Faculty Briefs

Kristen Grimmer, Assistant Professor

Grimmer became fully remote this past year, changing all her curriculum and flipping it into a virtual learning environment. She is now offering two new classes. One called the Military in the Media, a summer elective looking at the military and how it is represented within the media and news. Grimmer has also received the Retention Star award from Washburn University, honoring her work in advising from the summer of 2020. She was also the mass media department’s official advisor for all incoming and transfer students.

Maria Stover, Professor & Chair

Stover had papers accepted at two conferences, but they were canceled due to COVID. She also had three publications in 2020 - two in an encyclopedia and one in an edited volume celebrating Bulgaria’s transition to a democracy.

Matt Nyquist, Assistant Professor

“Wow, what a semester!” With all the COVID-19 limitations going on Nyquist focused on matching students with professionals from the industry. Emmy Winner Allan Holzman and multi Academy Award winner Rick Carter (Jurassic Park, Star Wars) visited Filmmaking 2 class as did writer, director, and producer Anna Elizabeth James. Cinematography saw Leonora Anzaldua visit the students. Besides that, his main objective has been empowering students in this trying time.

Patrick Early, Adjunct Instructor

Early’s full-time job is Washburn’s public relations director, so his team was busy keeping students, faculty and staff informed through the changing situation in the pandemic – sometimes from home, sometimes from their offices. Early found teaching during the pandemic “odd.” Remote learning wasn’t something any of us (students or faculty) signed up to do, and it was strange teaching that way. But, also he thinks we have learned a great deal about being flexible and hopes we’re able to keep the option to use remote learning sometimes.

Regina Cassell, Senior Lecturer

Cassell has earned a Certificate of Teaching and Learning the last 5 years. This year Cassell also earned the Certificate of Inclusive Teaching and Learning. 2020 marked 20 years of working at Washburn for Cassell, who started as a publication specialist for the Alumni Association. She worked on 13 issues of the Washburn Alumni Magazine from 2000 to 2003, and in 2004 she started working on the Washburn Messenger. She has worked with her students on 17 issues and counting. Cassell reflects that she has gotten to grow professionally at Washburn while watching Washburn grow and change.

Sam Finch, Lecturer

Finch designed the new course, Introduction to Video and Film Techniques, which replaces a video production course. The new course was created to give students in all mass media concentrations knowledge and experience in basic professional video production. The major difference between these two classes is that Introduction to Video and Film Techniques is a field class, submerging students into the world of Adobe Premiere Pro, DSLR caameras or smartphones to create media projects. Finch continued his support and student mentorship during the department’s second anual WIFI Film Festival.

Tracy Horacek, Senior Admin. Assistant

Horacek maintained relationships with coworkers and students via phone and ZOOM while working from home. She missed seeing everyone. She has also been asked to assume additional responsibilites by the College of Arts and Sciences.