FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS CONSTRUCTION COMMUNICATIONMANAGEMENT NEWS AND MEDIAISSUE STUDIES #10 WINTER 2020 SUMMER 2021 CAPS Becomes the Communication and Media Studies Department (CAMS) Department of Theatre and Dance Created On September 20, 2019 the “This change was prompted NMU Board of Trustees ap- by two things, those being proved an Academic Affairs ‘solid thinking’ on Provost Kerri restructuring plan that created Schuilling’s part, and ideas four divisions within the Col- from the faculty in theater and lege of Arts and Sciences. The dance themselves,” Cantrill Division of Visual and Perform- said. “It really was one of those ing Arts is now composed of a top-down, bottom-up kinds of new combined School of Mu- things.” sic, Theater and Dance, along with the established School of Although the former CAPS de- Art and Design. The Division of partment was reduced by about Social Sciences expanded to half the number of students and include: economics; communi- faculty, Cantrill assured students cations, broadcasting and jour- that it was an amicable parting. nalism; political science; and The two departments are still sociology and anthropology. co-located in the Thomas Fine The Communication and Arts building, and there remains Performance Studies (CAPS) department was split into two a great deal of collaboration and camaraderie. separate departments. According to Provost Kerri Schuiling, “this “This change was prompted by two In addition to theater and dance was all done to create efficiencies, things, those being “solid thinking” breaking off to its own department, enhance collaboration and facilitate public relations was moved to the cost savings over time.” on Provost Kerri Schuilling’s part, and College of Business. The communi- ideas from the faculty in theater and cations and multimedia programs The large CAPS department had dance themselves.” remain in the former CAPS suite contained many different compo- located in Russell Thomas Fine nents over the years. Through its Arts building. However, it has historical legacy of 50 or 60 years, Professor Jim Cantrill since been said there had been a great deal of growth. The varieties of renamed the “speech,” as it was formerly called, included broadcasting, Communi- theater, public relations and performance. cation and Media Studies “They were compatible, and this had worked, but there real- department ly was a desire to have the theater and dance kind of carve (CAMS). out their own little identity, their own niche,” Cantrill said. Written by: The new department formed is now known as the Depart- Akasha Khalsa ment of Theater and Dance, led by Assistant Professor and Forest Roberts Theatre (FRT) Director Bill Digneit. https://www.facebook.com/NMU-Communication-and-Media-Studies-101426194759539 OUTSTANDING GRADS GRAD SPOTLIGHTS Leah Danielson of New Brighton, Minn., has been named the Communication and Media Studies (CAMS) 2020-21 out- What will you miss most about being an NMU student? standing graduating senior. I will miss the NMU community the most. I think I am going to miss how friendly, and warm people are. It is going to be Earning a 3.95 GPA, Danielson difficult to transition to another university and have to make exhibited a high-level of lead- new connections, but I hope that the place I go has a similar ership and mentorship with welcoming vibe as NMU does. That is something that I value her peers in courses such as about Northern. small group process and re- search methods. She served What is your favorite place to visit abroad? as both a campus-wide tutor I have only been abroad to a few places, and I wish that I and a CAMS department could say anywhere in Germany or Austria! I will say, how- tutor. ever, that my favorite place to visit abroad is Florence, Italy. I absolutely loved going there and am hoping to go back in In argumentation, Daniel- the future. son’s project on solar advancement in Marquette generated interest from the City Commission and a personal phone call If you were given the opportunity to travel anywhere in the consultation with the mayor. She was chosen as one of 10 world, where would you go? students to travel to Cuba for a faculty-led study abroad trip. Berlin, Germany! I was planning on studying abroad there Her research on the role of revolutionary leaders and their last semester, but it ended up not working out. I know that I rhetoric in the collective mindset of Cubans is being submit- will get there eventually, but that is definitely the place that I ted for a regional conference presentation. would love to go. Cassidy Jankowski and Sarah Jepson both had outstanding If you met an incoming student, what advice would you GPAs, both had been producers for Public Eye News, and give them? they were involved in professional media such as producing I would remind them that if they are feeling nervous their shows. Therefore the 2020 broadcasting outstanding grad- first few weeks of the semester, that others are feeling the uate award for CAMS went to both Cassidy Jankowski and same way. It is okay to lean into that awkward feeling. Some- Sarah Jepson. times, that can be the best way to make lifelong friends. I would also let students know that it is completely okay to not know what major they want to be. I added German Stud- GRAD SPOTLIGHTS ies as my second major my junior year, and still graduated in four years! There is no set timeline for your success, just go Jess McIntosh dou- at your own pace. ble-majored in Ger- man Studies and Com- Erika Flint of Negaunee, MI, munication Studies. excelled in her academics, After graduation, earning the highest GPA in her she’ll be the Graduate cohort. In addition to scholarly Residence Director work, Erika has participated in at Mississippi State the Public Eye News student University, along with newscast, produced a video for earning a fully funded the local Head Start program Master’s in Education- with the NMU A/V Club, and al Leadership with a volunteered for the Special concentration in High- Olympics. She has supported er Education and Student Affairs. Congratulations, Jess! fellow students through actions such as tutoring and creat- What are your favorite moments as an undergrad at NMU? ing a Facebook page to give My favorite moments would be the opportunity I had to be students and alumni a better a resident advisor in Hunt Hall. I met some incredible people opportunity to network. there. Being an RA allowed me to create, shape, and strength- en communities with amazing students across campus. As a part-Cherokee Native American, decorated Air Force veteran, first-generation college student, wife and mother, What are your favorite moments as an LLIS student? Erika bridged worlds via speaking engagements and other The people I met in my courses really stands out to me. I feel opportunities to tell her life experiences to campus groups, like every course was loaded with great students and faculty and to share what she learned at NMU with outside commu- who were rooting for my success. The students that I have nities. Erika has also been deeply involved with the Disabled met through my courses have become some of my closest American Veterans, where she has held officer positions and friends, and I looked forward to seeing them in class every served in numerous outreach events. day. GRAD SPOTLIGHTS 2021 GRADUATES Communication Studies Rayna Sherbinow of Manistique, MI, Peter Anderson exhibited superior performance in her Clare Bastian academics, achieving one of the high- est GPAs in the broadcasting program. Leah Danielson Outside of the classroom, Rayna has Madison Hummel been a productive journalist for The Jasmine King North Wind student newspaper and Jessica McIntosh the NMU-AAUP website, contributing Riley Morley high-quality research and writing to help strengthen NMU’s community and Kelly Richards reputation. She also has been a long- Devontae Stine time member of the NMU Quiz Bowl team, helping defend Elizabeth Vitale NMU’s honor against rivals such as Michigan Technological Heather Vivian University. Rayna is a lifelong advocate of Bay Cliff Health Hannah Wilder Camp, and has spent several summers working with the kids who attend the camp. Media Production and New Technology 2020 GRADUATES Davante Wade BS Communication Studies Multimedia Production Anna Bailey Adam Diaz Madison Blom Erika Flint Anne Ludwig BS Multimedia Production Travis McCloud Joe Biron Max Stevens Jillian Wurmlinger Communication Studies Gianna Ferraro Multimedia Journalism Riley Figueroa Nathaniel Jacobs Latrell Giles Rayna Sherbinow Holly Glover Alexis Stalker Drew Harbrecht Chelsea Havenor Alana McLeod CONGRATS GRADS Laurel Paputa Jill Selesky Watch a congratulations meesage from faculty member, Mark Shevy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPFI5O- Mitchel Slattery 4E0Nc Media Production and New Technology Mikkel Gill Connor Heibel Adam Rifenburgh Angie Turnquist Multimedia Production Christine Charette Cassidy Jankowski Sarah Jepson Lucas Malnor Kayla Pederson Caleb Riedel Cameron Ryman DEPARTMENT NEWS Arts and Media Collaboration Brings NMU and uses the same Student Performances to Campus and the Panasonic World By Mark Shevy AW-UE150 4K cameras A historic media production milestone was reached this year recently as Communication and Media Studies (CAMS) Department installed in students took the controls of cutting-edge video and audio the Detroit systems to live stream performances for NMU’s School of Sympho- Music and Theatre and Dance. ny’s state- of-the-art NMU’s Multimedia Production program has been strength- Orchestra ening its relationships with the Music Department and the Hall up- Department of Theatre and Dance over the years to create grade. mutually beneficial collaborations for students of these pro- Sara Nelson (left), Adam Diaz (center), and Joe grams.