APRIL REPORT Annual Report | 2017-18 Academic Year ‘Chapman Corner’ in Lake Superior Hall was named after former professor, Fred Chapman. EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to the second issue of the APRil Report, the annual report of the GVSU Advertising and Public Relations program. It has been another busy year. We’ve had numerous faculty achievements, a long-time professor retired, changes to the curriculum, and a new scholarship for PR students named for Fred Chapman, a former professor. We have also seen students excel in the classroom, in local community engagement, and break new ground on the national stage. With the help of current students, we have launched a new efort to stay in touch with our alumni in a more meaningful way. All of these things are featured in this annual report on the pages that follow. Don’t forget to keep up to date by reading our blog and following our social media accounts throughout the year. Dr. Tim Penning, PhD, APR Professor Coordinator of the Advertising and Public Relations Program CONTENTS Advertising and PR by the Numbers 3 Faculty—Profles and Accomplishments 4-6 Program Updates 7-11 CONNECT WITH US Students—News and Accomplishments 12-15 [email protected] Alumni—Updates and Profles 16-17 www.gvsu.edu/soc/apr Blog: enLIGHTen : MASTHEAD gvsuapr.wordpress.com Editor: Tim Penning, PhD, APR, Professor and Twitter: @gvsuAPR Coordinator of Advertising and Public Relations Program Facebook page: GVSU Advertising and Public Relations Major Program Designer: Sawyer Johnson, 2018 LinkedIn group: GVSU Advertising and Photographer: Vanessa Lansdale, 2019 Public Relations Major Program 2 ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS BY THE NUMBERS 479 714 majors students 235 minors 289 ad emphasis 235 211 PR empasis internships in the 2017-18 school year community businesses and Faculty 5 organizations served as tenure track clients in various courses 3 afliate 11 part-time adjunct 3 FACULTY PROFESSOR BLOSSOM RETIRES AFTER 10 YEARS After a decade of teaching in the came to teach full-time as a visiting Advertising and Public Relations professor and he made the leap to be program, Frank Blossom is retiring at a visiting professor, a form of full-time “Don’t graduate and the end of the 2017-18 academic year. adjunct professor. He said switching to the fast pace of the ad agency world then think about Blossom was frst hired as a visiting to the slower pace of academia was professor in 2008. He became an a challenge. But he never regretted what you wish you afliate professor in 2011. making the switch. would have done.” Before teaching, he worked as a Over time he taught Fundamentals creative director and managing partner of Advertising (CAP 210), Advertising at several ad agencies in Chicago, St. Cases and Management (CAP 310), Louis, Springfeld, Missouri and Grand Copywriting (CAP 315), Media Planning Rapids. His transition to teaching (CAP 413), and Advertising and Public and alumni. He may still be around by came after a few experiences in the Relations Campaigns (CAP 495). In working with Career Services and the classroom. all classes, he said the greatest joy of APR program to ofer career building teaching was seeing students achieve. and interviewing workshops. He “I had done a number of guest lectures already wrote two books on the topic, at diferent schools and enjoyed that,” “My strength as a teacher is helping “Brand You” and “The 7 Scenarios of Blossom recalls. “Also, in the agency I them learn and giving them Highly Successful Ad Students.” was the oldest person in the room and opportunities to succeed in and out of His last word of advice to students is to was teaching co-workers and enjoyed the classroom, such as connections I be as active as possible in college. that. And I had been in advertising have in the community to professionals 25 years by then and wanted a new I know from my own career and my “Get out of your comfort zone and try challenge.” own networking,” he said. things you haven’t before,” he stressed. “Take advantage of all the opportunities He taught as an adjunct for a while at As he looks to retirement, Blossom that are here. Don’t graduate and then Kendall College, Davenport University, said he won’t miss grading, but he think about what you wish you would and GVSU. Eventually the opportunity will miss the interaction with students have done.” Frank Blossom works with a group of students at Grid70, a design hub in downtown Grand Rapids, on 4 an advertising and public relations special project. FACULTY Dr. Tim Penning presents his research on donors’ preferred information to nonproft executives at the GVSU Johnson Center on Philanthropy. PROFESSOR PENNING PUBLISHES RESEARCH ON NONPROFIT DONORS, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION TEAMS Professor Penning returned from a fall He found that donors seek certain His other completed research project 2017 sabbatical with lots of completed types of information, such as the this past year is an article in PR Journal. research. In addition to his sabbatical mission of the organization, it’s The article, “High-Performing Corporate project, a chapter for a book he’s impact, and how it’s money is spent; Communications Teams: Views from working on about the public relations qualities of information, such as a the Top CCOs,” was a collaboration of American presidents, he had personalized appeal, a focus on specifc with Mark Bain, owner of upper90 completed editing and publication of a opportunities, and a results-oriented Consulting. The two interviewed top book chapter and a journal article. tone; and sources of information, such Chief Communication Ofcers and as an organizations communication then surveyed a larger number of The book chapter is titled “Nonproft tactics, other donors, or direct dialogue them to determine what really drove Financial Communication: Donors’ with organizational staf. high-performance and inhibited it for Preferred Information Types, Qualities corporate communication teams. and Sources.” The chapter is included In addition to publishing the book in the recently published Handbook chapter, he presented his research More information about both studies of Financial Communications and to 60 nonproft professionals at an can be found on Penning’s GRPR blog. Investor Relations. event sponsored by the GVSU Johnson Center on Philanthropy. 5 FACULTY PROFESSORS THANK YOU, 2017-18 ADJUNCTS SPRING, WALLACE We thank the following advertising and public relations professionals who taught as adjunct professors during the 2017-18 academic year. PARTICIPATE IN They are listed here alphabetically with their full-time jobs, and the TEACHING WEBINAR courses they taught. Dino Baskovic: Digital Strategy Chris Penney: Freelance, dogbyte Professors Robin Spring and Adrienne Consultant (Technology in Films, (Technology in Advertising Wallace participated in a webinar that Advertising and Public Relations; and Public Relations) ofered unique teaching practices. Fundamentals of Public Relations) Tim Putman: That’s Cleverly Done The Association of Educators in Clayton Boothe: Owner, Boothe (Advertising Copywriting) Journalism and Mass Communication Creative Services, Inc. (Advertising (AEJMC) Public Relations Division held Basics, Advertising Copywriting) Adam Russo: Owner, COM 616, its frst virtual conference presentation Immediate Past President of West via the webinar “The Killer Crossover: Michael De Meyer: Strategic Brand Michigan PRSA (BS Advertising and Student projects that transcend Development Consultant (Public PR from GVSU) (Fundamentals of courses or semesters, resulting in work Relation Management and Case Public Relations) that makes an impact.” Studies, Advertising and Public Relations Campaigns) Benjamin Risinger: New Media and Panelists shared teaching ideas Community Relations Specialist, and projects that encourage deep Beth Dornan: Manager—PR, Social, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation learning and provide strong portfolio and Content, Amway North America Hospital (Technology in Advertising opportunities, while providing (Fundamentals of Public Relations) and Public Relations) meaningful experience as students prepare for their careers. Chad Fopma: Freelance (BS, MS Kelly Rossman-McKinney: Partner, GVSU School of Communications) Truscott-Rossman Public Relations The teaching panel was moderated (Research Basics for Advertising and (Public Relations Cases and by Jay Adams from Virginia Public Relations, Fundamentals of Management) Commonwealth University, and in Public Relations) addition to Spring and Wallace its Jonathan Snedeker: Business panelists included Marcel Jennings, Jill Hinton Wolfe: Co-Founder, GO Development Coordinator, Virginia Commonwealth University; Scavenger Hunts (BS GVSU School WGVU (MS GVSU School of Shana Meganck, James Madison of Communications) (Advertising Communication), (Media Planning) University; and Hal Vincent, Elon Management and Cases, Media University. Relations Writing, PR Cases and Lyman Steiner: Independent PR Management) Consultant (Public Relations Basics) Wallace presented a segment titled: Helping Students Get 3-5 Years In, Stephan Hokanson: Senior Tim Swore: President, Sold Out Before They Get Out Copywiter, Mindscape (Advertising Michigan and Head Football Coach, Basics, Advertising Copywriting) NorthPointe Christian (Sports Spring presented a segment titled: The Promotion) Perpetual Handbook. Angela Peavey: Marketing Director, Wynalda Packaging, (MS GVSU School of Communication) (Technology in Advertising and Public Relations) Professors Robin Spring and Adrienne Wallace were on a national webinar panel about