Harrison Connect – Page 2 – Connecting to Life on the Quad

April 27, 2016woocw No Comments

Welcome Dr. Lars Kristiansen to SCOM

Introducing Dr. Lars Kristiansen, another one of the newest faculty members to join SCOM this year. Kristiansen received his undergraduate degree in public relations management from the BI Norwegian Business School, his masters from Illinois State University and worked on his Ph. D. at the University of Missouri. Afterwards he accepted a job position at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois as not only an assistant professor, but the coordinator of the public relations department.

Kristiansen’s expertise is in image restoration and repair strategies. He is interested in the rhetorical aspects of how and what people/companies say manifests into messages and ultimately dictates what they are accused of. Kristiansen’s main interest is to analyze how such individuals and companies subsequently recover or rebuild a tarnished image in terms of ethical or unethical image repair strategies. Kristiansen has invested research on rhetorical and social protests, politics and hate speech. In 2010 Kristiansen published the book, “In Screaming for Change: Articulating a Unifying Philosophy of Punk Rock,” which advances an understanding of punk rock by going beyond description of punk as a musical, political, social and cultural genre of communication. He is currently working on several projects involving craft beer vs. macro beer campaigns (i.e. Budweiser), as well as how image repair plays a part in the political careers of George Bush and Donald Trump. Kristiansen has been at JMU since last August and states that he is very happy with his move to the Shenandoah Valley.

“Working at JMU is not just a job to me, but so much more. I love how strong the sense of community here is,” said Kristiansen, “Everyone is always friendly, willing to help and are so close knit. I love the culture, faculty members and being able to work one-on-one with students. It all starts with the manifestation of simply holding doors open for one another.” Kristiansen believes that JMU is the best of both worlds in terms of being a large, yet small school that is committed to liberal arts learning. Kristiansen is teaching a variety of public relations focused courses at JMU, including SCOM 260, 261, 362 and 460.

“While at JMU, I am going to strive to continue to grow the public relations program alongside my colleagues and make sure to train students for the 21st century in terms of what they need to be able to do in their select careers,” added Kristiansen. Kristiansen challenges all of his students to use language for strategic purposes in terms of analyzing the world around them. He encourages them to read, watch and attempt to understand everything by breaking down the critical problems that surround them in terms of language.

When not teaching, Kristiansen enjoys spending his free time hiking in the valley, reading and playing music. Currently, he is trying to put together a faculty band!

Please give a warm welcome to Dr. Kristiansen!

April 25, 2016woocw No Comments

Welcome Professor Annelise Ewing to SCOM

By Catherine Montgomery (’18)

SCOM has recently welcomed six new faculty members into the school. One of these professors is Ms. Annelise Ewing. Prior to coming to JMU, Ewing attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for her undergraduate degree. Following that, she received her Master’s degree from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, where she taught as well. Ewing has been quick to make Harrisonburg her home and JMU her second family.

So what brought Ewing to James Madison University? Well, she was fresh out of Illinois State University having received her masters and she was looking for a program. She then came across JMU and found it quite appealing. Ewing came to visit and fell in love with the department, as well as the gorgeous town. Ewing happily accepted a position once it was offered. Since being at JMU, she has mostly taught the course SCOM 123, while dabbling in interpersonal communication courses as well.

However, Ewing has not just been teaching though. She has also been quick to get involved in the JMU community. One way she’s gotten involved is by working with the university‘s speech team by doing voluntary coaching. This past spring break, she also went on an Alternative Break to Lakeland Florida through JMU as the faculty member. On the Alternative Break she worked with a team of students on the East Coast Migrant Head Start Program for one week.

Moving to a new place can be tough, but it can also be exciting. When asked what was her favorite part about JMU, Ewing stated, “I’ve loved the sense of community that is here in both the department, university and Harrisonburg in general.” This may be something we hear a lot and perhaps don’t understand after being at JMU for so long but she went on to say, “It’s different than anywhere I’ve ever been, and generally very nice.” She takes note of how people make a point to always say “thank you” and “please, as well as open doors for others.

While here, Ewing has become a popular teacher among students, which we may be able to partly attribute to her teaching rule of thumb, “Always make it apply back to what you’re going to use in your life beyond the JMU bubble.” In addition, she maintains an open door policy saying, “My door is always open if people want to come visit, tell me about new places to go in Harrisonburg.” So stop by Roop Hall and show Ewing the JMU hospitality we’re known for and have a chat.

Please give a warm welcome to Professor Annelise Ewing!

April 20, 2016woocw No Comments

32 Students and Faculty Represent SCOM at ECA Conference

By Amberly Millis (’16)

March 31 to April 3, students and faculty members in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University presented at the 107^th Eastern Communication Association Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Inner Harbor Baltimore, Maryland. These Students and faculty members presented their scholarly research in the convention’s informational and/or competitive panels.

JMU undergraduate student participants included:

Amy D’Amato, Lauren Antilety, Nicole Banville, Alexandra Foley, Katie Haskins, Andrew Haveles, Haley Hoff, Gina Jeliff, Yoon Ko, Kaitlyn Lema, Laura Mack, Kathryn McAnally, Amberly Millis, Amanda Pennypacker, Ashley Reynolds, Emma Talkington, Haley Winter, and Lindsay Wright.

Graduate student participants included:

Erin Casey, Claire Habel, Austin Woodruff, and Leanna Smithberger.

Faculty member participants included:

Dr. Carlos Aleman, Dr. Timothy Ball, Dr. Lori Britt, Dr. Heather Carmack, Dr. Eric Fife, Dr. Lindsey Harvell, Dr. Kathryn Hobson, Dr. Tatjana Hocke, Dr. C. Leigh Nelson, and Ms. Christina Saindon.

These participants joined with experts and scholars from all over the country to present their research on a variety of communication studies subjects, including crisis, interpersonal, advocacy, leadership, health, organizational, media, rhetorical, and many more. This year’s selection was very competitive, so please congratulate your fellow Dukes for their hard work and accomplishments!

To learn how you can apply to partake in next year’s ECA Conference, go to www.ecasite.org for more information.

April 23, 2015woocw No Comments

SCOM Week 2015

The School of Communication Studies just wrapped up its 37th Annual Communication Studies Conference last week. The conference ran from April 13-15 and kicked off Monday night with the keynote address given by Dr. J. David Cisneros from the University of Illinois. Collectively, there were 25 papers presented by 50 students with 22 guest faculty discussants.

Beginning Tuesday morning and lasting till Wednesday afternoon, a variety of student speakers presented their research papers. The topics varied from communication and digital media, persuasion, identity, relationships, well-being, honors theses and more. Some papers had been completed and the presenters expounded on their findings, while others are still in the process of concluding and the outcomes were to be determined.

The director of the conference, Dr. Carlos Aleman, explained to the audiences how each presenter was hand picked by their professor. These students had displayed exceptional research, study and work habits and therefore had the honor of sharing their findings with those in attendance.

Furthermore, guests and speakers could follow along via social media, using the hashtag #SCOMcon2015 to see various pictures and updates throughout the week.

One presenter, Marlena Luciano (’16), talked about her experience presenting at the conference, “Presenting for SCOM week was an incredible experience. Although this was our first time conducting research, we still gained valuable practice in presenting a topic that interested us and received feedback from faculty and other professionals. It taught us the importance of continuing our knowledge in the field of communication by asking questions and finding answers through research.”

As in years past, Top Presentation honors are selected by faculty discussants’ assessments of the clarity of purpose, organization, professionalism, informative value, and level of engagement. This year the following presenters earning highest marks were:

“Crisis Communication and Sexual Assault on College Campuses.” (Julie Hirschhorn)

“Students as Neighbors Employing Dialogue and Deliberation to Manage Town-Gown Tensions.” (Lauren Holder, Courtney Herb & Alison Steed)

“Public Relations Promotion to Advance Child Reading and Literacy.” (Rosemarie McGinty)

To find out more about this year’s conference, the individual speakers and their topics, or information about previous years, you can visit their webpage by clicking here.

April 19, 2015woocw No Comments

Student Worker Appreciation Week: Honoring two members of our SCOM family

“Family,” a word used often by the SCOM Program Support Technician, Gretchen Hansen, has become a motif to describe the School of Communication Studies’ atmosphere and the people of Harrison Hall. As we near the end of the semester and a very busy April, it is important to recognize the members of our family that sometimes go unnoticed by the general body for their hard work and dedication to the success of our program.

In celebration of Student Worker Appreciation Week, April 13 through April 20, the SCOM family would like to honor Kelsey Evans and Logan Caldwell for their years of service in the SCOM office and their contributions to the School of Communication Studies.

April 15, 2015woocw No Comments

Alumni Advise Students for the Future

The Communications Studies Careers Conference, Taking Off to New Horizons: Ideas, Advice, Opportunities, was last week. Positive vibes and JMU love was spread throughout Harrison Hall as alumni advised students on life after college. There were sessions starting at 9:05am until 4:25pm on topics ranging from the different concentrations within SCOM, to résumé reviews, to mock interviews, to what to expect after graduation, and much more.

“The pot at the end of the rainbow may be filled with gold,” quotes alumnus Rob Burke (’85). With all class years in attendance at the conference, students asked questions relevant to all aspects of the communications field. However, transitioning out of college was an overarching topic Read more Alumni Advise Students for the Future

April 7, 2015woocw No Comments

The Organizational Communication Experience

Seniors in SCOM 450: Advanced Studies in Organizational Communication had nothing but positive feedback about their concentration and the professors within it. After understanding the theories and concepts related to Organizational Communication, students work in teams to apply them during their capstone class. Seniors explain that the concentration has taught them to work in teams, work toward an overarching mission, and understand different settings and clients while applying class concepts.

Throughout the semester, seniors have been working in teams to implement campaigns for organizations in the Harrisonburg community. Within each team are dyads and triads who work on social media, marketing, and event planning on behalf of their class client. Listed below are more details about each project which we encourage all SCOM students and faculty to continue supporting!

March 19, 2015woocw No Comments

Lambda Pi Eta

Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association (NCA). JMU’s chapter, Gamma Beta, was founded in 1994 and is part of the almost 300 chapters worldwide. LPH’s purpose is, “to educate and honor students in the field of communication, while giving them a forum within which they can voice opinions and be active in promoting understanding of the field through service on campus and in the community.”

In a recent interview with the chapter’s advisor, Professor April Roth, they recently inducted 20 new
members, which is roughly 30% more than last year.

Roth also mentioned that an advantage to being a part of LPH is being able to attend their meetings. LPH consistently has great speakers (such as Mark Anderson from C.A.P and Dr. Lori Britt) who present on building and enhancing resumes, how to utilize social media, and other great workshops. Members and those interested can also check out their bulletin board, located on the first floor of Harrison, for updates and upcoming events.

Furthermore, members are encouraged to join LPH’s executive team, which is voted on by those in the chapter.

“My favorite part of being in Lambda Pi Eta has been getting to hear all the great speakers we have had at each meeting,” stated Alyssa Wolf (’16), current vice president. “We have had all types of talks, from resume workshops to a speech on ‘The Most Important Lesson I Learned From My Communication Education.’ I always enjoy hearing what the speakers have to say and taking their great advice.”

Those interested in LPH are encouraged to attend their next meeting, which is on March 27 at 7 PM.

March 6, 2015woocw No Comments

February Recap: SCOM Reaches New Heights

Along with numerous inches of snow, the SCOM department has seen major accomplishments for the month of February.

On February 10^th students and faculty attended the Love Talk Film Festival, where scholars and long-term couples shared their expertise on love and relationships. In addition seven mini-documentaries, produced by students in Jennie Rosier’s (fall 2014) SCOM 314: Communication in Romantic Relationships class, were screened. The top three filmmakers received awards for their hard work.

FIRST PLACE:

Filmmaker Name: Jessica Hunt

Film Title: Love Me Not: Why You Stay When You Should Go

SECOND PLACE:

Filmmaker Name: Alyssa Herington

Film Title: “I Love You (maybe)”

THIRD PLACE:

Filmmaker Name: Nicole Lamberta

Film Title: Smooth Sails Ahead!

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On February 13, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) visited Washington D.C. to attend business briefings with PR agencies: Adfero Group, Burson-Marsteller, Edleman, Fleishman Hillard, and Golin. JMU will continue their professional development efforts with a visit to New York City in March.

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Dr. Fife’s essay was featured on the COE’s story project, “What Sustains Me.” He is the only CAL faculty member included in this project!

The College of Education’s “What Sustains Me” Project is a series of personal essays and/or artistic contributions about the heart of teachers and teaching. JMU College of Education faculty, faculty from other areas of the University, and teachers from surrounding area pre-K through 12th grade schools share their stories for the purpose of better understanding each other as educators and our potential as a community.

James Madison University – Eric Fife essay

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Dr. Lori Britt received JMU’s Goodman Faculty Award! This prestigious award is designed to recognize an exceptional junior faculty member for “excellence in teaching, and especially faculty who integrate their teaching and scholarship to benefit our student and the learning process.” Please share the good news.

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On the weekend of February 27^th, the JMU Speech team completed the last of their regular season travel on the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. With eleven teams representing the eastern area of the US, the JMU team finished as the Top Team both days of competition. Qualification for the national tournament is a season long process and with the results from this last weekend every member of the JMU Speech Team qualified for the American Forensic Association-National Individual Events tournament to be held in Portland Oregon this April; this will be the largest squad JMU has qualified in its history.

Individual Results are as follows:

Olivia Adams, Freshman SCOM, 3rd After Dinner Speaking
Magdalene Dada, Sophomore Nursing, 5th Impromptu Speaking
Abby Fiege, Sophomore SCOM, 4th After Dinner Speaking
Nate Gross, Freshman Undeclared, 2nd Impromptu Speaking, 4th Persuasive Speaking
Armin Haracic, Sophomore International Affairs, 3rd Extemporaneous Speaking
Ally Hepburn, Freshman Undeclared, 1st Informative Speaking
Ty Kemp, Freshman SCOM, 6th Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Informative Speaking
Haley Lawrie, Sophomore Spanish, 5th Extemporaneous Speaking, 3rd Informative Speaking
Nathan Selove, Sophomore SCOM 2nd Dramatic Interpretation, 4th Informative Speaking, 4th Prose Interpretation
Marieka Turner, Senior SCOM, 3rd Poetry Interpretation
Greta Wolking, Freshman Undeclared, 3rd Persuasive Speaking

1ST PLACE OVERALL TEAM

Day Two Results:

Olivia Adams, Freshman SCOM, 1st After Dinner Speaking
Jessie Bur, Senior SMAD/English, 3rd Poetry Interpretation
Magdalene Dada, Sophomore Nursing, 4th Impromptu
Abby Fiege, Sophomore SCOM, 2nd After Dinner Speaking, 2nd Duo Interpretation, 4th Prose Interpretation
Nate Gross, Freshman Undeclared, 2nd Impromptu Speaking, 4th Persuasive Speaking
Armin Haracic, Sophomore International Affairs, 4th Extemporaneous Speaking
Ally Hepburn, Freshman Undeclared, 6th Dramatic Interpretation, 4th Informative Speaking, 5th Prose Interpretation
Ty Kemp, Freshman SCOM, 3rd Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Duo Interpretation
Haley Lawrie, Sophomore Spanish, 3rd Extemporaneous Speaking
Nathan Selove, Sophomore SCOM, 4th Dramatic Interpretation, 2nd Informative Speaking, 3rd Prose Interpretation
Greta Wolking, Freshman Undeclared, 3rd Persuasive Speaking, 6th Prose Interpretation

OVERALL TOP TEAM

The team is coached by graduate students Nicole Hudak and Katie Lese, as well as Alyssa Reid and Lee Mayfield.

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REMINDERS:

SCOM Banquet tickets now available!

Below are the dates/times/locations of ticket sales this week:

Monday 3/2: Harrison Conference room 1131 from 11-2pm
Tuesday 3/3: Harrison Conference room 1131 from 10:45-1:45pm
Wednesday 3/4: Harrison 1^st floor hallway from 11-2pm

*Tickets $13, cash and check accepted.

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ALL GRADUATING SENIORS (FULLY ADMITTED MAJORS):

You must take SCOM 394 prior to graduation. Some of you may already have taken the class, and in that case you don’t need to worry about it – but if not, make sure you’re registered for the course by the time it “starts” on March 16. The course consists solely of a set of assessment tests that you must take, with no specific score required, by the deadline (typically mid-April).

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Don’t forget, you can always prepare for your future by visiting the Career and Academic Planning Center. They can help you venture down the right road with advice on majors, internships, resumes, jobs, and more.

February 16, 2015woocw No Comments

Building your Future Through CAP

College is a time for students to develop their future by learning about their interests and potential for growth. This may be a challenging process for most. Career and Academic Planning is a place where students can find help in all aspects of their college experience. Mrs. Laura Hickerson, an Internship Liaison, explains the potential for development through the office, “we are one of the only offices on campus that work with students at all levels.”