MATTERS

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1

Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte Ezine

COMMUNICATIONSPRING 2011

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CHAIR

EDITOR

STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTOGRAPHER

DESIGNERS

Shawn Long

Cheryl Spainhour

Sayde Brais, Lauren Dunn and Bianca Jones

Emily Luther

Drew Humphries and Irina Bakalenko

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1

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elcome to the Department of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. We are pleased to share with you the exciting opportunities and activities occurring within our department in our inaugural Communication Matters electronic magazine.

UNC Charlotte enrolls more than 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students and is situated on nearly 1,000 acres of land in the picturesque northern part of Charlotte, NC. As the second largest major on campus, the Department of Communication Studies serves approximately 1,400 Majors, pre-majors, minors and journalism minors, as well as 30 MA and 25 Ph.D. graduate students.

With more than 24 full-time faculty, two staff members, a department advisor and 20 part-time instructors, the award winning department of Communication Studies offers a robust undergraduate program with five tracks areas and two minors, an exciting graduate program and participates as a core department in two Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Programs in Organizational Science and Health Psychology.

The department is one of the most dynamic, energetic and responsive departments of Communication Studies in the region. As a research active department in the region’s largest public research institution, the Department of Communication Studies has recently been identified as a “Top Ten” department for research in one or more areas of communication research focus in the United States and Canada by the CIOS Com Vista/ComAnalytics ranking system. This is a significant honor for our department and speaks directly to the impact of our research throughout the globe.

The Department of Communication Studies faculty research and teaching interests span six primary areas of communication studies: health communication, media studies, organizational communication, public relations, rhetoric and journalism.

We have gained a national and international reputation for effectively preparing students to transition into an excellent career immediately after graduation, as well as placing our students in top graduate programs across the country. Our graduate students are well placed in leading Ph.D., professional programs and executive/management level positions nationally. Our award-winning faculty are fully engaged in important, timely and innovative teaching, scholarship and service activities and our students are often invited to participate in a number of projects outside of the classroom to support our faculty.

I would like to give special thanks to Ms. Cheryl Spainhour, Editor-in-Chief of this inaugural (and future) issue. She did an outstanding job of articulating the work of our department throughout this publication.

On behalf of the faculty, staff and students in the Department of Communication Studies, we welcome you to our community. Please enjoy the rest of the magazine and please contact me for additional questions. “Communication Matters” in the Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte and we encourage you to check us out.

Enjoy,

Shawn D. Long, Department Chair

communicationsNOTES FROM THE CHAIRDr. Shawn Long

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NC Charlotte’s Communication Studies Department was the most decorated department at this year’s SSCA held March 23-27, in Little Rock, Ark.

Dr. Dan Grano received The Rose B. Johnson Southern Communication Journal Article of the Year Award. Dr. Shawn Long received the 2011 Southern States Communication Outreach Award. Dr. Jillian Tullis received “Top Paper” in the Language and Social Interaction Division. Dr. Ashli Stokes received “Top Paper” in the Public Relations Division.

Dr. Cris Davis and Dr. Tullis were two of the facilitators of an ethnographic field trip who took students to Heifer International that was transformed into a performance study entitled “You Will Always Have the Poor Among Us: An Ethnographic Field Trip of World Hunger”. Dr. Davis, a participant in “Traditions, Trends, and Technology in Experiential Learning: A Roundtable Discussion”, presented a paper entitled “Motherline Stories: Cooking as Sensory Ethnography”. Dr. Tullis presented a paper entitled “Cancer Patients and Families: Ethical and Practical Considerations”.

The Department’s rhetoric faculty showed up in intellectual force. Dr. Grano was part of a panel on applying Burke to the undergraduate classroom with his presentation entitled “At Least It’s an Ethos, Dude”: Forging a Dramatistic Ethics?” as well as chairing one session and serving as a respondent in another. Dr. Richard Leeman also chaired one session and served as a respondent in another. Dr. Stokes presented her paper entitled “Walruses do not Live in the Gulf: BP and the Importance of Effective Issues Management”.

MA students, Brian Richards and Regina Young presented on a panel entitled “Re-Languaging Communication of Mental Illness”.

DEPARTMENT ROCKS AT SOUTHERN STATES COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION IN ARKANSAS

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newsCOMMUNICATION STUDIES DEPARTMENT SSCA Highlights and Accolades

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http://communications.uncc.edu/Honors-Program/honors-pro-gram.html

DEPARTMENT AND FACULTY ACCOLADES

The Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte was recently named a TOP TEN Department for scholarly productivity in the United States and Canada by the CIOS Ranking Analytics System. This is out of nearly 700 communication programs in North America.

The Charlotte PRSA chapter has committed donating $2,000 per year to the UNC Charlotte PRSSA chapter in the Department of Communication Studies.

Melody Dixon Brown was awarded the 2011 Outstanding Faculty by the College of Business Student Fraternity.

Jon Crane, forthcoming article in Studies in Popular Culture. “Outsourced: Crime Stories, New World Horrors, and Genre.”

Min Jiang was awarded a IEEE Travel Award.

Min Jiang and Ashli Stokes were awarded College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Small

Margeret Quinlan and Jillian Tullis were awarded Faculty Research Grants (FRG) to support their research projects.

Cliff Scott received a TIAA-CREF research contract.

Ashli Stokes, 2011 Health Services Research Academy JuniorFaculty Investigator Award.

Henrique Viana was awarded the 2011 Outstanding Faculty by the B.E.S.T. Program.

Richard Leeman was awarded a Reassignment of Duties Leave (RDL) for Fall 2011 to work on his book.

Richard Leeman is Vice Chair and Program Planner for the Rhetoric Division, Southern States Communication Association Shawn D. Long is Chair of the African American Communication and Culture Division of the National Communication Association.

Renee Brokaw co-authored the supplemental Instructors Manual and test bank, Communication in Small Groups: Principles and Practices (10th edition) to Beebee and Masterson’s textbook.

The Charlotte PRSA chapter has committed donating $2,000 per year to the UNC Charlotte PRSSA chapter in the Department of Communication Studies.

6he Department launched a new club this spring -- The Communications Studies Student Association, (C.S.S.A.). Debbie Kilby Baker, Faculty Advisor for the student-run

organization, is enthusiastic about its inception. “Dr. Long came at it with the knowledge and experience that this would be something really good for the department,” she said, “and with that philosophy, we really started to recruit.”

Students gathered for the inaugural C.S.S.A. meeting on Feb. 8 to discuss elections, a constitution and by-laws for the new association. Meeting for the second time on March 1, they held an “up and running” meeting, which included an election to vote on the club’s first executive committee. President Karolina Pogosov, Vice President Deborah Tillman, Secretary Jamie Brown, Treasurer and Membership Chair Jacquelyn Brooks, and Programs Chair Lauren Dunn were elected. The club was officially approved by the SGA this spring. Members showcased the club during Communication Celebration week in April.

Once established, the C.S.S.A. members hope to cater to all five Communications Studies tracks as well as journalism minor students through panel discussions, speakers and various events.

“My specific goal for the organization is to create an inclusive environment that encourages students to develop their communications skills in a non-graded setting,” Baker said.

club newsCOMMUNICATION STUDIES CLUBSCSSA, Health, Honors and PRSSA

C.S.S.A-JOIN THE CLUB!

HEALTH COMMUNICATION CLUB SHINES

CSSA Executive Committee members (left to right) are: Lauren Dunn, Programs Chair; Jamie Brown, Secretary; Debbie Kilby Baker, Faculty Advisor; Deborah Tillman, Vice-President; and Karolina Pogosov, President

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T he Health Communication Club at UNC Charlotte has gained a reputation for one of the most successful

student organizations on campus. This past year, they have been active in bringing numerous events to campus including the popular Dancing Wheels Company, a dance professional company for dancers with and without disabilities, and “The Art of the Possible”, a documentary following the lives of five families dealing with cancer.

Dr. Margaret Quinlan oversees the club’s students as their advisor and is pleased with their accomplishments. “I think they’re great,” said Dr. Quinlan. “They’re very pro-active about stuff. It’s definitely from the ground up that they’ve build it.”

With President Carrie Vass, Vice President Melissa Jackson, Secretary Megan Brandenburg, and Treasurer Meghan McCloskey serving as the student leaders, the group organizes club meetings that include ice cream socials and guest speakers. Patricia Bossert, an advocate with the American Cancer Society who works with legislators to get cancer-related legislation passed and Becky Bahn, Community Education & Outreach Coordinator of Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, have both been featured speakers. Vass and Jackson agree that one of the most important aspects of the club is their connection to the campus. Club members attended the MLK candlelight ceremony. This spring, they also organized a team for Relay for Life and hosted the Community

Center of the Carolina’s Blood Drive and the Health Care Decisions Day. Vass said they enjoy giving back to the University community. Dr. Quinlan says she sees great things for the club in the coming years in terms of growth and recognition. Jackson shares her vision. “This club has all the potential in the world to become a truly great and influential piece in the University’s health communication major,” she said. “I feel honored to be a part of it.”

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his spring, the new Undergraduate Honors Program in Communication Studies accepted its first batch of students. The new program is headed up by Honors Program

Coordinator Dr. Ashli Stokes. Students will begin their Honors Program work in the summer or fall semester. Dr. Stokes volunteered for the position and says she’s enthusiastic about the prospect of assisting these highly motivated undergraduate students. “The Honors program will allow students to explore a topic that interests them in great detail and to get experience applying and extending many of the concepts they learn in our classes,” said Dr. Stokes. “I want the program to nurture the academic potential of our students and to help them prepare for graduate school, research jobs, and the like.”The students accepted to the Honors Program will be given the opportunity to choose an Honors Advisor and Committee, allowing them to foster lasting relationships with their professors.

NEW HONORS PROGRAM FOR COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES STUDENTS STARTS IN 2011-2012

“The program provides us with another way to engage students and the opportunity to work more closely with some great minds,” said Dr. Stokes. Information about the new Honors Program can be found on the website:

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For more information CLICK HERE

he Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) celebrates its 12th year as a nationally accredited communication studies organization. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the professional “parent” to PRSSA, recently presented PRSSA with a check for $2,000. The money reinforced PRSA’s goal to mentor PRSSA members, to foster professional

development, and to support the PRSSA chapter’s community service and professional activities. Here are some of the events sponsored by PRSSA:

The PRSSA executive board 2011 includes:

President- Jennifer HambricVice President- Stephanie TellingSecretary- Emily HarloePublic Relations Director- Isabelle PowellTreasurer- Ashley BolandHistorian- Stephanie YaconoAdvisor- Dr. Alan FreitagAdvisor- Ms. Melody Dixon-Brown

If you’re interested in joining PRSSA, contact Jennifer Hambric at jhambric@uncc.edu.

The link to the PRSSA Club on the Department’s

• Professionally Speaking, a panel discussion that featured prominent public relations professionals: Michael Thompson, director of corporate communications for the Charlotte Bobcats; UNC Charlotte alumna Bridgette Wright, creator of Charlotte Style Magazine; Scott Galloway, communications specialist and filmmaker• Charlotte Bobcats Fundraiser

• Professional Networking Event• Art With Heart – community service/volunteer event• PRSSA Guest Speaker Series – most recent guest speaker was Stephen Youngblade, director of marketing and PR for The National Whitewater Center

PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PRSSA) CHAPTER NEWS

CLICK HERE

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NC Charlotte’s Forensics team continued to have a great year of competition in 2010-2011. Led by director of forensics Tim Horne, the team received a combined 22 awards from Liberty, Marshall and Ohio State University. Returning team members Matt Coffey,

Tim Gheen, Matthew Holland and Tori Karlek were joined by new members Monica Aldridge, Mercedes Barnett, and Susan Behrooz. Despite a cancellation of their opening tournament in January due to inclement weather, the team finished with a flourish at Ohio State with every current member of the team receiving an award for their hard work during the year.

The Forensics team brought home the following awards for the 2010-2011 academic year:

Photo by Tim HorneLiberty Forensics: Matt Coffey, Tim Gheen, Matthew Holland, Susan Behrooz, Mercedes Barnett, Tori Karlek, Charity Hollar

FORENSICS TEAM FARES WELL IN COMPETITION

Liberty University SNAFU Tournament Ohio State University

Matthew Holland• 2nd place Editorial Impromptu• 4th place Duo Interpretation• 6th place Duo Interpretation

Matt Coffey • 5th place Duo Interpretation• 6th place Informative

Victoria Karlek • 5th place After Dinner speaing, • 5th place overall IE sweestakes

Tim Gheen• 5th place Duo Interpretation

Victoria Karlek• Top overall novice Prose• 4th place Novice Impromptu

Matt Coffey• 6th place Informative, Marshall University

Matthew Holland• 5th place Program Oral Interpretation

Charity Hollar• Overall top novice Rhetorical Criticism

Mercedes Barnett• 3rd place Impromptu

Susan Behrooz• 3rd place Persuasion• 3rd place Duo

Matt Coffey• 2nd place Persuasion

Tim Gheen• 2nd place Impromptu• 5th place Informative• 6th place Dramatic Interpretation Tori Karlek• 1st place After Dinner Speaking• 3rd place Duo.

newsSTUDENT AWARDS AND HONORS Lewis’ visit was sponsored by the Journalism minor and theForensics, Lambda Pi Eta and Scholarships

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LAMBDA PI ETA COMMUNICATION HONOR SOCIETY (UNC CHARLOTTE NU LAMBDA CHAPTER SPRING 2011 INDUCTEES)

THE 2011 COMMUNICATIONS STUDIESDEPARTMENT’S SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ARE:

Joe S. Epley Scholarship

Rebecca and Walter Roberts Scholarship

Brycie Baber Forensics Scholarship

Tetsuro Otsuka

Jennifer Griffins and Regina Davis

Victoria Karlek

Kathleen Attenhofer

Angelica Foushee

Tianna Harrison

Courtney James

Katherine Mayer

Jennifer O’Leary

Alisha Rashidi

Mary Robalino

Emily Robinson

Jaclyn D’Andrea

Katelin Longbrake

Sophia Kazakos

Casey Moore

Carrie Vass

For more information about the Department’s scholarships CLICK HERE

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GRADUATE SCHOOL POLISHES CAREER

alumniEYE ON ALUMNI

Nora Carr

After Graduation

A s Chief of Staff for Guilford County Schools, North Carolina’s third largest school district, Nora Carr successfully shuffles several different roles on a daily basis. Whether she’s solving

day-to-day problems, fine-tuning the system’s budget or giving speeches to the education committee, Carr enjoys every moment of her job —a job she landed after earning her master’s degree in Communication from UNC Charlotte in May of 2008.

Attending graduate school to improve at her full-time job as Chief Communications Officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools, Carr approached her graduate-level schooling with the desire to learn more about the study of communication and the field of public relations.

“When I was young, I didn’t have a specific job in mind,” Carr said. “I knew I loved learning, I loved communication, I loved the interaction and the human psychology of it all. In going back to school, I knew I wanted to grow professionally … I had not anticipated chief of staff, that wasn’t really on my radar!”

With more than 25 years of professional experience in public relations, crisis communications, issues management and strategic planning, her passion for communication is evident.“My first love was writing, and I think that’s a great background for anyone in communications because it helps you to be a good thinker,” she said. “A lot of what you do is analyze sources to boil down to what the key issues are and be able to make decisions.

“I really enjoyed the [Communication] program,” she added. “It was great. I loved research and theory -- they’re very practical and I find that I use them on the job every day. It was a nice mix, to have professional experience and go back to school.”

Shortly after graduating from UNC Charlotte, Carr took the job in Guilford County. The district has 71,000 students, 10,000 employees and 128 schools. There are 140 different countries and cultures represented in the schools across 650 square miles of urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods. Helping launch the “Parent Academy” earlier this year, Carr has now turned her attention to budget cuts and strategizing how to minimize its impact on teaching and learning.

Carr believes that graduate school helped her strengthen her strategic skills and allowed her to see aspects of communication she hadn’t seen before. She recently enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro because she wants to keep learning all she can about communication. School, she says, is “really what you put into it.”

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NC Charlotte alumni Lance Herrstromer has gained a name for himself as a successful, young entrepreneur since graduating with a Communication Studies degree from UNC Charlotte

in May of 2008. Herrstromer opened a franchise Hollywood Tans in January 2008 while he was a senior and recalls it as a challenging time. Within two months of opening its doors, his tanning salon was turning a profit, prompting him to break away from the franchise and become an independent owner. “I felt I had a good enough reputation in the area that I did not need Hollywood Tans name any longer,” he said. “I was not a big fan of sharing my money with them either.” In June 2010, Herrstromer opened SOL Tanning.

He credits his success to the analytical skills he developed while at UNC Charlotte and gives this light-hearted advice to students: “Stay in college at least five years … being a broke college student has never been as appealing as it is now with my hectic schedule.” He tries to give back to the campus he loves by offering students a discount at his business. He plans to one day expand his business to include a personal training gym. “It will be like no other place,” Herrstromer dreams. “I want to open a few more salons in the Charlotte area and dominate the [local] tanning industry.” He eventually hopes to kick back, relax and day trade the money he’s earned over the years.

ALUM FINDS SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

ULance Herrstromer

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Sandy Hanson’s career as a 49er has spanned over two decades. Hired as a part-time employee in 1983, she became a full-time lecturer in July, 2000. In 2010, she was promoted to Senior Lecturer. “I am proud to have been deemed deserving of this position here at UNC Charlotte,” Hanson said. “I have delivered many years of dedicated service to the University and am pleased the University chooses to recognize my loyalty and efforts.” She continues to teach vigorous undergraduate courses in Organizational, Small Group, Interpersonal, and Health Communication, along with Public Speaking.

Melody Dixon-Brown has reached the title of Senior Lecturer after teaching at UNC Charlotte for over a decade. She teaches Business Communication and Event Planning. She says the title doesn’t change much as she plans to continue teaching and reaching for more achievements. “I really love what I do,” said Dixon-Brown. “Teaching, mentoring, and advising students are very fulfilling to me. Although I am a Senior Lecturer and have taught at UNC Charlotte for more than 10 years, I still feel that I have room to grow and develop in terms of applying new technology and new teaching methods in my courses. Professional growth and development shouldn’t end with senior status or tenure.”

After a UNC Charlotte career surpassing two decades, Undergraduate Coordinator and Lecturer Carol Leeman has earned a promotion to Senior Lecturer. “I am honored by the promotion and I am grateful that the University provides this kind of opportunity for faculty advancement for Lecturers,” she said. After earning her MA from Wake Forest University, Leeman returned to her first alma mater -- UNC Charlotte -- to make her mark in the Communications Studies Department. She has taught various courses, including Small Group Communication, Persuasion, and Interpersonal Communication, and she has accumulated an extensive list of achievements.

newsLECTURERS AND TENURE-TRACKPromotions, Awards and Book Publishing

B.E.S.T. Teaching Award -- In 2010, Cheryl Spainhour (left) received the B.E.S.T. Teaching Award (Building Educational Strengths and Talents) for excellence in teaching and assisting undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte. She was nominated by Communication Studies senior Kia Moore. “Teaching bright, motivated students like Kia is the real honor for me,” Spainhour says. “Students like her keep me engaged and challenge me to become a better teacher. I’m also inspired by the exceptional teachers in our Department.”

B.E.S.T.TEACHER AWARD

Sandy Hanson Carol Leeman

Melody Dixon-Brown

MOVING UP...

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www.dancingwheels.org

You can visit www.dancingwheels.org

Dr. Shawn Long added another title to his catalog of work in August 2010 with the publishing of his book, “Communication, Relationships and Practices in Virtual Work.” (IGI Global) “It was inspired by the socio-humanistic intersections between organizations, technology and humans that have typically been underserved in the research literature,” said Dr. Long. “Organizations are rapidly shifting the way that individuals conceptualize, participate, and engage in work. A significant change is how organizations are coordinating, arranging, and organizing the activities of their employees for the accomplishments of organizational goals.” The book, he says, “examines the nuanced communication, relational, and practical dynamics that characterize virtual work in contemporary organizations. I hope that this book adds a distinct perspective to the various conversations about organizations and their rapid expansion in the virtual work terrain.”

Dr. Christine Davis’s book, “Death: The Beginning of a Relationship,” was inspired by the death of her father 15 years ago. “His illness profoundly changed our relationship, my relationship with my other family members, and my relationship with myself,” she said. “At the time, I longed for a book that would help me understand what I was going through, and not finding one, I vowed to write one someday.” Hampton Press published her book in 2010. She says the book explores the process of communicating with the dying -- and their families -- and the ways that this communication potentially reinforces the humanity, life and sanctity of relationships.

BOOKS PUBLISHED

Dr. Daniel GranoAs a tribute to his years of dedication in teaching and research at UNC Charlotte, Dr. Daniel Grano has been appointed to an official tenured position. Dr. Grano’s strong record of academic publications, articles and research have made him a valuable member of the UNC Charlotte faculty since 2004. “It’s a great honor and a credit to the support I’ve received from my colleagues in our department, my mentors, and the University,” he said. “I am looking forward to growing into my new role as an Associate Professor at UNC Charlotte.” Dr. Grano will continue to teach graduate and undergraduate courses in Rhetorical Theory, Communication Ethics and Cultural Studies.

TENURE-TRACK PROMOTIONS

Dr. Christine DavisCongratulations are in order for Dr. Christine Davis, the Graduate Coordinator and Associate Professor, who has attained tenure. “It’s a bit of a relief to have reached tenure, because I really like it here at UNC Charlotte,” she said, adding that she hopes to stay at the University for a long time. “It’s also a positive confirmation of the contribution I’ve made and will continue to make to the Department, University, and community, and that is something I appreciate.” In addition to her teaching duties, Dr. Davis has had two published books and has worked on numerous projects focusing on health communication.

By Shawn Long

By Christine Davis

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rofessor Sandy Hanson has developed a different, yet particularly effective, teaching method she uses in her COMM 2105 Small Group Communications class.

She gives her students the choice of community service or creating their own product as a non-graded group project. During their group projects, Hanson asks them to observe their communication patterns and relate them back to their coursework. “They’re told at the beginning of the semester that they have to be a participant analyst, so they’re participating in their groups, but they’re constantly also analyzing, based on stuff they learn in class,” she said. “I am all about application of communication concepts. That is the way I teach all of my classes: If you do it and you experience it you’re more likely to remember it.”

Hanson says one of her favorites was a group that wanted to change the type of holiday music played during the Christmas season at the Belk tower. The students learned

about some of the ways of communicating in hierarchy and through different cultures. Another notable community service project was a group that collected goodies to put into over 150 backpacks that were shipped to American soldiers in Afghanistan. This semester, a group is planning to host a social where each person invited will be asked to bring their own canned drink. The pop tops will be collected at the door and donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Hanson says she likes to do this because it’s beneficial to the students in the long run. “I try to replicate that on the job experience as much as I can in class work with students,” said Hanson. She challenges them to “come up with something they can sink their teeth into,” complemented by homework assignments that encourage them to study themselves and their groups, “giving them an opportunity for personal growth.”

SERVICE: PROFESSOR MIXES COURSES WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE

newsCOMMUNITY OUTREACHService, Special Programs and Grants

T he Dancing Wheels Company visited UNC Charlotte on Nov. 8, 2010. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it is the first professional integrated dance company for dancers with

and without disabilities. They performed a mixed repertory of highly entertaining and inspiring works. The Company also held a discussion with audience members. Over 300 people attended the performance, which was held in the Cone University Center.

Dr. Margaret M. Quinlan was awarded a Chancellor’s Diversity Grant to bring the Company to campus. The event was co-sponsored by the Communication Studies Department, Center for Professional and Applied Ethics, Disability Student Services, Health Communication Club, and the Interdisciplinary Health Psychology Ph.D.Program. Photo taken by Kaitlyn Tokay

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DANCE COMPANY DAZZLESUNC CHARLOTTE AUDIENCE

CLICK HERETo learn more about the Company

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ast year, the North Carolina Urban Water Consortium sought out faculty from the Communication Studies Department for assistance in creating a communication

“roadmap.” Water utilities companies needed help explaining the appropriate disposal of fats, oils and greases to multi-family housing and Latino populations. So, Dr. Cliff Scott, along with Dr. Maria Oliveira and Dr. Alan Freitag, took on the task with the help of approximately 20 UNC Charlotte graduate and undergraduate students. The grant totaled almost $100,000.

The Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) project stemmed from specific problems, like sewage overflows, occurring from fats, oils, and grease being poured down kitchen drains. This improper disposal of these products leads to financial, environmental and safety problems for water utility companies and the communities they serve.

“The major water utilities in North Carolina are spending a lot of money fixing sanitary sewer systems because of these grease clogs,” explained Scott. “It’s an environmental hazard and a human hazard. It’s bad for the fishes in the streams and it’s bad for us.”

As the Principle Investigator on the project, Dr. Scott interacted with participants for the data collection and was primarily responsible for correct analysis of results of focus groups and surveys. Dr. Oliveira, Director of Human Research and Data Collection on the project, was primarily in charge of gathering data from Latino participants. Dr. Freitag’s primary role was to develop the strategic communication plan.

Over the course of several months, the team collected data from three major cities in North Carolina through focus groups and surveys. Their findings quickly determined several reasons for the improper disposal of fats, oils and grease: confusion over the proper way to dispose of fats, oil, and grease and a lack of basic knowledge of the proper disposal methods. “People were very, very aware of the environmental consequences, but not the right way to dispose [of grease],” said Oliveira.

After approximately a year, the project is nearing its end. The team has high hopes the Water Utilities Consortium will take their “advice” into consideration to move forward with a communication campaign aimed at informing the proper ways to dispose of fats, oils and grease.

FOG GRANT PROJECT HELPS IDENTIFY COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS

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THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL PUBLIC RELATIONS

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CLICK HERE

newsDEPARTMENT PROGRAMSOutreach and Abroad Initiatives

bout 200 students attended an April 6th program to discuss the importance of talking with family, friends and loved ones

about health care choices in the event of a crises. Three sessions provided information about the young women who influenced the end-of-life movement and tips for how to begin conversations about personal wishes. Students were encouraged to bring their cell phones or laptop computers. Dr. Jillian Tullis, one of the program’s organizers, said some students contacted loved ones on the spot. “One student said her mother’s response via text was, ‘I’m ready, willing and able to talk,’” she said. “About one third of the students who attended the event also signed pledges agreeing to at least talk with loved ones about their wishes for end of life care ... some even pledged to go a step or two further and designate a health care agent or complete an advanced directive.” The program was presented by the Mecklenburg End of Life Care Coalition with support from the Department’s Health Communication Club, The Centerfor Professional and Applied Ethics, and the Health Connections Learning Community.

TALK/TEXT/TWEETHEALTH CARE PROGRAM

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he Center for Global Public Relations has made strides towards increasing its visibility and solidifying its place in the world of public relations. To further its mission of

enhancing global public relations through research and educational opportunities, the Center implemented several new programs. In the summer of 2010, CGPR Executive Director Dr. Dean Kruckeberg led a group of 20 students in UNC Charlotte’s four-week International PR seminar in London, U.K. Dr. Kruckeberg also was a guest speaker in the program, “Global Strategic Thinking—Managing Public Relations in a 21st Century Global Society” June 22 at Singapore Management University, Singapore. He was the keynote speaker at the First Conference of the Middle East Public Relations Association in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in January. Additionally, Dr. Kruckeberg, together with Dr. Alan Freitag and Dr. Ashli Stokes, presented a program about global public relations at North Carolina State University.

A global public relations blog launched to facilitate dialogue among practitioners and scholars worldwide. Seven additional members joined the Advisory Board, which is a group of senior-level public relations practitioners and scholar/educators throughout the United States who provide the Center with their counsel and guidance. Four more scholars and practitioners have joined with the Center from other institutions worldwide. The Center held its first annual Open House in October 2010 for students and faculty to learn about the Center’s programs and mission. On April 15, the Center held its first global research conference, “Exploring Global Issues and Relationships.”

By Chelsea Wilde

Additional information about the Conference and the Center

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ach year for 10 years, our department has organized a four-week summer seminar in London focused on

international public relations. This course aims to acquaint the student -- whether an undergraduate pre-professional, a graduate student with practical public relations experience, or someone from outside the profession -- with the complexities of public relations practice in an global setting. We begin by laying the theoretical foundation for comparative analysis of public relations practice around the world then examine specific national and regional examples. This unique course takes advantage of the many corporate headquarters, public

relations firms, and other relevant features that make London a center of international public relations excellence. The course aids students in improving international and cross-cultural public relations practice and contributes to success in any profession. This May, the course promises to be another great adventure, says Dr. Alan Freitag. “We’ve arranged another great agenda for the 20 participants,” he said. “We’ll be visiting the U.S. Embassy, The London Times, Ketchum-Pleon Public Relations and the Bank of America’s UK headquarters. We’ll also have guest speakers from IBM’s European headquarters and from major London-based

PR firms. The class is heavily experiential, but there’s plenty of class time and relevant outside assignments as well.” Freitag notes that students in this year’s seminar come from UNC Charlotte, UNC Chapel Hill, Appalachian State, the University of Iowa, Central Michigan University, Southeast Missouri State University, Millersville University (Penn.), the University of Nevada – Reno and Virginia Commonwealth University. He says the course requires year-round planning, and the four weeks seem to fly by, but students consistently find the seminar “the experience of a lifetime.”

LONDON BECKONS EVERY SPRING FOR PR STUDENTS

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Additional information about the Conference and the Center

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ssistant Professor Jaehee Cho will begin teaching communication-related courses for our Department in the fall semester of 2011. Currently a doctoral

candidate in the Department of Communication Studies at University of Texas at Austin, Cho’s research and teaching focuses on topics of organizational communication. His dissertation focuses on development of a more advanced model of information-seeking behaviors that considers the contemporary social context of globalization and informationalization. Cho will graduate from UT-Austin this May. What aspects of the Communication Studies program attracted you to UNC Charlotte?The faculty of the Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte is very diverse in terms of their academic foci, including organizational communication, PR, rhetoric, health communication, and film studies. I appreciate this academic diversity and find it inspiring for my own research and teaching. Furthermore, it is not difficult to find influential research conducted by multiple faculty members in the department. This obviously implies the great enthusiasm the faculty has towards research and the strong environment of collaboration in the department.

What are you looking forward to most as you begin your new position?I am really looking forward to building close and trusting relationships with the wonderful students, staff, and faculty members at UNC Charlotte. I hope these new relationships can serve as a foundation for more productive and effective teaching and research. What are your goals for the next five years?In terms of research, my long-term goals are to produce as much research as possible regarding my main topics of interest—knowledge management, ICTs, information-sharing, and cultural effects—and to provide students with as much knowledge as possible regarding these topics. Active cooperation with other faculty members and students is the key for achieving these goals. By conducting projects with other faculty members and students who have different academic interests and approaches, I hope to progress research that is meaningful for the UNCC community as well as larger society.

JAEHEE CHO JOINS FACULTY

ur program has been well-represented by graduate students at research fairs and

conferences this year. Congratulations to graduate students presenting at the University’s Graduate Research Fair on Feb. 26: Brian Richards, Morgan Smalls, and David Askay. We were also privileged to be represented by Brian Richards and Regina Young, who presented papers at the Southern States Communication Association convention in March, and Morgan Smalls, who volunteered at SSCA.

Our Admissions Committee has just selected potential MA 26 students for admission into our program. We

expect to have 15 enroll in the fall.“Graduate Program Day” on April 13 was part of our department’s “Communication Matters” week.

Our graduate students held a poster session to inform faculty, students and visitors about their research projects. That evening, “Graduate Night Out” was held at the Charlotte Knights baseball game. Folks enjoyed baseball and hotdogs while socializing with past, present, and future graduate students.

Morgan Smalls was competitively selected to spend her fall semester (2011) abroad at Manchester Metropolitan University in Manchester,

England. While there, she will be taking classes, collecting data for her thesis on socialization, and writing a blog for the department.

This Spring, several students graduated from the department: Earning MA degrees will be Frances Walton and Ben Efird who completed comprehensive exams for their capstone option; and David Askay and Kiya Ward, who completed a thesis for their capstone option. Kathy Taylor graduated with a Certificate in Communication studies.

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CLICK HERE

GRADUATE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

newsFACULTY AND GRADUATE PROGRAMNew Faculty, Program Highlights and Study Abroad

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visit http://www.ourstate.com/articles/matthew-lewis.

GRAD STUDENT STUDIES ENGLAND-STYLE

Kiya Ward is in her second year of studies as a Graduate student in the Communication Studies program. She is currently in the process of writing her thesis and plans to graduate in May (2011). Each year, the Communications Studies Graduate Program selects a first-year student to study abroad for a semester. Ward was selected for Fall, 2010. Ward describes her study abroad experiences in England in the following interview.

Q. What part of England did you study in and at what school?A. I studied International Public Relations in the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) in Manchester, England.

Q. What were your first impressions of the school and the area it was in?A. My first impression of MMU was honestly quite frustrating. The campus is so spread out across Manchester and you literally had to take the bus from building to building. To me, it seemed a bit unorganized, but I must admit I learned my way around MMU very quickly. As far as the area, the Business School was so far away from the other parts of the campus; however, it was right beside the train station and only a three-minute walk from the local shopping mall. As such, the area was pretty awesome (did I mention there was the best Starbucks ever -- which reminded me of home -- located right beside my building).

Q. What made you decide to study abroad?A. Nowadays, everyone wants to go into public relations. In this tough economy, I wanted to do something that would set me apart; I wanted something interesting to talk about in job interviews. Also, I didn’t think it made sense for me to study

International Public Relations with little to no international experience.

Q. What is one of your most memorable moments?A. One of my most memorable moments was a speech that I gave in my PR theories course on the rhetoric of Barack Obama. Everyone who knows me knows that I love public speaking and it was amazing to share my passion with the class. By the time my 10-minute speech was over, everyone was standing up, clapping, and screaming “YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!” It was amazing.

Q. How do you feel this experience enhanced or advanced your educational experience?A. My time abroad enhanced my educational experience because it gave me applicable knowledge and understanding of many theories and terms learned in the UNC-Charlotte Communication Studies Grad program. The experience made me more open-minded, and there were many facets of the experience that I constantly related back to my classroom experience at UNC-Charlotte.

Q. What were some highlights of your study abroad experience?A. Working as a PR volunteer for a law center, meeting amazing people from

across the globe, experimenting with new foods, amazing shopping, my first UK train ride, daily rides on the “double deckers” (the two story red buses), learning to cook, being involved in my UK church, and learning more about myself.

Q. What were some lowlights of your study abroad experience?A. The day I left for England, one of my grandmothers passed. It was hard for me to go under such circumstances and created a slight sadness entering England with such on my mind. Also, while abroad there was an intense raid started by students due to the inflation of tuition. The streets and sidewalks were swamped with students and it totally freaked me out. And it got dark at 3:30 p.m. and rained every day and was super cold.

Q. What were some of the major differences in your educational experiences between here and England?A. The England educational experience was much more practical than UNC-Charlotte’s. UNC-Charlotte’s program focuses much more on theory, publishing, and ensuring that students have a breadth of knowledge about the communication discipline.

GRADUATE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

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COMMUNICATION STUDIES WEEK

Student Clubs and Resources

To read more about Matthew Lewis CLICK HERE

he Communication Studies Department’s student clubs and resources were highlighted April 11-12 in the Colvard’s 5th floor hallways. Each of the

Department’s six student organizations decorated a table to publicize their activities and achievements: the award-winning Forensics Team; the Health Communication Club; Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA); the Center for Global Public Relations; the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society; and the newly-sanctioned Communication Studies Student Association (CSSA). The Career Center was also present to educate students on the Department’s

he department’s Communication Studies Celebration week culminated in “The Venetian Carnivale: A Night in Disguise,” on April 14. The Department’s

annual awards banquet was set to a masquerade-style theme complete with eye-catching décor including feather centerpieces and sequined masks for guests. Held in the Student Union, the evening featured live music, dinner and a silent auction. Students and faculty and staff were honored for their achievements.

ulitzer Prize-winning photographer Matthew Lewis came to campus April 14 for an interviewing session and workshop. Lewis was interviewed

before a packed room by Qcitymetro editor Glenn Burkins. Lewis discussed his favorite photographs and his 25-year photojournalism career with the Washington Post. He has photographed three presidencies, the Civil Rights movement, Beatle John Lennon, and Queen Elizabeth. Lewis’s love for photography shone through the session. When asked by a student if there was ever a day that he didn’t like his job, Lewis simply stated “no,” though he added that the job was in fact “hectic”. After the interview a small group of students sat down with Lewis for a more personal session. Students brought in their own photographs and Lewis offered pointers, advice and most importantly, encouragement to the students. “I learn as much from you, as you do me,” he told students after expressing his appreciation for their attendance.

Venetian Carnivale

Matthew Lewis

Lewis’ visit was sponsored by the Journalism minor and theChancellor’s Diversity Grant.

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he “Graduate Student Research Poster Session”, held on April 13, was an opportunity for first and second year

graduate students to showcase their current and future research proposals, book reviews, and completed theses. Thirteen students contributed to the session with a wide range of topics and issues within Communication Studies. From corporate social responsibility to PR ethics to identity and professional brand, the grad students showcased their knowledge of various current and potential issues within the

field of Communication Studies. Kiya Ward, recent recipient of the master’s degree in Communication Studies from UNC Charlotte, completed her thesis focusing on a Delphi study of how the Stockholm accords might impact the universal practices of ethics in Public Relations. First year grad student, Morgan Smalls showcased a book review from her Ethnography class which took a look at a novel written by ethnographic and narrative research trailblazer, Carolyn Ellis. Other first year students, such as Kaitlin Locke and Chelsea Wilde, proposed potential research projects in the areas of Public Relations and Organizational Communication.

NC Charlotte’s Department of Communication Studies hosted Dr. Patrice M. Buzzanell as part of

the inaugural “Communication Matters Lecture Series” during Communication Studies Celebration Week. Held in the Dale Halton Reading Room in the UNCC’s Atkins Library, Buzzanell spoke in front of a standing room only crowd of students, staff, faculty and visitors.

A professor in the Department of Communication at Purdue University where she earned her Ph.D. in organizational communication in 1987, Buzzanell’s research interests focus on feminist organizational communication and the assembly of gendered workplace identities and interactions, specifically as they relate to career routes and results. She has published in several scholarly journals including Human Communication Research, Communication Monographs, Journal of Applied Communication

Research, and other edited books. She has served as chairperson of the Organizational Communication Division of ICA, secretary of the Organizational Communication Division of the National Communication Association, and as President of the Organization for the Study of Communication, Language and Gender.

“I’m fascinated with why we put so much energy in work,” said Buzzanell as she began her lecture entitled “Designing Careers: Intersections of Communication, Engineering, Community and Imagination.” Buzzanell theorized why “Communication Matters” through a detailed explanation of a pilot study she’s been working on. The study focuses on how children make sense of careers with the influence of certain social agents such as family, media, and material circumstances. The

study examines children ages 3-10 from the United States, Belgium, Lebanon and China and their discourse about meanings of work, occupations and careers. Among the findings, Buzzanell noted that at ages 5 and 6, kids are already self-selecting themselves out of careers. Throughout her lecture, Buzzanell stressed the importance of communication and its power to change. “We are at the intersection of communication, engineering, and imagination of what we say, what we don’t say, what we think, and what we dream about” she said. “Communication can be the site for sustainable change.”

Buzzanell also joined students and faculty during The R.W. Leeman Graduate Research Luncheon to share her insight on “The Future of Communication Studies” through an open forum of discussion.

Graduate Student Poster Session

Purdue Professor Shares Research

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FACULTYDebbie Baker has taught undergraduate courses in business communication, small group, interpersonal communication contexts, and public speaking – including Freshman Learning Community sections – since January 2001. She received her education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, in 1993 and 1999, respectively, and has served as a member of the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Board of Governors. Baker managed corporate sales accounts and served as a junior faculty member at UNC Greensboro prior to her current position. As an educator and speaker, she has developed workshops and lectured on strategies in public speaking and teaching effectiveness. “Walk by my classroom and you might hear laughter flowing freely, the ‘Olympics Fanfare’ medley resonating when teams proudly accept their medals or complete silence as students work intently on an exercise,” she says about the experiences students have in her class. “I create diverse learning environments, along with a traditional form of lecturing, to captivate attention, encourage active participation and enhance recall.” Baker has earned certification in corporate training by the American Society of Training and Development. She serves as the faculty advisor for Communication Studies Student Association (CSSA). One of her favorite sayings comes from Abraham Lincoln: “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

Debbie Kilby Baker

Dr. Jon Crane received his bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois, and studied for his doctorate at The Institute of Communications Research, specializing in cultural studies. Currently he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in communication theory, mass media and film studies. “Teaching is an activity akin to chatting with a friend over coffee, swapping lies with mates at a bar and revisiting family legends around the dinner table,” he says. “It is one of the ways we best apprehend our shared world and when it goes well there are few better ways of fashioning common sense.” Crane’s areas of interest include media, film, and popular

Jon Crane

culture, and his research projects deal extensively with film and the role genre plays in the interpretation of cinematic violence. He is an author of Terror and Everyday Life: Singular Moments in the History of the Horror Film (Sage, 1994), and has also written extensively on the complex interplay between individual directors and their chosen generic niche. A devoted Chicago baseball fan, Crane has this to say: “The unfounded rumors that have circulated for decades maintaining that there are two professional baseball franchises in Chicago are patently untrue. There is only one professional baseball team in the Windy City and they play ball on the Southside.”

Christine Davis

Dr. Christine Davis is Associate Professor of Communication Studies, and the Coordinator of Graduate Studies for the department. She received her BA degree in 1979 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; her MA in 1999 from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro; and her Ph.D. in 2005 from the University of South Florida, all in the field of Communication Studies. She teaches courses related to Health Communication and Communication Research Methods, where she has a strong interest in the areas of narrative, ethnography, and auto ethnography. Davis has recently published two books – “Death: The Beginning of a Relationship” (2010) and “Straight Talk about Communication Research Methods” (2010), – co-written with Dr. Heather Gallardo and Dr. Kenneth Lachlan. Her current research includes several projects related to communication in children’s mental health treatment teams; critical analysis of social construction of health, wellness and exercise; oral history of people who are homeless; social construction of women and aging; and communication in families with a spouse with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Davis says that she “strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students, the university, and the community—both locally and nationally. I think that part of my role as instructor is to develop in students a love of learning. I am very intentional about fostering a culture of openness and high expectations.” In her spare time, Davis loves to sail, hike, and jog – she is currently training to run her first half-marathon.

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Melody Dixon-Brown became a full-time Lecturer with the Belk College of Business in 1999 and teaches within the concentration of Organizational Communication. In 2010 she became the faculty advisor to UNC-Charlotte’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She has taught a management course under Business Communication since 1999 and currently teaches an event planning course. Her areas of interest include business communication and writing style and mechanics (English - written and oral communication), interpersonal and group communications, leadership communication styles, event planning, and public speaking. In 2003 she co-authored “Shared Teaching: Models for Business Communications in a Research Environment,” which appeared in Business Communication Quarterly. A self-proclaimed “proud nerd,” Dixon-Brown was salutatorian of her high school class, an achievement that preceded a Bachelor’s dual degree in Marketing and Communications from Syracuse University (1983) and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Delaware (1994). Her teaching philosophy is built on three points: “lead and teach by example, emphasize best practices, and reinforce for students the connection between choices and consequences” for ultimate success in her class.

Melody Dixon-Brown

Associate Professor Dr. Alan Freitag earned his B.S. from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh in 1973, his M.A. from Webster University in 1977, and before completing his Ph.D from Ohio University in 1999, he began teaching here in August 1998. He teaches undergraduate courses within his areas of interest, including Fundamentals of Public Relations, Public Relations Writing, International Public Relations, Research Methods, Event Planning and News Writing. He also teaches graduate courses in Communication Campaign Management, Internationals Public Relations, and Media

Alan Freitag

Relations. He also advises the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). In the classroom, Freitag says, “I have striven to maintain sharp focus on preparing students for entry into the demanding profession of public relations and rapid ascent to its higher levels.” Dr. Freitag has had works published in Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, Journal of Public Relations Research, Journal of Communication Management, Public Relations Quarterly, Newspaper Research Journal, Airman, and Asia-Pacific Defense Forum. He has also earned formal, professional accreditation in public relations practice through the Public Relations Society of America. In the past, Freitag performed in several dozen amateur theatrical productions and appeared in a motion picture, “The Last Days of Patton,” with George C. Scott.

Dan Grano

Dr. Daniel Grano is a graduate and undergraduate professor of Rhetorical Theory, Criticism, Ethics and Cultural Studies. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis in 1995 and his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Rhetoric and Public Address from Louisiana State University in 1997 and 2003, respectively. His research focuses on how power shapes moral judgment, especially in popular cultural contexts like mediated sport, and he has published in various journals, including “Critical Studies in Media Communication”, “Rhetoric & Public Affairs”, “Rhetoric Society Quarterly”, and “The Southern Communication Journal.” His latest article in “The Quarterly Journal of Speech” is on the race and class politics of the New Orleans Superdome reopening. As a teacher he says his philosophy is grounded in a basic assumption from the liberal arts tradition. “Our job is to prepare students for critical and ethical participation in civic life,” Grano says. “For me teaching is exciting because there is always something new to take up with students based on research developments or everyday events, so semester to semester our exchanges are always changing shape.” When not teaching he enjoys being the proud father of his baby boy, Anthony.

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Dr. Loril Gossett is an associate professor in Introduction to Organizational Communication and Control and Motivation in Organizational Settings. She has interests in areas of Organizational Communication, Nonstandard Labor Arrangements and Identification, Participation and Control in Organizational Settings. From the University of Colorado, Boulder she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1993 and her Doctorate degree in 2001. In her research she examines how alternative work relationships, such as out-sourced employees, volunteers, and geographically dispersed workers, impact our understanding of what it means to be or communicate as an organizational member. Gossett says she loves the topics she teaches and showing students how these concepts can impact their daily lives. “I consider teaching to be a highly interactive process. I work to create a classroom environment that encourages students to freely contribute their ideas.0 In order to make the course material come alive, I use case studies, video clips, and discussion questions. I also design research and writing activities that encourage students to apply course concepts to their daily lives.” Outside teaching, Gossett enjoys film and has attended several film festivals, including South by Southwest and Charlotte Film Festival. She is a long-distance runner and has completed three marathons, with plans to participate in more.

Loril Gossett

Sandy Hanson received her Bachelor of Science at Louisiana State University and her Master of Science at Florida State University. She has been a full-time Lecturer since 2000, teaching undergraduate courses in Organizational Communication, Small Group Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Advance Organizational Communication, Public Speaking, and Communication Conflict. In 2010, she was promoted to Senior Lecturer. Hanson has published a chapter in an introductory textbook on conflict and communication. In addition to her teaching duties, she serves as a

Sandy Hanson

guest lecturer with the English Language Training Institute, writes textbook reviews for various publishing companies, and presents papers at professional organizational conferences. “Teaching, well, is challenging!” she says. “I work hard to enliven classroom discussions with humor, student participation, and anecdotes to bring theory to life. Also, I believe in an experiential learning model so I use Problem-Based Learning in my classes. This allows my students the opportunity to refine their analytical skills through participant-observation and reflection.” She manages to make time to teach 9-10 classes of water aerobics a week, with 16 years of teaching experience in the water.

For over a decade, Mary Hicks has worked at UNC Charlotte. She started as a temporary employee with Student Accounts/Cashier Office in 1998. She then moved over part-time to the Communication Studies Department in July 2000 and went full-time in 2007. Hicks says her work load has grown steadily with the rapidly growing department, but laughter gets her through the work day. “The best part of my job is the people I work with,” she says. “We have a great group of faculty and staff, and of course, the best students at UNCC.” Outside of work, she immerses herself in family life: Her husband of 40 years, two grown children, Davey and Amanda, their spouses, Deana and Matt, and two grandchildren, Peyton Mackenzie and Noah Ethan. She says, “My family is indeed my treasure.” The other special woman working in the Communication Studies department is Office Manager Pat Leebrick. Leebrick joined the Department 11 years ago after working as the Campus Event Planner for six years. An avid animal rescuer, Mrs. Leebrick has adopted two cats, Charlie and Lucy, an indoor Beagle, Sadie, seven ducks, an outside dog, Peanut, and she feeds the neighborhood dog, Buddie. “I seem to rescue animals that people have thrown away,” says Leebrick. “It’s a menagerie at our house!” When not tending to her animals, Leebrick and her husband, Chris are proud, former competitive shag dancers that still indulge in the “dance of the South” just for fun.

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Tim Horne has been an instructor with the department since 2006 and serves as the Director of Forensics. The Forensics Team is an initiative to give students at UNC Charlotte the opportunity to continue to develop their argumentation and communication skills by competing with other universities and colleges throughout the country. During his tenure with the team, the forensics program has received well over 100 awards on both the regional and national level. In addition to his work with forensics, Horne also teaches a number of courses for the communications department, including Advanced Public Speaking, Mass Media, Media Ethics, and Argumentation and Debate. He plans to teach Small Group Communication and Persuasion. Horne’s approach to the classroom setting encourages students to take the skills and information learned in his courses and apply them in a macro sense to other courses at UNC Charlotte and beyond. Horne was honored with a B.E.S.T. Outstanding Teaching Excellence award for his work in his courses. Horne completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at UNC Charlotte in Communication Studies. An avid “Simpsons” fan, his office is decorated with various Simpsons collectibles. “It’s just a great show. It’s been on over 20 years now, so in a way I grew up with the show,” he says.

Tim Horne

Assistant professor Dr. Min Jiang has journeyed a long way to teach at UNC Charlotte. She attended Beijing Foreign Studies University, where she received her Bachelor’s in 1999 and her Master’s in 2002. She earned her Ph.D from Purdue University in 2007. Jiang teaches undergraduate courses in Mass Communication, New Media & Technology, International and Intercultural Communication, and Research Methods. She has a wide range of interests focusing on issues in China, including Internet governance and policies, online civic and political participation, new media for social change, global media and international communication (with an emphasis on

Min Jiang

Chinese cultural values and online communities) and online and offline research methods. Her research projects deal in matters in China as well; she has had projects funded to examine the Chinese blogosphere, studied Chinese online collective incidents and models of Internet governance, participated in comparative studies of dominant search engines in China and has done a hyperlocal community capital project with the UNC Charlotte Complex System Institute. Of her teaching philosophy, she says: “Education is about replacing an empty mind with an open one. Be open-minded about everything. Learn as much as possible.” While she was in college, she once worked as an assistant to the movie director of “Kill Bill” and decided “it’s a lot more fun to watch a movie than make one.”

Before Holli Kempton joined the Department as a Student Advisor, she was busy earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communications Studies as a 49er. In addition to her primary duties as a Student Advisor, she teaches Public Speaking, and has taught Language Craft and Public Relations Practicum. “I live for the light bulb moment,” said Kempton, describing her love for teaching, “the moment when a student makes the connection between a concept learned in the classroom and a life-long aspiration. That’s the moment students realize what they are learning through the Communication Studies curriculum translates into tools that can help them achieve personal and professional goals.” Outside of work, Kempton is active in the motorsport world. She received the Concord Speedway Volunteer of the Year Award in 2009 for her work in public relations with the management team of Concord Speedway and travels as much as she can to NASCAR and IRL events with her new husband, a motorsports engineer. Her other accomplishments include serving on the board of directors of Metrolina Make your Mark, a non-profit organization, and rescuing Sophie, a 10 lb wirehaired terrier.

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Dr. Dean Kruckeberg, APR, Fellow PRSA, is executive director of the Center for Global Public Relations and a professor in the Department of Communication Studies. He has a Bachelor’s in English with a minor in journalism from Wartburg College (1969); an M.A. in journalism (PR) from Northern Illinois University (1974); and a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Iowa (1985). Dr. Kruckeberg has co-authored several publications, including Public Relations and Community: A Reconstructed Theory and the 10th (2010), 9th (2006), 8th (2004), 7th (2000) and 6th (1996) editions of This Is PR: The Realities of Public Relations. In spring 2010, he taught UNCC’s London International Public Relations Seminar at Regent’s College. He has earned prestigious teaching awards as well, including national “Outstanding Educator” of the Public Relations Society of America (1995) and the Wartburg College Alumni Citation that recognized his accomplishments as one of the nation’s leading public relations educators (1998). He continues stressing the value of achievements in higher education in his teaching philosophy: “I try always to remember the importance of what we do as educators and the good that we can do when we perform our jobs well. Those in higher education are responsible for preparing tomorrow’s leaders of global society, which is an awesome responsibility but a most rewarding task.”

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Undergraduate Coordinator and Senior Lecturer Carol Leeman has been teaching at UNC Charlotte since 1988. Leeman became a full time faculty member in 1997 after receiving her Bachelor’s degree from UNC Charlotte in 1985 and her Master’s degree from Wake Forest University in 1993. Courses she has taught include Small Group Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Communication and Conflict, Freshman Seminar, the Sophomore Seminar for the Arts and Sciences Freshman Learning Community, and Persuasion. She says what she loves the most about teaching Communication courses is the often direct application of communication theories to everyday life. “My goal is to convey the theories and principles of the course in such a way that the students see the connection between the material and how it can enrich their lives.” Previously, she served as Coordinator of the College of Arts and Sciences Freshman Learning Community. She has conducted workshops in managing conflict, communicating assertively and creating supportive climates for a variety of campus and community organizations. Her other accomplishments include membership on the CHAMPS/Life Skills Coalition Advisory Committee and Greek Matrix Committee. She is active in the Carolinas Communication Association, where she has served as President. In her free time, Leeman says she likes to venture outside the Queen City: “I love to travel, and to see new things and learn about different places.”

Carol Leeman

Lecturer Staci Kuntzman has held several titles since she came to work for the Department in 1997. As Internship Director since 2005, her duties include interviewing all potential interns and evaluating the performance of current interns, among others. She also teaches undergraduate courses in her areas of interest, Interpersonal Communication and Public Speaking. She has served as the Forensics Director, advisor to the university’s chapter of the Pi Kappa Delta, lieutenant governor for the Southeastern province of Pi Kappa Delta, and does community service at the university level. She attended

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Marshall University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and M.A. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in interpersonal communication, and was later awarded the Catherine Cummings Pedagogy Award for excellence in teaching. “Offering a variety of techniques to learn, such as powerpoint presentations, videos, and online resources is vital to reaching different learning styles,” she says about teaching. “However, students also must commit to the learning process by listening and responding during lectures.” In 2009, Mrs. Kuntzman gave her twelve-year-old daughter twin brothers to play with, adding to her already happy family.

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ckDr. Shawn Long was appointed Communications Department Chair in 2010. He has served as the Director of the Department’s Graduate Program. Long earned his Bachelor’s and Master of Public Administration degrees from Tennessee State University and his Doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky in 2002. His area of teaching and research includes organizational communication, organizational dialogue, virtual work, diversity communication, virtual-team assimilation and socialization, health communication and interpretive methods associated with the study

Shawn Long

of organizational culture and symbolism. He and his colleagues have received numerous awards for their teaching. Some of his most recent research appears in Communication Monographs, Clinical Transplantation, Journal of Health Communication and Communication Teacher. In 2010, he published a book, “Communication, Relationships and Practices in Virtual Work.” Long has done consulting work for local, regional and national organizations, has served as: guest editor of a Special Issue of the Journal of Information Technology Research; board member on the Special Issues on Qualitative Research in the Southern Communication Journal; an ad-hoc member on the editorial board for the International Journal of Cases on Electronic Commerce; and a reviewer for The Journal of the National Medical Association, International Communication Association, and the National Communication Association. He was the developer and initial Coordinator of The Organizational Science Summer Institute from 2007-2010. Currently serving as Vice-Chair of the African American Communication and Culture Division (AACCD) of the National Communication Association, he will assume the role of Chair in November.

Dr. Richard Leeman joined the Communication Studies Department faculty in 1989. He became the Department’s second chairperson in 2001 and served until 2010. He teaches undergraduate courses within his areas of interest, including Rhetoric, Public Address, Political Communication and African American Orator. He also teaches courses on the graduate level in Textual Analysis. His teaching philosophy comes from his drive to challenge his students’ ways of thinking about the world. “My job is not so much to tell them what to think, but I do hope to help them decide what to think about.“ Leeman received his B.S. from Shippensburg State University in 1977 and his Master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, in 1982 and 1990 respectively. Currently, Leeman is working on a critical anthology of African American speeches, and in the past he has participated in writing, co-writing, or editing five books: The Rhetoric of Terrorism and Counterterrorism, “Do-Everything Reform:” The Oratory of Frances E. Willard, African-American Oratory: A BioCritical Sourcebook, American Voices: Encyclopedia of Contemporary Oratory (with Bernard K. Duffy) and The Art and Practice of Argumentation and Debate (with Dr. Bill Hill). Aside from his teaching and publishing achievements, Leeman divulges a little known fact about himself: “[I am] distantly related to Irene Ryan, who played Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies. Helps explain the good looks.”

Richard Leeman

Lecturer J. “Craig” Paddock received his Bachelor’s in Print Journalism from Bob Jones University and his Master’s in Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina. He teaches undergraduate journalism courses in editing, media ethics, and Introduction to Journalism for the Department. He has taught communication studies at various area colleges, including Wingate, Gardner-Webb and CPCC since 2005 and has worked as a copy editor and page designer at newspapers such as The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C. and the Charlotte Observer for 20 years. His teaching philosophy is simple: “I like to think I bring a journalist’s mindset into the classroom -- a curiosity about the world, a love for asking questions and a real interest in people.” In addition to his teaching and newspaper responsibilities, Paddock, once a pipe organ player, has taken to raising chickens … he assures the two are not related.

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Dr. Margaret M. Quinlan is an Assistant Professor of Communication and a Core Faculty Member of the Health Psychology Ph.D. Program. She joined the Department in 2009. Her scholarly work explores the organizing of health care resources and work opportunities for people with lived differences. She has published in Text & Performance Quarterly, Health Communication, Management Communication Quarterly, Communication Teacher, Communication Research Reports, Journal of Research in Special Education Needs, The Braille Monitor, and Review of Communication. She earned her Bachelors of Science from Marist College, her Master of Science from Illinois State University, and her Doctor of Philosophy from Ohio University in 2009. She teaches Communication Theory, Interpersonal Health Communication, Gender Health Communication, and Narratives of Health and Illness. “My goal for the courses I teach is to create an environment where we are co-learners,” she says. “In doing so, I hope to create a safe and effective environment for learning and discussing the topics that are necessary for a person to be able to become a better student and a more effective communicator … Ultimately, I believe that the quality of each student’s education is largely dependent on her or his own efforts, attitudes, and behaviors.” Outside the world of academia, Quinlan has a Yorkshire terrier puppy, named Parker.

Margaret Quinlan

Lecturer Robin Rothberg earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Communications and English (double major) from Florida State University in 1999 and her Master of Arts in Journalism with a certificate in business and economics reporting from New York University in 2000. She teaches undergraduate courses in Public Relations and Journalism/Public Relations. In the classroom, she says: “My goal is to help my students understand the material, of course, but also themselves and their responsibilities as communicators.” A

Robin Rothberg

little known fact about Robin Rothberg: she’s a full-fledged, lacto-vegetarian. “I haven’t eaten any meat since I was in college as a student,” she says. “My husband, meanwhile, never met a steak he didn’t like!”

After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Bradley University, his Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University and his Doctorate from Arizona State University in 1997, 2001 and 2005, respectively, Dr. Cliff Scott joined UNC Charlotte as an assistant professor, teaching classes in organizational communication, research methods, communication theory and organizational science. As a teacher, Scott says he views learning as a shared responsibility between students and instructors. “I see our time together in the classroom as an opportunity to extend and deepen what students have already learned outside the classroom through their reading and via their personal experiences,” Scott says, adding that “if you don’t like to read, don’t enjoy thinking critically and abstractly about your own everyday experiences, and prefer spoon feeding, you probably won’t enjoy my classes.” Outside of teaching, Scott’s research on organizational communication concerns occupational safety and health, organizational socialization, high reliability organizing and work meetings. His research has been published in outlets as diverse as Management Communication Quarterly, Human Resource Management, MIT Sloan Management Review, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Communication Theory and Communication Monographs. He also serves as a consultant for local organizations through UNC Charlotte’s Organizational Science Consulting and Research Unit. In his free time, Horne says he enjoys spending time with his wife, their dog, and his growing collection of used cars.

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Cheryl Spainhour is a full-time Lecturer in the Communication Studies Department who is passionate about the journalism courses she has been teaching here since 1998. She currently teaches undergraduate courses in the Journalism minor, including Advanced News Reporting and Writing, Feature Writing, and Introduction to Journalism. She also teaches Public Speaking. She earned a Master’s degree in Speech Communications and Theatre Arts from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia. She is a 2010 recipient of B.E.S.T. Teaching Award (Building Educational Strengths and Talents) for excellence in teaching and assisting undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte. She is honored to be a founding member of the new (2010) Charlotte chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. In the classroom, she aims at getting her students caught up in the world of journalism (and the current technology revolution) and encourages them to read and commit outstanding journalism. Outside of work, she happily revels in life in the country with her family, always outnumbered by a menagerie (of both wild and domestic types).

Cheryl Spainhour

Ashli Stokes

Dr. Ashli Q. Stokes is an assistant professor in Communication Studies Department, teaching graduate and undergraduate classes in public relations and health communication campaigns. She received her bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech University, her master’s at Wake Forest University, and worked in public relations before she began studying for her doctorate in 2004 at the University of Georgia. The majority of her research focuses on public relations and public communication, specializing in rhetorical approaches to analyzing public relations controversies. She has published in numerous journals and has authored several book chapters. She is also co-author with colleague Dr. Alan Freitag of the book Global Public Relations: Spanning Borders, Spanning Cultures. Dr. Stokes

sums up her philosophy about teaching this way: She feels lucky to get to share what she loves with her students and loves watching them develop their own careers and apply the knowledge gained in our program. Outside of work, Stokes is a proud first time mom to daughter Kate. She, husband Jeff, Kate and super golden retriever Brody love to hike, walk in the neighborhood, and go on family adventures up to Lake Norman and other places in the Charlotte Metro Area. She aspires to learn how not to crash a sailboat, to ski without running into a tree, and to cook like Ina Garten.

As an assistant professor, Dr. Jillian Tullis teaches classes in Health Communication, Spirituality, Communication and Health, Communication Theory and Research Methods. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from California State University, Sacramento, then earned her Doctorate at the University of South Florida. While also maintaining faculty affiliations in the Gerontology Program and the Center for Professional and Applied Ethics, Tullis is a member of the Mecklenburg County End of Life Care Coalition. Her research focuses on communication at the end of life and investigates how hospice teams communicate with patients and their families. She is currently in the works with a project funded by a grant from the American Cancer Society focusing on terminally ill head and neck cancer patients’ perceptions of communication with their surgeons. Her accomplishments include publications in “Qualitative Inquiry”, “Journal of Health Communication” and “Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.” She was invited to speak at The Middle East Cancer Consortium’s annual workshop in Istanbul, Turkey, in April 2010. Tullis likes to keep her classroom interactive, engaging and pragmatic. By doing so, she says that “students recognize the benefits of scholarly exploration of communication, while helping them develop communication skills that will benefit them personally and professionally.” In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region and being the proud owner of Amber, an American Pit Bull Terrier mix.

Jillian Tullis

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VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1

Department of Communication Studies at UNC Charlotte Ezine

InternshipsCOMM 4410

Professional Internship

Visit the UNC Charlotte Communication Studies Department Internship website:

CLICK HERE