UAlbany Communication Department

📢 University at Albany, SUNY Professor Yamamoto provided insights for a recent Forbes article about social media echo chambers and their impact on the spread of misinformation. 🌐🤔 Check out the article to learn more about these important issues. 📰🔍

Misinformation Rampant Following Trump And Hunter Biden Verdicts The vast political divide is all too alive and well on social media, and unlikely to be countered, regardless of the evidence.

Michael Kaye '14, another successful COM grad, tells his story in UAlbany Magazine: https://magazine.albany.edu/evergreen/michael-kaye Michael was also a panelist for our alumni discussion on careers in public relations: https://youtu.be/yQb-UJe8JRE?si=4Ytca4DBTsnxCU4A
UAlbany Alumni Association

Love Wins with Michael Kaye Amplifying a new dating app's celebratory message

Communication lecturer Stephen Madarasz will be among the story tellers at June 30th's Summer Camp along with our friend Paul Grondahl, director of the New York State Writers Institute. Check it out!

Congratulations to Morgan Petty who recently earned her MA in Communication and, as a student athlete, was named as the America East Woman of the Year. The award recognizes student athletes who have best distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership. A two-time America East Player of the Year, Petty recently earned her second consecutive NFCA All-Region honor and third consecutive First Team All-Conference award. As a softball outfielder, she helped lead the Great Danes to the 2024 America East title and a berth in the NCAA Women’s Softball Tournament. UAlbany Athletics The Graduate School at the University at Albany Story: https://ualbanysports.com/news/2024/6/5/softball-morgan-petty-named-2024-america-east-woman-of-the-year.aspx

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✨ Meet Shalayna '18 Publicis Groupe! She joined without a declared major in Communication, but found a passion in marketing through our curriculum 🚀💼 Keep shining, Shalayna – you make us all proud 🌟 Follow her on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3QOVjJz
UAlbany Alumni Association

Congratulations to Communication's Dr. Alana Elia, left, and Dr. Yunmi Lee, right, who have earned their Ph.D.! At center, Dr. Annis Golden. The May ceremony recognizes graduates from the previous summer and fall. Not pictured is Dr. Allison Hart Romain, who earned her Ph.D. in Summer 2023. Her dissertation was on Volunteer Fire Departments Confront a Challenge: Socializing for Trust While Diversifying for Survival; dissertation chair was Professor Golden.

Congratulations to all of our COM and JRL undergraduate and graduate students attending commencement ceremonies this weekend. 🎉

A recap of the Department of Communication's 2024 award winners (details on these awards are in separate posts on this page):

Communication:

Graduate Research Award: Alexandra Stankus

Richard W. Wilkie Award for the Outstanding Undergraduate in Communication: Jessica Porco

Journalism:

Ronald R. Schafer Memorial Fund Scholarship: Christian Hince

William E. Rowley Award for Journalistic Writing: Christian Hince; runner-up: Abby Lorch

Details on each award and previous winners can be found online at: https://www.albany.edu/communication/awards

Awards | University at Albany The Communication and Journalism programs give out awards and prizes each year to outstanding students in each program.

The Department of Communication stage crossing is underway at Broadview Center!

The Department of Communication is very pleased to announce that Alexandra Stankus is the recipient of the 2023-2024 Graduate Student in Communication Research Award. Join us in congratulating Alexandra on her achievements!

Alexandra was nominated by Advisor Archana Krishnan. Alexandra’s research examines how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be used to address patient outcomes and health disparities. Among her qualifications for this award, Alexandra co-authored a systematic scoping review of theoretical frameworks and communication feedback in mHealth interventions. This piece is now in press as a book chapter for the Palgrave Handbook of Communication and Health Disparities. She also has multiple co-authored papers. One paper and one poster were presented to the Communication, Medicine and Ethics conference, and another will be presented at the annual conference of the International Communication Association. Alexandra also has a lead-authored paper under review for the annual conference of the National Communication Association. Congratulations Alexandra on your impressive research accomplishments this year!

The Graduate Student Research Award Committee based the award on the following four criteria: (1) publications and presentations (quality, quantity, and impact/prominence of journals/conferences); (2) coherence of research; (3) independence in research (selection of topics and conducting research); and (4) receipt of research grants and awards. The 2023-2024 Graduate Student Research Award Selection Committee includes Professors Hui-Ching Chang, Masahiro Yamamoto (chair), and Alan Zemel.

Alexandra is in her third year of the Ph.D. program, studying health communication and health technology. Originally from Albany, she also completed a B.A. in English and a M.A. in Communication at UAlbany. Alexandra is interested in helping patients become more informed and involved in their own health care decisions and improving patients’ experiences with the health care system. Alex plans to use her degree to pursue a career teaching at the college level and continuing her research in health communication.

Congratulations to the winners of our 2024 William E. Rowley Award for Journalistic Writing, open to any student at .

First place went to Christian Hince, a Journalism honors major from Hamptonburgh, for for reporting on culinary and cultural diversity in Albany during his time at WAMC. Christian looks to use the skills he’s gained during his time in Albany for a long career in journalism. You can read his story here: https://www.wamc.org/news/2023-12-16/culinary-on-central-albany-at-its-most-diverse?_amp=true

Runner-up honors went to Abby Lorch, a Journalism honors major from Clifton Park, for her piece "Through adversity is the only way." The Journalism faculty said "This is a deeply felt, moving portrait of a young man with a rare disability." Abby said: "I've always enjoyed telling stories and communicating information, so I enjoy journalism and writing as outlets to express my interests. I plan to attend law school after I graduate in spring 2025. Outside of classes, I work part-time as a student assistant at the Registrar's Office; I much appreciate the opportunity to serve the UAlbany community and operate alongside a great team of professionals. I feel very lucky to have been selected for this award and would like to thank my brother, Adam, for allowing me to tell his story." Read her story here: https://livealbany-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/mbartoszek_albany_edu/EdpW21SlvmZBsxydLNyg93oBI1TyyzqgNKdMlavsu1A-Ug?e=PE5YZu

The Journalism faculty congratulates the winner of the Ronald R. Schafer Memorial Award, given to the outstanding senior in Journalism, Christian Hince from Hamptonburgh for an impressive range of news, culture, and sports reporting during his four years in Albany and for his work as Managing Editor of the Albany Student Press, co-host of a news program on WCDB radio, and internships at WAMC and other media outlets.

Personal website: https://www.christianhince.com/

Congratulations to Jessica Porco of Wappingers Falls for being named winner of the 2024 Richard W. Wilkie Award for Outstanding Undergraduate in Communication.

As a nominee for the Wilkie Award, Jessica was invited to deliver a 5- to 7-minute persuasive extemporaneous speech on a contemporary public, political, or social issue. Jessica chose to speak about her support for a ban on plastic straws. Jessica began her speech with an evocative fact: that the straws Americans use daily, if lined up, would wrap around the Earth several times over. At the same time, she highlighted the concern shared by Americans regarding the effects of plastics on the environment and on our health; plastic straws add to the volume of microplastics that find their way into our food. While admitting that plastic straws make up a small fraction of the plastic waste, she made a convincing case as to why a ban on plastic straws provided a model from which to begin rethinking other single-use plastics, like those found in every aisle of our grocery stores. Overall, Jessica’s speech was well organized, carefully researched, sharply argued, and effectively delivered, according to award committee chair Associate Professor Piotr Szpunar.

Though we no longer have a formal department ceremony for the Wilkie winner to address his/her peers, we invite the winner to record a short message to fellow Communication students. Here is Jessica's video: https://youtu.be/orqKsEKXY20

Congratulations again to COM/JRL academic advisor, Joe Murphy, on receiving the 2024 Provost's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising at today’s ceremony. He was nominated by COM Undergraduate Director Associate Professor Patricia Gettings.🎉🥳

From Patrick Dodson, photographer and JRL lecturer via Instagram:

"Last week Katherine Van Acker taught her final class at UAlbany after 20+ years as an adjunct lecturer. Nothing compares to having a teacher who cares deeply about you and the subject they teach. Professor Van Acker’s photojournalism course in 2008 was a pivotal moment in my career and I have big boots to fill as I take on the course beginning next semester."

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Thank you to Katherine for leading our photojournalism and documentary photography classes for so many years. Best of luck in your next adventure!

From Dept. Chair Masahiro Yamamoto:
🎉 Our wonderful Administrative Manager Monica Bartoszek will be retiring this summer after more than a decade of dedicated service to our department and 🎈

From her inspiring leadership to her endless support for students and colleagues, Monica has been the engine of our department. We’re so grateful for her unwavering commitment and countless contributions over the years. 🌟

📢 Huge shoutout to our wonderful students who presented their work at today's Academic Showcase ! They did absolutely great jobs 💯 Special thanks to everyone at the Center for Donation & Transplant New York - Vermont for supporting the campaign! 🙏 📷 : Masahiro Yamamoto

Congratulations to Jessica Marshall, one of our Journalism adjunct instructors, who with her Times Union colleague Wendy Liberatore won in the "Best Podcast" category in the New York Press Association's 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. Their seven-part podcast covered the 2007 disappearance of 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker of Greenwich, NY.

Jessica Marshall also earned third place for her weekly Times Union podcast, "The Eagle," which features the Times Union's best journalism.
Full story: https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/times-union-repeats-ny-press-association-s-19426399.php

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Congratulations to our wonderful COM/JRL academic advisor, Joe Murphy, on receiving the 2024 Provost's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising 🏆🎉✨

From Department Chair Masahiro Yamamoto: "This recognition is well-deserved and speaks volumes about the impact Joe makes on our students and campus community. Thrilled to see his hard work and dedication acknowledged in this way, and look forward to his continued success."

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Thank you to all the students who attended our recent department open house to learn more from our faculty about our Communication and Journalism degrees. The winners of our prizes via random draw: Victor C., pictured here, and Tatiana P. each won Beats earbuds, while Jeongh K. and Taylor H. won $25 gift cards. If you missed our open house (and pizza & dessert), check out our website for information on our internships and study abroad opportunities, as well as our BA/MA and Honors options. Thank you to the University Auxiliary Services at Albany for your support of our open house and students.

The UAlbany Showcase is one week away! Join us as we highlight the academic excellence of our students across all programs and fields!

It will be a full day of poster displays, oral presentations, demonstrations, panel discussions, recitals, art exhibitions and performances that reflect new and original exploration of topics in STEM, arts and humanities, social sciences and the professions.

All are welcome to attend! ➡️ https://www.albany.edu/ualbany-showcase

Why should students consider an internship at the NYS Legislature? Check out this story by COM student Liliana Cifuentes
written for her internship with UAlbany’s Office of Communication and Marketing.

UAlbany Students Get Inside Look at State Government Through Legislative Internship Program For decades, UAlbany's partnership with the New York State Legislature has opened doors for student interns.

Check out “An Above Average Day,” a 30-minute documentary featuring our own Joe Murphy, COM/JRL advisor and hiking enthusiast! It will air live on Wednesday, April 24, at 5:30pm on WMHT. It can be watched live online at https://www.wmht.org/live/

Synopsis:

"Filmed in the mountains and wilderness of the Adirondacks and Vermont, An Above Average Day is a documentary film that poses the question; What could two men with a thirty year difference in age (Ray O’Conor age 69 and Joe Murphy age 39), who met by chance (or fate) on a mountain climbing adventure, possibly have in common that would compel them to climb more than 400 mountains and hike in excess of 4,000 miles of trails?

"Produced and directed by Katera and Aviral Kapoor, founders of Veda Films, An Above Average Day follows the hiking and wilderness adventures of Ray and Joe who met by chance (or perhaps fate) on a hiking adventure.

"Hiking is not just a pastime, but an avocation for Joe, a UAlbany academic advisor, and Ray, a bank board chairman. They challenge themselves and each other physically, while replenishing themselves in mind and spirit. The view from atop a mountain, sitting along a forest stream, standing beneath a thundering waterfall and listening to classic rock and folk music during their travels, makes the troubles of life and the world melt away. They have discovered that there is nothing better for the mind, soul and body than time in the wilderness and chasing their dreams."

We are thrilled to learn that Professor Rukhsana Ahmed has been awarded the Distinguished Research Fellow honor by the Eastern Communication Association[Regional Association]! 🌟 This recognition highlights her dedication to advancing knowledge and innovation in our discipline. Congratulations! 🏆👏

ECA | History of ECA The Eastern Communication Association was initially established in 1910 and continues as the oldest professional communication association in the United States. As a distinguished service-oriented organization with a history of achievement in research, criticism, communication theory, and excellence...

Abigail Adams, Director of Communications for the Red Cross of Eastern New York, spoke to students in Professor Stephen Madarasz’s Organization Image Building class about the challenges of communicating the humanitarian organization’s mission-focused message. The accelerating trend towards larger and more costly natural disasters around the world has strained the organization’s capacity and created new challenges in generating the necessary resources to adequately respond to serious needs. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with our students!! UAlbany received the Humanitarian Spirit Award for its public service efforts at the Red Cross region’s Fire & Ice Gala 🏆 ✨

Representatives from our COM and JRL faculty, staff and student ambassadors met with prospective Great Danes at today’s Accepted Student Open House. 📷 : Joe Murphy