Students were encouraged to come to Graduate School Info Sessions hosted by Dr. Bsumeck, the SCOM graduate school, and the JMU PRSSA chapter this past week. Students and faculty were able to openly discuss some questions and concerns about graduate school. The JMU SCOM professors also advised students on how to apply and gave different tips for an easier transition into grad school.
Dr. Carlos Alemán is an associate professor at the School of Communication Studies, and one of only eight professors in the university with an appointment as a JMU Professor in Residence (PIR) http://www.jmu.edu/pir/about.html. The PIR program is sponsored by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President at JMU in order to promote educational attainment and college aspirations of Virginia high school students.
Through his PIR appointment at Thomas Harrison Middle School, Dr. Alemán is able to develop and support outreach programs and activities that focus on student populations that have historically lacked opportunities for attending colleges. Once day, while stopping for a cup of coffee, he met a local high school teacher and a community organizer who were just getting started with a brand new outreach organization called the Shenandoah Valley Scholars Latino Initiative (in short: SV-SLI). Three months later, Dr. Alemán was invited to the SV-SLI Board of Directors, and began serving as the SV-SLI University Coordinator of Mentoring and Academic Programs.
Last, but not least, Professor Shook is another new addition to the SCOM faculty, who is also here to help with the debate team. As a debater in her undergrad career, she definitely has the passion and knowledge to coach our student teams.
1. What stands out the most about JMU students so far?
The students here are all “really excited about actual learning and ideas…instead of just answers only,” replies Professor Shook.
2. What are you looking forward to here at JMU?
As the assistant debate team coach, Professor Shook is looking forward to traveling with the debate team—especially this weekend is their first competition in Atlanta. JMU is also traveling with the most teams in the country (or at least one of the larger teams)! Additionally, she’s excited to get to know Harrisonburg and JMU better. If you have any suggestions for her, comment below!
Working on her dissertation, while instructing here at JMU, Professor Shook feels the faculty here is very friendly, and she feels comfortable asking them for help or advice.
3. Do you have any advice to freshman students?
“Talk in class,” replied Professor Shook. Most students do not speak up and could miss out on gaining clarity on a certain topic.
This is for you students, make sure to speak up in Professor Shook’s class! Leave a comment with how you feel talking in class helps your learning process.
Julie Gochenour held Administrative and Professional (AP) faculty positions at JMU between 2001 and 201, and moved into an adjunct position as instructional faculty spring semester, 2011. With her recently earned PhD, she is excited to continue teaching GCOM with us. “This has been the most wonderful job,” says Dr. Gochenour of her instructor position with the School of Communication Studies.
1. What has stood out most about the students here at JMU?
Dr. Gochenour replied that she loves her students, they are hard-working, fun, willing to learn, and not afraid to ask questions or challenge content – which she encourages.
2. If you could teach any class, what would it be?
“I am happily teaching all GCOM classes—I love it.” She is passionate about her students, and it definitely shows. Teaching GCOM means being around freshman every year, and every year they are great students.
3. Has anything stood out to you of the culture here?
Since 2001, Dr. Gochenour has had the opportunity to see how hard we all work here. She said, “Routinely, everyone gives 120% minimum, typically 150%…which keeps everyone liking each other and positive.”
4. Any fun hobbies?
She loves graphic design and is completely self-taught. She has two rescue collies and has been happily married for 33 years. Other hobbies include swimming and yoga for disabled people.
Dr. Gochenour left me with this quote, “If you go home exhausted and happy at night, you are doing it right.”
To continue with our new professor introductions, here is Professor Andrew Barnes, who is an experienced debater. Read on to hear more about his interests and experience at JMU so far!
1. What are you looking forward to most here at JMU?
Working with exceptional faculty who are amazingly supportive of my own development.
2. Do you have any class you hope to teach here?
I have an extensive background in argumentation and debate. Of course Dr. Davis teaches our public debate class but there are other courses that speak to my expertise such as argumentation and persuasion. I am tentatively slotted to teach persuasion in the spring and I am very excited about that opportunity.
3. Have you found anything that is different here at JMU compared to other universities?
Yes. I believe that James Madison is an exceptional place to teach and work as a result of our focus on the student. That focus does not just benefit students. A focus that places students at the center of the university has a rippling effect that makes possible a variety of support networks on campus – from the CFI to mentorship – for individual instructors and professors to develop their pedagogy and hone their craft through a series of best practices. And students recognize and respond well to this approach thereby enriching the relationship and learning opportunities for both student and faculty member.
4. Did you find any fun places around Harrisonburg yet?
There is so much to do but I think one of the best kept secrets is the Water Park at Massanutten. It is particularly great for families but I could imagine having a great time there as a student. A great time can also be had at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Staunton. Otherwise, I just try to get out there and experience the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley.
5. Any fun hobbies?
I love being outdoors (despite my allergies!) and enjoy skiing in the winter, sailing and cycling in the summer and hiking anytime I can regardless of the weather.
Leave a welcome message for Professor Barnes below and be sure to say hi if you see him in Harrison! His office is located in the basement of Roop (G4) if you would like to stop by as well.
Today we are introducing Meryl Irwin, a professor teaching primarily GCOM for her first year here.
Do you have any class you hope to teach here?
Dr. Irwin’s specialty is rhetoric and comparing politics to cultures. A main focus of her research involves immigration and how it affects their culture. Sometimes she focuses on traditional politics and other occasions she focuses on popular culture.
On teaching the intro classes, she notes that it is a major shift from focus on answers in High School to a focus on the questions at universities. A plus side of her position here is, “Helping first years realize their potential and possibilities.”
What did you find is different on the JMU campus vs. other universities?
The main difference of the JMU campus is our students. Dr. Irwin feels all the students are eager to learn and very conscientious; even the seniors are not-jaded in their final year. The biggest surprise is how JMU is a huge campus with thousands of students, yet it feels like a small place—in a good way!
What have you most recently been researching?
This past summer, Dr. Irwin worked on a very interesting ethnography focusing on emotion and attachments. The subject is fandom of Walking Dead via the medium of Tumblr. She immersed herself in the “fandom” culture and is finishing up her research currently.
Dr. Irwin is very passionate about rhetoric and her research. Feel free to post any comments or questions about her and her research below.
Christy-Dale Sims has joined us as a part of the SCOM department and said, “I’m grateful for how both students and faculty have welcomed me!” Read on to hear more about her experiences with JMU and how she went caving for the first time in Harrisonburg!
August 2013- Caving in an yet-unnamed cave in VA
What surprised you the most about JMU students so far?
I work with mostly first year students, and a pleasant surprise has been their enthusiasm for JMU itself- everyone is excited to not only be in college, but to be HERE for college. I appreciate how quickly they make friends with one another in class, despite coming from all majors, all parts of campus, and having very different interests.
What are you looking forward to most here at JMU?
I’m excited for JMU’s commitment to excellence in the classroom, and pursuing the resources available here to achieve it. I certainly don’t mind being on such a beautiful campus!
If you could teach a class in any area, what would it be and why?
I’m a rhetorician interested in how collective remembering shapes our understanding of and interactions about race, nation, and gender. Based on those interests, I’d love to teach an advocacy class about how social differences such as race, gender, ability, class, age, and other differences have affected our messages/rhetoric about who belongs in the national community, both past and present. I believe that calling out those common messages that many people overlook helps people see how everyday discourses shape our world, and how by changing them, we can create positive social change. I’d probably call it something along the lines of Advocacy and Discourses of Difference.
What is your favorite aspect of the JMU culture?
The JMU culture is very supportive of faculty members as teachers, not only as researchers, an environment I enjoy. It’s also great to be in a place where people are genuinely interested in your life outside of the office.
Did you find any fun places around Harrisonburg?
August 2013-Dr. Sims climbing Old Rag
I’m a big fan of the outdoors, and like to spend as much time as I can adventuring and am fortunate that the Shenandoah Valley and surrounding area has so much to offer! I am a rock climber, but I am branching out and recently went caving. I had the good fortune to be invited to helped survey and photograph a wild cave that had only been discovered the day before! My first caving trip found me underground for 12 hours, exploring a cave where no one else had ever been before, helping map and photograph it for further exploration. It was an exciting—and muddy!—experience that I hope to have again. Above ground, I’ve also been spending time in Shenandoah National Forest, where I’ve hiked Old Rag Mountain and am seeking out sections of the Appalachian Trail, and I recently visited the New Rover gorge in WV for some very scenic rock climbing!
Dr. Sims is excited to be here at JMU and will definitely help mold the freshman into passionate members of the JMU community.
Stay tuned for two more faculty introductions tomorrow!
SCOM hired six new wonderful faculty members entering the fall 2013 semester.
This week, I will post introductions of new faculty members at SCOM.
Dr. Schill has joined the SCOM faculty, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Schill and hear his passion for advocacy and politics, along with instilling this passion in his students.
What stands out the most about JMU students so far?
He is excited to see students’ commitment to service here at JMU and in our local community. At JMU he has already noticed that these are “students that want to engage and make a difference”
What are you looking forward to most here at JMU?
His first response was an excitement to work with the students. He also has the opportunity to work with the first class of students in the Communication and Advocacy graduate program, whom include a wide variety of students from all over the United States. On the other end of the spectrum, Dr. Schill is teaching group GCOM and is looking forward to “growing students at the undergrad level.” Additionally, Dr. Schill said he was excited to collaborate with the accomplished faculty in the School of Communication Studies.
If you could teach a class in any area, what would it be and why?
“I am lucky in that I get to teach and conduct research in the area that I am most passionate about, political advocacy,” Dr. Schill said, “The classes I teach are exactly what I want to be doing.” It also helpful to be close to Washington, D.C., he said. His interest in political advocacy stems from seeing how political communication can propel political change and mobilize people for a cause. As a professor he has the ability to help people and students develop their voice and navigate this world.
Overall, Dr. Schill is, “really excited to work with students” and encourages them to come by his office.
Please feel free to leave a message welcoming Dr. .Schill to the SCOM.
