TMU 6(1) -- January 13, 2009

December commencement
CFAM, AS and Graduate College alumni launch careers

The UNO School of Communication graduated 53 undergraduates and three graduate students across four colleges at the December Commencement.

The College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media, in its four year of existence, now dominates student numbers, as only a few Communication students remain in the College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate students are administered through the University of Nebraska system-wide Graduate College.





Broadcast news graduate Erin Cox, seen in this Commencement YouTube video, landed a job offer at KLKN in Lincoln just two hours after graduation and accepted the position as the newest reporter and weekend producer.

Broadcasting graduates celebrate with Mike Hilt

“Thanks for all your help during classes, and the advice I got for getting a job,” Cox said.

New faculty member
Joy Chao has international perspective

Chin-Chung “Joy” Chao has accepted an offer to join the UNO School of Communication in August and teach in the organizational communication area.

Joy Chao

Chao completed her doctorate in August from Bowling Green State University. She has specializations in organizational communication, leadership and interpersonal communication. She also has expertise in intercultural communication, quantitative research and mixed methods research.

Her doctoral dissertation is, “Cultural Values and Anticipation of Female Leadership Styles in Non-Profit Organizations: A Study of Rotary Clubs in Taiwan and the United States” .

Chao also holds the M.A. in Advertising and Public Relations from Morehead State University (2002) and the B.A. in Business Administration from Eternal Life Christian College (2000).

Her teaching interests include: organizational communication, leadership, communication theory, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, small group communication, interviewing and research methods.


Of note
Excellence in action

Alumna Khaoula Touati has graduated in London with a Master of Arts degree in Political Communications from the Institute of Communications Studies (ICS) at the University of Leeds in England, UK. Her dissertation is, “The Internet and Islamic Political Activism: The Role of Islamic Identity in the Radicalization of Muslim Diaspora.” It is a discourse analysis of the web site content of Hizb-ut-tahrir Britain. She was awarded the Chevening Scholarship from the British Council. Touati is interested in political communication and new media, and is currently in Tunisia working for a year or so in advance of securing funding for doctoral studies back in the U.S.

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Alumnus Sterling J. Smith, vice president of FuturesOne-Chicago, was quoted in a Wall Street Journal story on investing in gold, as well as in the Daily Guide on the 23-year high for the price of cocoa.

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Alumnus Bobby Hess is now in his eighth year at WDAF in Kansas City.

Bobby Hess in front of Air Force One

He recently wrote to Mike Hilt that while many recent graduates of other schools come to the TV business unprepared, “I can honestly say I was prepared.”

“With the addition of the live 30 minute weekly newscast, UNO has a real chance to become an elite journalism school,” Hess said. “The staff at UNO prepared me for the real world of television news by creating a strong foundation of writing, shooting and editing.” He now works in the WDAF creative services department as the Promotions Producer/Photographer. Hess is working on a Masters of Speech Communication degree at The University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

Hess won an Emmy this year for his videography.

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Among those receiving awards at The PRSA Paper Anvil Awards Gala on Dec. 11, several have UNO School of Communication connections:

Mosaic Employee Campaign 2008: eMpower
Mosaic, Davina Leezer, Ed McCollum, Randall Donner, Brenda Solomon, Brittney Ryba

Public Relations Campaign - Award of Excellence
120 Years of Educating Health Care Professionals
Clarkson College, Clarkson College Marketing and Public Relations Department

The 40-70 Rule
Albers Communications Group, LLC, Home Instead Senior Care, GML Communications, Inc., and Turnpost Creative Group

Student Outstanding Classroom Campaign - Award of Merit
Plan-It Solutions, an Outstanding Classroom Campaign
Heather Knudson, University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Maverick PR and PRSSA, University of Nebraska at Omaha’s School of Communication

S.E.A.T B.E.L.T, an Outstanding Classroom Campaign
Heather Knudson, University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Maverick PR and PRSSA, University of Nebraska at Omaha’s School of Communication

Annual Report - Award of Merit
Brianna at the Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha, Kevin Warneke, Envoy, Inc., Printco Graphics

Brochure - Award of Merit
University of Nebraska at Omaha From a New Perspective
Emspace Group, Anthony Flott, UNO

External Newsletter or Magazine - Awards of Excellence
Traditions of Caring Magazine
Clarkson College, Clarkson College Marketing and Public Relations Department

External Video - Award of Excellence
Elliott Aviation: National Business Aviation Association Tradeshow Video
Bailey Lauerman, Julia McConahay, James Strange, Raleigh Drennon, Ron Eis, Nino Kapetanovic, AJ Lake Dawn Kjeldgaard, Craig Hughes

Special Events, Outreach, Educational or Tradeshow - Award of Merit
Investing in You
Amy Adkins, Cassling, Cassling Marketing Team

Special Events, Outreach, Educational or Tradeshow - Award of Excellence
DEMO Fall ‘08
Bozell, Bill Flavell, Sylvia France, Abby Supenski, Scott Rowe, Michelle Swain, Kim Mickelsen

Public Service Program - Award of Merit
Give Your Kids a Boost
Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Marketing Team, Sleight Advertising, Leslie Kline Lukas, DAAKE

Public Service Program - Award of Excellence
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Program
Mosaic, Davina Leezer, Ed McCollum, Randall Donner, Brenda Solomon, Brittney Ryba

News Release - Award of Excellence
Agile Sports Technologies: New York Jets Announcement
Bailey Lauerman, Julia McConahay, Agile Sports Technologies, Doug Parrott, Rich Claussen

News Conference and Publicity Stunt - Award of Excellence
Men’s College World Series Contract Signing
Bozell, Bill Flavell, College World Series of Omaha, Inc., Tom Giitter, Abby Supenski, Joe Gudenrath

Web Sites - Award of Merit
Cargill Corn Milling for empyreal75.com
Bailey Lauerman, Cargill Corn Milling, Ron Eis, Dawn Kjeldgaard, Julia McConahay, Mike Murray, Ron Sack, Jim Watson, Carter Weitz

Electronic Media Kit or Media Web Site - Award of Excellence
120 Years of Educating Health Care Professionals
Clarkson College, Clarkson College Marketing and Public Relations Department

Word-of-Mouth/Viral/Street Marketing Awards of Excellence
Communicating with New Technologies
Clarkson College, Clarkson College Marketing and Public Relations Department

The Blogger Outreach - Award of Excellence
DocLanding DEMO Launch
Bozell, Bill Flavell, Sylvia France, Abby Supenski

In addition to the Paper Anvil Awards, PRSA Nebraska also issued the following service awards:
Chapter Service Award: Karen Weber, PRSSA UNO Student Advisor


Did you know?
People in the news

Jeremy Lipschultz and alumna Wendy Townley were interviewed Jan. 8 on Consider This about the iPhone and other new media technologies. This was the fourth appearance for Lipschultz on the Nebraska statewide public affairs broadcast program.

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Warren Francke published an excellent cover story on alumnus Rudy Smith in the Winter 2008 UNO Alum.

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Alumna Toni Godley has moved to Terre Haute, Indiana and will be teaching at Indiana State University and Ivy Tech Community College.


Footnotes
Evidence of excellence

1. Santa Paws Returns

Back row, from left: Kate Sypal, Lucy (the puppy), Heather Knudson (Lucy's mom and our PRSSA President), Kristen Martin (PRSSA Fundraising Director ), Bre Gehrken (PRSSA Newsletter Editor), Lindsay Woracek (PRSSA Assistant Newsletter Editor)

Front row, from left: Keegan Niederdeppe (PRSSA Vice President of Recruitment), Aimee Labenz, Mike McDermott (Santa Claus), Meagan Phenix (PRSSA Historian). The Rottweilers are named Abby and Atticus.

The week in photos
Images from around the school

Engineering students presented two designs for a new Communication building

Karen Weber and Chris Allen enjoy Commencement

PR graduates celebrate with Karen Weber

Holiday lights accented the Holland Center --
Inside Dave Webber again performed in the Christmas Omaha Symphony show

Dates & times
Mark calendars for interesting events

2009
January
15 - High School Journalism Dinner, MBSC Chancellor’s Room, 6-9 p.m.

24 – Night on the Ice UNO Hockey, 5:30 p.m.

30 – PRSA Professional Development Conference, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

February
12 - Valentine's Day Bake Sale, first floor ASH, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

March
12 - UkNOw Choices, MBSC Nebraska Room, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

31 - Communication Career Development Workshop, MBSC Dodge Room, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

April
16 - National Organ Donor Awareness event, MBSC Plaza, 11:30 a.m.
23 - High School Journalism Workshop, MBSC Ballroom, 12 p.m.
28 - PRSSA Presentations, MBSC Chancellor’s Room, 4 p.m.
30 - Scholarship Breakfast, MBSC Chancellor’s Room, 10 a.m.
5th Annual Alumni Panel, MBSC Dodge Rooms A & B, 1 p.m.
54th Annual Awards Banquet, Thompson Alumni Center, 6 p.m.

May
8 - Communication Graduation Breakfast, MBSC Ballroom School, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Commencement, Omaha Civic Auditorium, 2 p.m.