in novice to senior John Burklow and juniors

8 • Communication News • Fall 2019 Department Highlights | CONTINUED

in Journalism: Miriam Marini Dan Sicko Memorial Scholarship, provided by Detroit Sound Conservancy: Medina Baydoun, Brianna Jones David J. Wilkie Scholarship: Sarah Kominek E. Ray Skinner Scholarship Fund for Communication: Chloe Fraleigh, Summer Starr PRSSA breakfast toasts accomplishments of students past and present The Flip Wilson Scholarship Fund: Slone Terranella PRSSA’s 16th annual Alumni and Student Recognition breakfast in April honored alumnus Peter Van George M. and Mabel H. Slocum Dyke, CEO of Van Dyke Horn; awarded PR scholarships to eight students; and unveiled the annual Foundation Scholarship in Salute newsletter. The event brought together almost 200 students and the professionals who Journalism: Arianna Endicott, sponsor them to celebrate the accomplishments of both. Delainie Wheeler, Julia Paine Jane Fitzgibbon Endowed Student Award in the Area of Communi- Paul Nine Endowed Scholarship Spirit of Diversity Andrew Li (top limited prep), cation: Alexander Azzopardi, in Forensics: Shannon Flory The journalism program Brandon Reynolds (top debater Kaci Switchulis (individual events), Tubraize and the Journalism Insti upper class) Jeannine Gregory Leadership Khan (debate) tute for Media Diversity Renee M. Abraham-Harries Award: Sara Powers Raymond and Alice Hayes hosted the annual Spirit Memorial Endowed Scholar- Joyce Skinner Endowed Journalism Endowed Scholarship Award of Diversity event at St. ship in Public Relations: Scholarship: Brianna Blackshire, for Forensics Students: Andrews Hall on April 12. Chanel Taylor, Jaymi Gittens, Kailey Howell, Emily Roth, Alexander Azzopardi (top public Political commentator Emma Seidel Kristina Tuck address), Hailei Benedict (top and columnist Julianne Renee Skoglund Endowed Stu- Loepp Family Endowed Scholar- first-year individual events), Malveaux, PhD, was dent Award: Kathleen Johnson, ship in the Department of Skyler Blackman (top first-year honored, and Al Allen Sarah Williams Communication: Miranda Bryant debate), John Burklow (top from Fox 2 and Vince Richard Bernstein Endowed Michael and Judy Layne Annual interpretation), Kristina Curtiss McCraw from The Detroit Award in Forensics: Skyler Scholarship in Communication: (top service), Tiffany Foust News each received the Blackman Quentin May, Reginald Hawkins (top first-year debate), Spencer Working in the Spirit of Robert W. and Louise A. Giles Michael Freedman Endowed Schol- Haisha (top interpretation), Diversity Award. Broadcast Journalism Endowed arship in Journalism: Emily Roth Tubraize Khan (most improved), Scholarship: Cassidy Capoferri Scholarship for Ethics in Journal- ism: Benjamin Kouchnerkavich Stanley H. Marx Endowed Scholarship: Alex Green, Angel McFarland Steven Plochocki Endowed Scholarship in Communication: Mary Sier W. Sprague Holden Memorial Scholarship in Journalism: Olivia Esparza Winifred Clephane Endowed Graduate Scholarship

A ll iso n E lam in Communication: Scholarship recipients at the Spirit of Diversity event. Erin Henderson •

Fall 2019 • Communication News • 9 Department Highlights | CONTINUED

Film and Media Arts The WSU Film & Media Group has been hard at work this past year, creating a network for future filmmakers to collaborate on ideas as well as produce short films. With the steady growth in recent years of the film and media arts programs at Wayne State, the Film & Media Group provides students with extracurricular options and additional experience in various aspects of filmmaking. The group is aiming for a fall release for Its recent filmBlood Makes the Grass Grow. Collaboration is key in the field of film and media, and the Film & Media Group aims to connect the filmmaking teams of tomorrow.

Events Allesee Master Class and the Freep Film Festival Thom Powers served as the Bob Allison (Allesee) Endowed Chair in Media, teaching documentary Students in the Film & documentary festival, DOC NYC. Doctoral Seminar processes and visual journalism. Media Group collaborate He hosts the podcast “Pure Non The 2019 Summer Doctoral Seminar Powers is the documentary pro to produce the short fiction” and the short-form pod in the Department of Communica grammer for the Toronto Inter filmBlood Makes the cast “WNYC’s Documentary of tion, organized by Stine Eckert, PhD, national Film Festival and artistic Grass Grow. the Week.” took place June 4–6 in the Purdy- director of America’s largest Powers’ visit coincided with the Kresge Library. It evolved around the Freep Film Festival; the College of Fine, Performing and Communica tion Arts served as the official edu cational partner of the festival, which is sponsored by the Detroit Free Press. The department hosted a series of screenings on campus as well as educational panels includ ing “Women Behind the Camera” and “Navigating the Freedom of Information Act.” Powers moder ated the festival’s works-in-progress session, which included a forth coming film on photographer Thom Powers, documentary Leni Sinclair, directed by Depart programmer for the Toronto ment of Communication alumnus Distinguished Guest Scholar International Film Festival Jack P. Johnson. Linda Steiner

10 • Communication News • Fall 2019 Department Highlights | CONTINUED

theme of transgressive feminisms and included 15 PhD students from across the United States and one international participant. Distin guished Guest Scholar Linda Steiner, PhD, professor in the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the Univer sity of Maryland, led three days of intense discussions on the produc tion, coverage, distribution and reception of women as well as gen der in media. Her public lecture, “How Radical Were the Women Suffragists?,” examined the extent women suffragists could be con sidered feminists in the best sense of the word.

Brock Lecture Cara Finnegan, PhD, professor and associate head of the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, gave the 2018–2019 Bernard Brock Lecture at Wayne State on March 28. After a reception for faculty urban sustainability, help develop Cara Finnegan reported at Detroit Pistons games, and graduate students, Finnegan and participate in colloquia and presented “Barack interned at Detroit Public Televi presented “Barack Obama and the seminars, perform community ser Obama and the Age sion, and photographed several Age of Social Media” to more than vice, and write funding proposals. of Social Media” as the music festivals. She is a National 50 attendees. • The MA in media arts and studies 2018–2019 Bernard Association of Black Journalists stu program, through which students Brock Lecture. dent member, two-time Michigan 3 grad programs debut can complete a one-year sequence Association of Broadcasters scholar Beginning in 2019–2020, the in documentary filmmaking. ship recipient, and Dean’s Delegate Department of Communication is for the College of Fine, Performing offering three new programs for MetroArts Detroit and Communication Arts. • graduate students: welcomes new host • The online graduate certificate in Broadcast journalism major risk and crisis communication, Abriana Walton took over as the which provides professionals and host of MetroArts Detroit this fall. students with graduate-level train Produced by Kimmerly Piper-Aiken, ing in research-based knowledge PhD, with a Wayne State student

and best practices of risk and crisis crew, the program is entering its A br i ana Wal communication, especially within ninth season on Detroit Public Tele the context of public health emer vision. Each spring, a new host is

gency events. selected following competitive to n • The dual PhD in communication auditions. Walton is a member of and urban sustainability, through the Journalism Institute for Media Abriana Walton is hosting which students will conduct an Diversity. While at Wayne State, she MetroArts Detroit’s ninth season. internship or science exchange in has hosted a music podcast,

Fall 2019 • Communication News • 11 FACULTY BRIEFS

Juanita Anderson served Communities and Digital 2019 Bernard Brock Award for PUBLICATIONS Discourse: Getting Voices Heard, Outstanding Scholarship in • Co-authored a chapter in Collec edited by VL LaPoe, CS Carter Communication. tive Wisdom: Co-Creating Media Olson, BR LaPoe, 57–76. Lanham, Within Communities, Across Disci MD: Lexington, 2018. Michael Fuhlhage plines and With Algorithms, pub • Sopory P, Day AM, Novak JM, PUBLICATIONS lished online by MIT Press, Eckert S, Wilkins L, Padgett DR, • Fuhlhage M. Yankee Reporters June 11, 2019. Available at et al. “Communicating Uncer and Southern Secrets: Journalism, https://wip.mitpress.mit.edu tainty During Public Health Open Source Intelligence, and /collectivewisdom. Emergency Events: A Systematic the Coming of the Civil War. New AWARDS Review.” Review of Communi York: Peter Lang, 2019. • Murray E. Jackson University Stine Eckert, left, is cation Research, 7 (2019), AWARDS Creative Scholar in the Arts for presented with the https://doi.org/10.12840/ISSN • Resident Scholar at the WSU 2019–2020. 2019 Mary Ann Yodelis .2255-4165.019. Humanities Center, 2019–2020. • Hyperion Award from the Eclipse Smith Award for AWARDS Board of Governors. Feminist Scholarship. • 2019 Mary Ann Yodelis Smith Brandon Hensley Award for Feminist Scholarship. PUBLICATIONS Stine Eckert • 2019 Top Paper Award by the • Critical Storytelling in Urban Educa Publications Commission on the Status of tion, the fourth volume in Brandon • Eckert S, Steiner L. “#metoo: Women of the Association for Hensley’s and Nicholas Hartlep’s Millennial Responses to Campus Education in Journalism and Mass Critical Storytelling book series Sexual Harassment.” In Leading Communication. with Brill/Sense Publishers, was Millennial Faculty: Navigating the • Department of Communication’s published in August 2019. New Professoriate, edited by MG Strawser. Lanham, MD: Lexing Grant highlights ton, 2019. • Novak J, Day A, Sopory P, Several faculty members received grants in the past year. Wilkins L, Padgett DR, Eckert S, • Following up on an evidence synthesis project with the World Health et al. “Engaging Communities Organization, Pradeep Sopory, PhD, and Julie Novak, PhD, will in Emergency Risk and Crisis conduct a similar project for the National Academies of Sciences — Communication: Mixed-Method Qualitative Evidence Synthesis for the Committee on Evidence-Based Systematic Review and Evidence Practices for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response. Synthesis.” Journal of International • Elizabeth Stoycheff, PhD, received a grant from WhatsApp to study Crisis and Risk Communication, misinformation and will investigate how to limit the spread of fake 2(1) (2019): 61–96, https://doi news given WhatsApp’s commitment to user privacy, encryption and .org/10.30658/jicrcr.2.1.4. non-monitoring. • Eckert S, O’Shay Wallace S, • Shelly Najor, PhD, received a grant through the Ford Community Metzger-Riftkin J, Kolhoff S. Corp. program to support projects to be completed by her COM “‘The Best Damn Representation 5160 Public Relations Campaigns capstone students. of Islam:’ Muslims, Gender, Social • Rahul Mitra, PhD, was the co-investigator on a grant funded by Media and Islamophobia in the the Great Lakes Protection Fund for the project Smart Management United States.” CyberOrient, 12(1). of Microplastic Pollution in the Great Lakes. Available at www.cyberorient.net • Anita Mixon, PhD, received a Dean’s Creative Grant from the /article.do?articleId=9907. College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts for her project • Eckert S, Carter Olson CS, LaPoe that will examine Black feminist discourse from enclaved communities VL. “Digital Communication as a from 1919 to 1939. Promotion Building Community? • Fred Vultee, PhD, won a Dean’s Creative Grant for his study of secu Scholars’ Use of Social Media for ritization as a social media effect. Peer Communication.” In Under

12 • Communication News • Fall 2019 FACULTY BRIEFS | CONTINUED

of Water, Rhetoric, and Social Justice, edited by C Schmitt, T Castor. Lexington Books, 2019. • Mitra R. “Organizing for Sustain ability: Including and Engaging Diverse Stakeholders.” In Organiz ing Inclusion: Moving Diversity from Demographics to Communication Processes, edited by ML Doerfel, JL Gibbs. New York: Routledge, 2020. RECOGNITION No dispute: Warters will be missed • 2019 Spirit of Community Engage Bill Warters, PhD (back row, fourth from left), Mediation in the Campus Community: Designing ment Award, Faculty Category retired in May after more than 20 years at Wayne and Managing Effective Programs, as well as (Finalist), Wayne State University. State. He started in 1997 as the associate direc honors such as the William Kreidler Award from tor of mediating theory and democratic systems the Association for Conflict Resolution (Educa Matthew Seeger in the College of Urban, Labor, and Metropolitan tion section) and the Distinguished Service PUBLICATIONS Affairs. After CULMA was disbanded in 2005, dis Award from the State Bar Association of Michi • Seeger MW, Sellnow TL. Commu pute resolution became part of the Department gan (Alternative Dispute Resolution section). nication in Times of Trouble. Wiley of Communication — and so did Warters. His Warters’ warm smile and dedication to dispute Blackwell. many accomplishments include his 1999 book, resolution students will be missed. • Day A, O’Shay-Wallace S, Seeger MW, McElmurry SP. “Informational Sources, Social Media Use, and Rosie Jahng and Future Directions. New York: Race in the Flint, Michigan, Water PUBLICATIONS Routledge, 2019. Crisis.” Communication Studies 70, • Jahng MR. “Watching the Rich and REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES no. 3 (2019). Famous: The Cultivation Effect • Bres L, Mosonyi S, Gond J-P, Faculty and • “Mortality Reporting and Rumor of Reality Television Shows and Muzio D, Mitra R, Werr A, Wickert academic staff Generation: An Assessment of the Mediating Role of Parasocial C. “Rethinking Professionalization: receive promotions Crisis and Emergency Risk Com Experiences.” Media Practice and A Generative Dialogue on CSR In May, Elizabeth munication Following Hurricane Education (2019), https://doi.org/1 Practitioners.” Journal of Professions Stoycheff, PhD, and María in Puerto Rico” was accepted 0.1080/25741136.2018.1556544. and Organization 6, no. 2 (July Rahul Mitra, PhD, by the Journal of International Crisis AWARDS 2019): 246–264, https://doi.org were each promoted and Risk Communication Research. • 2019 Faculty Spring/Summer Doc /10.1093/jpo/joz009. to associate professor The research team included several toral Student Research Assistant BOOK CHAPTERS with continuing tenure, faculty from the Department of Pre Support Award, Department of • Mitra R. “Online Performances and in June, Professor vention and Community Health. Communication (doctoral student: of Expertise by Sustainability Juanita Anderson; AWARDS Clara Martucci). Practitioners: Tracing Commu Karen McDevitt, PhD; • “The PIO and the Right to Know,” • Jahng MR, Stoycheff E, 2019–2020 nicative Episodes of Professional Jane Fitzgibbon, PhD; a program developed in conjunc Competitive Graduate Research (De)Legitimization.” In Discourses and Shelly Najor, PhD, tion with DTE, won the 2019 Assistant Award, Wayne State Uni of (De)Legitimization: Participatory were all promoted to IABC Detroit Renaissance Award versity Graduate School (doctoral Culture in Digital Contexts, edited senior lecturer. for Special and Experiential Events. student: Scott Burgess). by AS Ross, DJ Rivers, 83–99. New Designed by Lee Wilkins, Matt York: Routledge, 2019. Seeger and DTE staff, the program Rahul Mitra • Husnick K, Aniss M, Mitra R. “Nat brought 200 public information BOOKS uralizing Environmental Injustice: officers and PR professionals to • McDonald J, Mitra R, eds. Move How Privileged Residents Make campus for a one-day workshop ments in Organizational Commu Sense of Detroit’s Water Shutoffs.” on crisis communication. nication Research: Current Issues In A Mighty Stream: A Confluence

Fall 2019 • Communication News • 13 FACULTY BRIEFS | CONTINUED

Elizabeth Stoycheff Research teams at it again PUBLICATIONS • Stoycheff E, Pingree RJ, Peifer JT, The research group run by Stine Eckert, projects. The first, Detroit Water Stories, is an Sui M. “Agenda Cueing Effects of PhD, had the first publication from its dataset oral history project (with video under the direc News and Social Media.” Media accepted in CyberOrient. Eckert and graduate tion of Professor Kelly Donnellan) that gathers Psychology (2018). research assistant Jade Metzger, along with and shares accounts from Detroit residents and • Pingree R, Stoycheff E, Sui M, Peifer Joanna Nurmis of the University of Maryland, community organizers about the ongoing water J. “Setting a Non-Agenda: Effects also published their piece, “Teaching Girls shutoffs and related water insecurity problems of a Perceived Lack of Problems Online Skills: Results of the Wikid Grrls Interven affecting Detroit and other large cities across in Recent News or Twitter.” Mass tion,” in the Journal of Media Literacy Education. the country (see www.detroitwaterstories Communication & Society (2018). The Resilient Institutions and Sustainable .wordpress.com). The second project examines • Stoycheff E, Burgess GS, Martucci Environments (RISE) Lab, led by Rahul Mitra, how the Detroit entrepreneurial ecosystem can MC. “Online Censorship and Dig PhD, is involved in two long-term immersive foster inclusive and diverse startups, social ital Surveillance: The Relationship and community participation–based research entrepreneurs and community development. Between Suppression Technolo gies and Democratization Across Countries.” Information, Communi • Stoycheff E, Nisbet EC, Epstein D. and Applications in Health, Safety, cation & Society (2018). “Differential Effects of Capital- Ergonomics and Risk Management. • Stoycheff E, Liu J, Xu K, Wibowo K. Enhancing and Recreational Healthcare Applications. Lecture “Privacy and the Panopticon: Internet Use on Citizens’ Demand Notes in Computer Science, Online Mass Surveillance’s Deter for Democracy.” Communication vol. 11582, edited by V Duffy rence and Chilling Effects.”New Research (2018). (Springer, Cham, 2019), Media & Society (2018). NATIONAL SERVICE https://doi.org/10.1007/978 • President, Communication Theory -3-030-22219-2_13. & Methodology Vision, Associa • Tong ST, Sopory P. “Does Integral Census committees count on Oshagan tion for Education in Journalism Affect Influence Intentions to Hayg Oshagan, PhD, has partnered with the Michigan and Mass Communication. Use Artificial Intelligence for Skin Non-Profit Association on its statewide work on the census. Cancer Screening? A Test of the The MNA is leading the effort in fundraising and planning Stephanie Tong Affect Heuristic.” Psychology & for the next population count in Michigan. PUBLICATIONS Health 34, no. 7 (2019): 828–849, Oshagan is helping the City of Detroit, Detroit City Council, • Tong ST, Corriero EF, Wibowo K, https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446 Wayne County and the MNA as a member of the Complete Makki TW, Slatcher RB. “Self- .2019.1579330. Count Committees by leading the communication and media Presentation and Impressions of • Tong ST, Corriero EF, Matheny strategy for reaching hard-to-count minority populations. Personality Through Text-Based RG, Hancock JT. “Online Daters’ In addition, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently appointed Online Dating Profiles: A Lens Willingness to Use Recommender Oshagan to the Statewide Complete Count Committee. Model Analysis.” Forthcoming Technology for Mate Selection As part of this effort, Oshagan organized three minority media in New Media & Society. Decisions.” In IntRS ’18: Proceedings summits to enable conversations on the issues: one in Detroit • Tong ST, Vultee F, Kolhoff S, of the 5th Joint Workshop on Inter at Wayne State; one in Grand Rapids at Grand Valley State Uni Elam AB, Aniss M. “A Source of faces and Human Decision Making versity; and one in Gaylord, where he met with representatives a Different Color: Exploring the for Recommender Systems, edited from Native American tribes. Influence of Three Kinds of Science by M de Gemmis, A Felfernig, P Communication on Audience Atti Lops, J O’ Donovan, G Semeraro, tudes Toward Research.” Frontiers in M Willemsen, 45–52. Vancouver, Communication (2019), https://doi BC, 2019. Online: CEUR-WS.org. .org/10.3389/fcomm.2019.00043. Retrieved from http://ceur-ws.org • Tong ST, Sopory P. “Uncovering /Vol-2225/. User Affect Towards AI in Cancer Hayg Oshagan speaks at a minority media summit. Diagnostics.” In Proceedings of HCII 2019: Digital Human Modeling

14 • Communication News • Fall 2019 FACULTY BRIEFS | CONTINUED GRADUATE STUDENT BRIEFS

Laura Bruns Padgett puts students at the heart of research AWARDS As a scholar/practitioner, Donyale Padgett, • Graduate Employees Organizing PhD, has been blurring the lines between 2018–2019 Committee Teaching Award research and practice for more than 10 years, PhD recipients using her industry background to expose • Tabitha Cassidy Clara Martucci students to real-world opportunities with area (Michael Fuhlhage, AWARDS organizations. She recently founded a company, adviser) • Top Graduate Student Paper at Legacy Communication & Research, to take her • Elena Corriero the 83rd Ohio Communication commitment to practice to the next level — and (Stephanie Tong, Association Conference for “From she is literally taking her students with her. adviser) Representation to Networking: Donyale Padgett Last year she assembled a team of students to • Ashleigh Day (Julie Enhancing Federal Agencies’ conduct a focus group research study to explore Novak, adviser) Administrative Power and Public perceptions of organ and tissue donation among underrepresented • Carrie Leach (Julie Support Through Social Media communities for Gift of Life Michigan in Ann Arbor. These communi Novak, adviser) Practices.” ties are often high on the list of need for organs but have lower • Annisa Rochadiat levels of participation because of distrust, religious beliefs and (Stephanie Tong, Erin Perry misinformation. adviser) AWARDS her team’s recommendations helped Padgett land another oppor • Idrissa Snider • National Black Public Relations tunity with the organization: to design a year-long community educa (Donyale Padgett, Society’s Women in Media and PR tion campaign to increase awareness about organ and tissue donation adviser) Award. in multicultural communities. This full-blown campaign kicked off in • Second place and the People’s May and consisted of dialogue circles, videos, a social media cam Choice Award in the Graduate paign, and radio and TV promotions. As phase one comes to a close, School’s 2019 Three Minute and Padgett’s team of alumnae from the Department of Communica Thesis competition for her pre tion gears up for the next phase, it is clear that her mission of provid sentation, “How Do Journalist- ing high-impact strategic communication is paying off. Audience Relationships Online Affect the Perception of Jour nalists, News Products and the New faculty, staff Profession?” The Department of Communica • Sydney Pasquinelli, PhD, who MEDIA APPEARANCES tion welcomed several new faculty competed in debate as an under • Directed the Detroit Free Press and staff this year. graduate at Wayne State 10 years Summer Apprentice Program, • Perry Farrell joined the depart ago, has returned as a lecturer where she supervised 15 high ment as the new internship coor and the new director of debate. school students working as dinator and a journalism faculty • Alistair Stephenson, JD, a digital reporters, editors and visual member. He spent the previous media strategist for ACLU Michi journalists in the newsroom. 30 years as a sports journalist at gan, is a guest lecturer, teaching The Free Press story announcing the Detroit Free Press. courses such as new media and the largest class of apprentices • Mary Grenfell is the College strategic communication. • the newsroom has had, funded of Fine, Performing and Com by the largest grant in program munication Arts’ new academic history, can be found at adviser for communication and https://bit.ly/2WAes3U. publication majors. Grenfell comes from a PR and business Ariel Seay background, having earned a BA GRANTS in advertising and public relations • Humanities travel grant. from Marquette University and an • Harriet Kanter travel grant. • MBA from Davenport University.

Fall 2019 • Communication News • 15 Alumni BRIEFS

1960s portal that seeks to connect edu tions manager of the Graduate Dennis Olkowski (BA ’69) recently cators with corporate professionals Student Association, which rep retired as the automotive editor at looking to give back to academia resents graduate students from the Honolulu Advertiser. He is the via guest speaking opportunities across all three campuses at the author of Reflections: A Recollection in the classroom. University of Miami. of Hawaii’s Past, a pictorial retro Daniel Wallace (BA ’05) is global Daria LaFave (PhD ’16) is lead spective on life in the islands from diversity initiatives lead with General speech instructor for Keiser 1900 to 1950. Motors, and was recently named University eCampus and a Follow Wayne State’s one of the Michigan Chronicle’s communication adjunct and 1980s Department of Commu 40 Under 40 for 2019. team lead at Southern New Ruby Bailey (BA ’89) is a filmmaker nication on Twitter: Chrystal Wilson (BA ’07) is assistant Hampshire University. and CEO of Clear Lens Pro. @WSU_COM superintendent for Detroit Public Juan Liu (PhD ’17) is an assistant Schools Community District, and was professor at Columbus State 1990s recently honored as a 2019 Michigan University and was recently awarded Susan Eggly (BA ’79, MA ’86, PhD Chronicle Women of Excellence. a Scripps Howard Foundation/AEJMC ’99) is a professor in the Wayne State Visiting Professor Grant. University Department of Oncology, 2010s Lukas Pelliccio (PhD ’18) is an where she researches and teaches in Ali Alzookery (BA ’15) is executive assistant professor of mass commu patient-physician communication. editor of the Columbia Missourian nication at Lincoln University of Rochelle Nelson (BA ’91, MA ’94) and endowed chair of Community PA, where he is managing the is a retired Detroit Public Schools Newspaper Management and profes student-run school newspaper, teacher, as well as a real estate sor of journalism at the University of the Lincolnian. He also received a investor and subcontractor, and is Missouri School of Journalism. grant to continue researching the with Symrho Investments LLC. Christopher Gullen (MA ’06, communication of ostracism, got Janine Krasicky Sadaj (BA ’90) PhD ’12) is an assistant professor married and had a baby. is president of J9 Media Solutions, of communication at Westfield State Annisa Rochadiat (MA ’16, PhD which recently won the Public University. He is also program chair ’19) is a visiting assistant professor Relations Society of America East of Westfield State’s Interdisciplinary of interpersonal communication Central District’s Diamond Award Studies Program, and serves on at the University of Richmond. of Merit for its work with the literacy the statewide executive board of Sadaf Siddiqu-Ali (PhD ’15) is nonprofit Beyond Basics. the Massachusetts State College area head and associate professor Association. of digital media, cinema studies 2000s Lara Hrycaj (MA ’03, PhD ’13) is and journalism at Eastern Michigan Kimberly Chandler (BA ’02, MA an adjunct faculty member teaching University. • ’04, PhD ’07) is an instructional pro film history and media studies fessor of gender studies and African courses at Wayne State University, American studies with the Sarah Isom as well as operations manager at Center for Women and Gender Stud WHFR-FM (Henry Ford College’s non ies at the University of Mississippi. commercial radio station). She also Chandler helms a newly designed prices records at Dearborn Music. dual appointment at Ole Miss, Amna Husain (MA ’15) is an expanding the institutional capacity adjunct faculty member at Wayne of two departments in the area of State University and Oakland Com distance education, interdisciplinary munity College. programming and domestic study Janine Kenner (BA ’16) is a master’s offerings across the United States. candidate in the music business and Komal Shah Kapoor (MA ’02, entertainment industries program PhD ’07) is founder and CEO of at the University of Miami’s Frost Speaker Post, a social networking School of Music. She is also opera