PSU Communication Dept E-News

Department moves kit and caboodle

After more than two decades in Neuberger Hall the Department of Communication moved in Fall to new offices on the fourth floor of the University Center Building (UCB). The new location holds space for faculty and staff offices and has a seminar-lecture room. One added bonus: windows bring sunshine to the new quarters. The new location also promises laboratory space for quantitative and qualitative research. For example, one faculty member sees the space as ideal for focus group studies. Another faculty member hopes to use the lab to see how individuals use social media to make decisions about voting for elected officials.

Fund drive raises money for scholarships, lab

This year’s annual fundraising campaign will raise money for student scholarships and equipment for the department’s new communication laboratory. Communication alumni and friends can go directly to the website and pledge their support today. All donations are tax-deductible. News about scholarship award winners are detailed below.

New faculty join department

Three new communication faculty join the department this Fall: Lauren Frank, Lee Shaker Anne Stone. Frank and Stone bring expertise in health communication, helping create a cadre of scholars working on issues to increase awareness and better health among publics. Shaker’s experience in public opinion and news adds to the department’s commitment to mass media teaching and research.

Priya Kapoor was named the department's Outstanding Professor in 2011 and took the reins as Interim Department Chair in Fall.

Kapoor received teaching award and takes helm

Priya Kapoor takes the helm as Interim Chair this Fall while Cynthia Coleman is on a research leave. Prof. Kapoor was named Outstanding Professor and received the John Eliot Allen award in 2011, according to Dick Knight, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Humanities. Prof. Kapoor teaches courses in intercultural communication and research methods.

Faculty news

In faculty news, David Ritchie is working on his third book on metaphor. Kenny Bagley, J David Kennamer and Gisele Tierney return as full-time teaching faculty while Char Schell continues to work on her research. Jil Freeman and Darlene Geiger have left the department for new pursuits, while Gerald Sussman is now splitting his appointment between the College of Urban & Public Affairs and the International Studies program. Susan Poulsen has been promoted to professor emeritus and has officially retired from teaching duties at Portland State. Prof. Poulsen continues to work as a volunteer for Stroke Camp Northwest, which received the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Partnership Award in 2009. Poulsen was honored for her teaching and service by alumni, students, staff and faculty at a dinner in the spring, where alumni raised funds for student travel.

Irma Ramirez and Tyanna Smith worked with PSU faculty this summer on research while Molly Major (in glasses) and Jenny Keene (in stripes) earned student honors for their outstanding contributions to the department.

Melissa Shavlik (left) and Whitney Jacobson were awarded scholarships for their research and potential.

Student scholarship news

Several students have received scholarships for their outstanding work, including a prestigious University Club award of $5000 for graduate student Melissa Shavlik. Shavlik’s graduate research focuses on science communication in online media.

The Asian American Journalists Association awarded graduate student Stacy Austin a $1750 Stanford Chen memorial grant.

Undergraduate student Shane Stafford earned two scholarships, including the $250 Barbara Exner Vogesang-Susan Poulsen award, created by Professor Emeritus Robert Vogelsang. Stafford also received a $500 award from department alumni, who also awarded Whitney Jacobson a $500 prize. Karen Giezyng received the generous $1,000 award from the Northwest Automotive Press Association in recognition of her outstanding writing. 

The faculty also honored several students for their contributions to the department. Stephen Flinn, who started law school in Fall, received the Outstanding Graduate Research Award, and Molly Major was recognized for Outstanding Graduate Academic Achievement and Leadership.

Undergraduate student Jenny Keene received the Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Achievement and Leadership prize and Meagan Johnson earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award. Graduate students Tyler Brain, Christopher Cardiel, Ilona Malenkovich and Andi Prewitt each received Research Support Awards.

Stephen Flinn, who received the Outstanding Graduate Research Award sits with David Patte (in checked shirt) of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Partnership with US Fish & Wildlife

The Communication Department is partnering with the US Fish & Wildlife Service by offering paid assistantships to three graduate students.

Students produce written and visual materials, create media presentations and help Fish & Wildlife with online media, said Leslie Rill, who oversees the partnership.

Graduate students Amanda Fortin, Ryan Hofer and Meghan Kearney landed the coveted assistantships for 2011-12. 

Currently the department offers 15 paid assistantships to graduate students including the three from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, nine from the department, and three from grants received by Jeffrey Robinson.

Communication faculty partner with new students

Incoming students had a chance to work one-on-one with faculty from several disciplines on campus over the summer, thanks to a program called Bridges to Baccalaureate. Funded through the US National Institutes of Health, the program recruits students from under-represented groups at Portland Community College, who are entering PSU, and created partnerships with the students and research faculty. Students worked with three communication faculty who volunteered their time: Tia Gomez Zeller was paired with Jeffrey Robinson on his work with breast cancer patients while Nneka Hall worked with Leslie Rill on social media. Tyanna Smith partnered with Cynthia-Lou Coleman and studied the salmon and sea lion conflict at the Columbia River.

Andi Prewitt is pictured presenting her research at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in St. Louis in August.

Grad students present findings

Andi Prewitt, who is studying the infusion of ads in televised news for her master’s thesis, presented her findings at a national conference in St. Louis in August. Andi, who has presented several conference papers during her tenure in the Communication Department, teaches public speaking in addition to writing news for a Portland-based TV station. Graduate students Chris Cardiel and Ilona Malenkovich co-wrote a paper they presented at the annual conference of the Northwest Communication Association.

Communication alumni council created

Former graduates have banded together to form an alumni council based in Portland to promote alumni activities, according to Tom Stevenson, who heads the group. The council hosted a retirement dinner for Susan Poulsen in the spring and raised more than $2000 toward a student travel fund. Other members include: Jeanine Koszalka, Mami Kikuchi, Judge Kemp, Celeste Moser, Michael Pacchione and Yetta Vorobik. Faculty liaison is J. David Kennamer.