University of Souther n Indiana Communication Alumni Newsletter Spring 2015
In this Issue
Letter from the Chair
1
The Legacy
2
Beyond the Textbook
3
Journalism Alum
5
Competition Time
6
USI’s 50th
7
From Classroom to Office
8
Commencement Speaker
9
Awards
10
Faculty and Contact
12
Letter from the Chair Dr. J. Wayne Rinks
It has been an exciting semester for the students, faculty, and staff of the Communication Department. I never tire of trumpeting the success of our students and staff. These successes are highlighted throughout this edition of The Eagle Call. This fall, we will see some new faces among the faculty as we say goodbye to two longtime members who have retired: Assistant Professors Robert (Bob) West and Patricia Ferrier. West and Ferrierwill be available to teach an occasional course in the future. We wish them both the best! I would like to take a moment to share that this fall will be my final full-time teaching semester here at USI. I will join the ranks of the retired faculty at the end of the school year. I have witnessed many wonderful events since joining this institution in 1991. None is more rewarding than the success of my former students. I have learned much from my colleagues and my students. I will miss all of you. Joining the faculty this fall will be Dr. Erin Gillis who comes to us from Kentucky State University. Erin is a USI graduate who went on to receive her Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky in 2009. Also joining our faculty is Tillman Russell who will receive his Ph.D. from Purdue University this summer. New to the Communication Studies faculty is Dr. Yuxia Qian who joins us from Albion College in Michigan. Qian earned her Ph.D. from Ohio University with a concentration in organizational communication. I am happy to announce that our faculty has recieved recognition this past semester. Dr. Stephanie Young received the prestigious USI Foundation Award for Teaching by a New Faculty Member. Dr. Leigh Anne Howard received the Southern States Communication Association’s John I. Sisco Award for Teaching Excellence. Dr. Howard also received confirmation that she is being promoted to the rank of full professor! Dr. David Black was recognized by the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists with a first place award for his video documentary “In Harmony’s Way: The Battle to Save a Bridge.” I am so proud of the accomplishments of our department for the past year. I look forward to the many successes I know we will see in the future! Remember, we continue to encourage our alumni to stay connected with the department. Send your news to: Mary Beth Reese at mereese@usi.edu. Have a wonderful summer. See you again in the fall!
The Eagle Call
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The Legacy: The Science and Art of Audubon Written by Elise Weaver Public Relations Student
“We go where the research takes us,” is how Dr. Leigh Anne Howard described her most recent research with Dr. David Black. The two Communications professors have been traveling across the United States, and even Scotland, to produce a documentary that spotlights the famous, local ornithologist, John J. Audubon. The one-time Henderson, Kentucky native, who has a museum dedicated in his honor, is well known for his four-volume book, Birds of America, published in 1827. These volumes contain over 435 life-sized watercolor portraits of various species of American birds. Rather than compose a biography of Audubon, Black and Howard have a more specific approach to their documentary, “We want people to understand Audubon’s significance as an artist and a scientist,” explained Black. “Before Audubon, bird art was formal and scientific. Audubon created this drama within his painting, and we want people to understand his uniqueness.” What many people do not know is that Audubon was not only an extraordinary painter, but he was also a writer. “He wrote volumes and volumes of ornithological biographies where he discusses the habitat, mating rituals, and other aspects of the birds. He was truly an innovator,” explained Dr. Howard. As a part of their documentary, Black and Howard have been compiling interviews with a variety of Audubon experts who can explain his work and the significance behind it. One interview took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Audubon began most of his publishing. According to Black, “Everyone wants to claim a little piece of Audubon.” The Eagle Call
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Above: Dr. Leigh Anne Howard and Dr. David Black pictured in Edinburgh, Scotland, with author John Chalmers.
Below: Dean Michael Aakhus showing an Adubon copper plate.
One reason why this documentary is unique among others is that a section of the film features Dr. Michael Aakhus, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Southern Indiana, using Audubon’s nickel-plated, copper engraving plates. These plates were used to compile Audubon’s Birds of America volumes, and Aakhus is able to extract impressions from the original plates to create prints. Aakhus is excited for the production of this documentary because, “We [Black, Howard and Aakhus] want people to understand how fortunate we as a community are to have the Audubon Museum in the Tri-state Area”. The prints will be sold to raise money for the John James Audubon State Park located in Henderson, Kentucky. Black and Howard hope to have a script for and a final the documentary finalized by fall of 2015 product by January 2016.
Beyond the Textbook
Written by Sera Radovich Public Relations Student
Journalism and public relations students with Mayor Lloyd Winnecke.
Public relations and journalism are two fields of study at the University of Southern Indiana that reside in the same department but typically have little involvement in the classroom. Erin Gibson, instructor of the journalism course Tragedy in the Media, and Mary Beth Reese, instructor of the public relations course Crisis Communications, sought to change that. The two professors worked to integrate components of each other’s field, in the classroom, in order to increase the understanding between the two disciplines. This semester, the courses centered on the Evansville’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) disaster drill in the event of an earthquake. The disaster drill allowed students to experience the reallife effects of an earthquake, in a controlled and safe environment. Before attending the disaster drill students actively participated by communicating with other students and professors through the program, VoiceThread. This program allowed for both the students and the professors to make video presentations, video comments, voice comments, and text comments in an online forum. In “I wish that when I was addition to the interaction that took place on VoiceThread, Gibson and Reese in college, I would have instructed each other’s classes for a week. The shift in instruction was one had more experience that enabled students to gain a unique perspective of other disciplines. Gibson with other people and said in an interview, “I wish that when I was in college, I would have had more professors in different experience with other people and professors in different fields”.
fields”
Alyssa Smith is a public relations and advertising major and a photojournalist for The Shield, which is the student publication at USI. Smith was enrolled in both courses this semester, allowing for an indepth perspective into not only the drill but the courses as well. Smith said “ When I found out that the two classes would be interacting I thought it would be an issue initially. Throughout the courses, I began to see where issues overlapped. Many of the assignments were similar; I just had to take two different perspectives.” The Eagle Call
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Beyond the Textbook Con’t Prior to the drill, public relations students were assigned an organization to work with. Journalism students, however, had no prior knowledge of the proceedings. The public relations (PR) students reported to the EMA office while the journalism students reported to the Shield office at USI, and then scattered to various areas around Evansville throughout the duration of the drill. One of the disaster sites, which was an old school near Mater Dei on Harmony Way, was a simulation of an earthquake. The site featured actors who played victims and survivors along with first responders such as fire fighters and police. The director of Vanderburgh County’s EMA office, Cliff Weaver acted as an intermediary between the decision makers and representatives present at the EMA office. The EMA added to the simulation by using sound effects, cutting of the lights to demonstrate loss of power, and by using newscasts. Brad Byrd and Tina Stien of the Tristate Eyewitness news sent in newscasts that covered the earthquake disaster drill to add to the simulation. After the disaster drill the two courses met together to have their own debriefing process about the drill and also the class in general. Both groups of students felt that despite some confusion that took place during the crisis that the overall experience was helpful in their understanding of each academic disciplines’ role in crisis management. After discussing the positive and negative aspects of the crisis simulation, Gibson explained, “ Success and failures after trying something is where real learning takes place. You can’t get that from a textbook”.
Rebekah Wuchner, public relations student, conversing with Professor Mary Beth Reese during the EMA Drill.
Timeline of Events 12:37 pm: The drill simulation officially begins with a news report by Brad Byrd. 911 is down and the dispatch of the EMA. Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is level one. 12:53 pm: Media (journalism students) arrive close to the scene of a collapsed school. There is contact with hospitals at this time. 1:08 pm: The signing of the Disaster Declaration by Mayor Lloyd Winnecke with Terry Hight of Homeland Security. This would allow for the increase of police officers, FEMA, and firefighters during a disaster. 1:21 pm: Terry Hight and Mayor Lloyd Winnecke make a phone call to the Governor to explain what’s going on during the disaster and what aide is needed. 1:24 pm: There has been a report of the earthquake epicenter having taken place in New Harmony at a 7.2 on the seismic scale.
Professors Erin Gibson and Mary Beth Reese during an instructional video for class. The Eagle Call
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Journalism alum scored with sports internship in Germany Written by University Communications
When Chris Johannes 14 discovered the media internship he’d intended to apply for in Berlin was discontinued, he had to scramble, but he ended up with an internship in Germany created just for him. “Dr. Silvia Rode (chair of World Languages and Cultures), was able to put me in touch with the sports editor at the New Osnabrück newspaper through contacts at the Hochschule Osnabrück,” he said. “There was no program set up at the newspaper, and I had to plead with them to let me have the internship. They finally said yes, and the Hochschule helped arrange my housing.” USI has a strong academic and cultural exchange partnership with Hochschule Osnabrück, University of Applied Sciences. The partnership, which grew from Evansville’s sister city relationship with Osnabrück, was formalized in 2010. The Santa Claus, Indiana, native, who graduated with dual bachelor degrees in journalism and German, landed the summer-long position in the sports department at the New Osnabrück newspaper during a time when Germany won the World Cup. “Without Dr. Rode and the partnership between USI and the Hochschule, my internship would not have been possible,” he said. “The only reason they even considered me was because of that relationship and Dr. Rode putting her name out there and saying, ‘Yes, he can do this.’” The newspaper is owned by a larger company, Fromm Media, which owns television stations and other print publications, so Johannes also was able to help the TV department with sports coverage. He had experience covering sports, having served as an editorial assistant in the Evansville Courier & Press sports department for two years prior to the internship in Germany.
“The fact that I was able to get into sports helped with the transition. It is a different system but there are a lot of similarities, and having that sports background helped with the language.”
Johannes wrote a newspaper column from the perspective of an American in Germany during the World Cup, an experience he says is somewhat comparable to March Madness in Indiana. “It’s not a one-day event like the Superbowl, or two weeks like the World Series – it’s several weeks, and Germany was in it the whole time. But unlike March Madness, everyone is cheering for one team. You can’t even really compare it to the Olympics, because that has so many different sporting events. This is one team and 11 players that everyone becomes so familiar with, and there are no other sports going on. It was World Cup, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Since October, Johannes has been employed as sports desk editor for the Bloomington Herald-Times. He plans to attend graduate school and would like to produce digital media for a newspaper or a sports organization. The Eagle Call 5
Competition Time Written by Bailey Nance Public Relations Student
The 2015 Advertising Competition Team poses after presenting in South Bend. Pictured back row from left to right: Dr. Robert West, Amanda Morrison, Rebekah Wuchner, Bailey Nance, Jenna Deisher. Front row: Kalli Stylianides, Erin Hicks, Theresa Scheller, Amanda Brinkman. Not pictured: Maddy Kriz, Christie Mack, Tristan White, Kaylen White, Leah Woodbury.
For almost two decades, the University of Southern Indiana has been competing in the National Students Advertising Competition (NSAC) sponsored by the American Advertising Federation (AAF). The team that creates the campaign and competes in the competition is the Advanced Advertising Competition course (ADV 440) taught by Dr. Robert West. West has taught this course six times and has advised the competition team at least eight times. West, who has been involved with the NSAC for over 20 years, is a strong believer in this competition and the skills that it offers the students. When asked about what he thinks to be the most beneficial attribute that this class offers its students, West responds honestly. “Students get to apply what they have learned
The course begins at the beginning of the spring semester, on January 12, and progressed rapidly. An entire campaign including a creative component, professional pitch and campaign book must be created within roughly three months. For the first portion of the campaign students separate into groups within the class by their disciplines. The breakdown for the 2015 competition was a creative team/graphic designer, public relations and promotions team, a social media team, and a search engine optimization (SEO) group. These four groups were immediately immersed in the client, competitors and research. The next step is to create a theme for the throughout their entire program. The course is not campaign that reaches its target market and the about answering multiple-choice questions. It is to desires of the client. This process can oftentimes demonstrate understanding. The process also allows prove to be the most difficult due to the differences students to be seen and see other students from other in opinion based on the specialties of the groups. universities to know whom they will be competing After a consensus has been reached, each group then with for jobs someday.� separates again to begin implementing and creating West carefully selects team members based on the desired product for the campaign. By March 27, multiple criteria. When advising, he looks for those students the final book must be submitted to the NSAC to be with good grades in their disciplines are highly motivated, entered into the competition. and who can step up to meet a challenge. The team must Between the start of the class and the be able to communicate in a professional manner in, what submission of the book are only 33 class periods, is most definitely, a stressful environment. Lastly, he looks roughly 33 hours to complete a creative, interactive at references from other professors in the department that campaign for a multibillion-dollar client. This handshave had the students in class before. By going through on class structure truly prepares students for what these steps, West ensures that his team is the most efficient to expect after graduation, and teaches them how to group of student’s possible. work under stress, time restraints, and how to interact with other specialties. The Eagle Call
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Three Cheers for 50 Years! Written by Bailey Nance Public Relations Student
This year is a sentimental milestone for the University of Southern Indiana. It is the University’s 50th birthday. Starting off the celebration in January 2015, there are a tremendous amount of events all leading up to the 50th Anniversary Week during September 14th to the 20th. A few events to be highlighted are the Evansville Museum Master Teachers Exhibit: Michael Aakhus. This event will have Michael Aakhus serving as a guest curator, exhibiting his work alongside selected former students in a series of Main Gallery exhibitions at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science. The “Master Teacher Series” invites faculty members to create and curate their own exhibition independently. For the Alumni Party on the Quad on June 6, 2015, the USI Alumni Association invites families and friends to campus for a fun filled evening. This Party on the Quad offers time to reminisce with friends and tour campus beginning at 5 p.m. Randy Pease will be offering music while caricature artists and cornhole can offer even more entertainment. Following a pig roast at 6 p.m. by Marx Barbeque, the Duke Boys will play from 7 to 10. Throughout the school year The Shield newspaper will be running historical features in its weekly editions. These can be picked up at various locations on campus and also can be viewed online.
Upcoming Events • Flashback Exhibit - April 18 to May 29 • Traditions and Icons: 50 Years of USI Culture - January to June • USI Retiree Reception - July 30 • USI Foundation Timeline - July to December • Cultural Diversity Welcome Reception - August 20 • Founders Day and Mayor’s Proclamation - September 15 • 50th Anniversary Fall Academic Lecture - Steven Johnson - September 17 For more information please visit: www.usi.edu/50
From Student to Office
Written by Charlotte Nixon Journalism Student
The education from the University of Southern Indiana was what laid the groundwork for future success for 2013 graduate, Caylin Blockley. Blockley, an Honors graduate, received the All Campus Achievement award in his senior year. He graduated with a major in public relations and advertising with an emphasis on advertising. Blockley shared how he is a firm believer that, “You can’t just come to school, got to class and then go home. You need to get involved.” He had great experiences and met many new people through his involved in three internships. His internships included the Student Development Office, internship at the State House, in New Lanark, Scotland, for an International Internship. International Internships are a great opportunity that USI provides to their students, and during the summer of 2013, Blockey was able to take advantage of a six week internship in New Lanark, Scotland. While in New Lanark, Blockley interned in three different areas; archives, the hotel and the marketing department. Upon graduating, Blockley took a position as a press decretary for eight Indiana state representatives. He is now employed at USI in the Foundation Office, as communications and events coordinator. Blockley’s best memories of his time spent at USI come from reaching out and grabbing the opportunities that USI provides. “One of the most important things in life, is helping others and helping others realize their goals,” Blockley said.
Defining Moment
Written by Rebekah Wuchner Public Relations Student
James Yamashita, a 2001 graduate from the University of Southern Indiana, spoke to students about what it really takes to be successful during his recent visit on the campus. Yamashita graduated with a degree in public relations and advertising in 2001. Yamashita started his own company, JTY Investment LLC, in 2006 of which he is the founder and chief executive officer of the company and its related businesses. Yamashita oversees the company’s portfolio of assets. The company, based in Orlando and Miami, Florida, manages money and cash flow for small residential real estate and has gone from a one man operation to having over 300 employees. Yamashita does not credit his success to luck but instead emphasizes the importance of working hard. While Yamashita does not describe himself as a strong student, he worked his way through college and pushed himself to graduate. He believes that it is incredibly important to be resilient and to believe in yourself. According to Yamashita, it is in a person’s 20’s and 30’s that the rest of their life is defined so during this time it is important to give 110 percent. When asked about being a CEO, Yamashita said that the most difficult part is separating business from pleasure. He also said that it is important to remember that a company’s number one asset is their employees so he tries to ensure that his business is filled will quality people. Yamashita ended the presentation by telling the student’s to “Ignore the 99 percent to be the 1 percent in whatever you do.” The Eagle Call
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Commencement Speaker Bryan R. Harper Written by University Communications
Bryan R. Harper ’96 is the Commencement speaker for the College of Liberal Arts. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from USI, and is preparing for his 12th season with the National Football League’s (NFL) Minnesota Vikings. Harper began his career in sports at USI, working on the stats crew and in student promotions for men’s basketball. After graduation, he spent his first five years in sales roles with the Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer) followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates (Major League Baseball). In 2001, he moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars (National Football League) followed by the Daytona International Speedway. Harper returned to the NFL in 2004, taking a marketing role with the Minnesota Vikings, where he initiated a philosophical shift in the organization by bringing many production responsibilities in-house and shaping a cohesive content strategy. In his role as executive producer, Harper led the creation of Vikings Entertainment Network (VEN) and the launch of one of the first multimedia production studios in the NFL. He assembled a talented team of 14 staffers that are collectively responsible for content strategy, production and presentation across all platforms including in-stadium entertainment, TV/radio programming and digital media. Under Harper’s leadership, VEN has been recognized for exemplary efforts in production with multiple Upper Midwest Emmy Awards in categories including graphics animation, commercials, narration and topical documentaries. Harper’s recent contributions to the Vikings organization include providing key input as a Technology Committee member for Minnesota’s new stadium (opening 2016), significant influence on the Vikings new uniform project (2013), and leading the Vikings 50th Season Committee (2010). Among his proudest career moments is presenting two Vikings home games in an eight day span, one at Detroit’s Ford Field and one at the University of Minnesota, after the Metrodome roof collapse in 2010. In addition to his role with the Vikings, Harper has served as a postgame ceremony production consultant for the past five Super Bowls, and volunteers with Serving Our Troops, where he traveled overseas to grill made-to-order steaks for soldiers stationed in Iraq and Kuwait. Harper received the David L. Rice Alumni Achievement Award in recognition of his positive impact on the national sports marketing stage. The award, a crystal soaring eagle representing the University mascot, personifies the vision held by USI’s first president, Dr. David L. Rice, of the potential of USI graduates. The Eagle Call
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Academic Awards
Award recipients for Academic Achievement in the 2015 year in the Communication Department. Pictured from left to right: Ashley Warner, Sara Schmitt, Rebekah Wuchner, Margaret Spray, Leah Woodbury
High School Media Day
Above left are recipients for the High School Media Day Awards which is an annual event for high school students involved in journalism and the yearbook. Above right is Dr. Gael Cooper with keynote speaker and former student of Cooper’s, Chris Holmes.
The Eagle Call
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Journalism Awards
The Shield placed in three contests as a “Publication of the Year� and won 35 staff and individual awards (8 first, 12 seconds, and 15 thirds) from the Indiana Collegiate Press Association convention this year. Pictured front row from left to right: Alyssa Ralph, Bradie Gray and Jessica Stallings. Pictured back row from left to right: Alyssa Smith, James Vaugn, Jessie Hellmann, Bobby Shipman, Roberto Campos, Armon Siadat and Erin Gibson. For a full listing please visit: www.usi.edu/journalism-awards
Radio and Television Awards
The Edge won ten awards this year in the Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media and Arts and the IBS Golden Mic 2015 Intercollegiate Broadcast Systems. This includes four first place winners, two second places, three third places, and two finalists. For a full listing please visit: www.usi.edu/RTV-awards
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Communications Faculty
Full time faculty- Spring of 2015 Black, Dr. David Assistant Professor of Radio & Television
Howard, Dr. Leigh Anne Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Bolin, Mr. Andrew Instructor of Digital Media & Advertising
Jeffers, Mr. Robert Instructor of Advertising
Bonnell, Dr. Karen Professor of Radio & Television
Morris, Mr. John Instructor of Radio & Television
Cooper, Dr. Gael Professor of Public Relations
Reese, Ms. Mary Beth Instructor of Public Relations
Durham, Dr. Wesley Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Rinks, Dr. J. Wayne Associate Professor of Radio & Television
Ferrier, Dr. Patricia Assistant Professor of Journalism
Tew, Dr. Chad Associate Professor of Online Journalism
Gibson, Ms. Erin Instructor of Journalism
West, Jr., Dr. Robert Assistant Professor of Advertising
Henning, Dr. Zachary Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
Young, Dr. Stephanie Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
Contact University of Southern Indiana College of Liberal Arts Communications 8600 University Boulevard Evansville, IN 47712 Phone: 812-461-5220 Graphic Designer, Copy Editor and Editor: Bailey Nance and Rebekah Wuchner Advisor: Mary Beth Reese Email: mereese@usi.edu
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