Department of Communication

Congratulations Salome!

Salome Apkhazishvili is a PhD student studying communication at Georgia State University. She also serves as the secretary for the Communication Graduate Student Association. Last spring, Apkhazishvili was honored with the Department of Communication Award for Graduate Peer Mentoring!

"Peer mentoring is a shelter I choose to go to during my most difficult times because this is the best place to see myself in others," said Apkhazishvili. "Mentoring helped me find peace with the idea that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness."

After graduating, Apkhazishvili plans to pursue a career in teaching and consulting. Kudos Salome!

Department of Communication

A recent Georgia State PRSSA Lunch & Learn featured a panel of professionals discussing successful case studies they had been involved with. Two of our PRSSA e-board members were featured on the PRSA Georgia social media accounts sharing the benefits of attending the event.

For Instagram also: .gsu and

Dr. Debra A. Miller made history and headlines in 1997 when she beat long odds to become the first Black person and only the second woman elected to president of the Public Relations Society of America in 1997, the largest association of public relations professionals in the world. While there, her mission was to leave the organization stronger than she found it.

“I used keen listening skills, strategic thinking, analytical skills, and writing skills to PRSA move forward under my leadership," said Dr. Miller. "Taking on that role required me to think outside of the box and be fearless to move PRSA from success to greater significance."

An award-winning senior leader and former tenured professor, Dr. Miller has spent her career leading all aspects of strategic communications, public relations, media relations, and crisis management for a variety of organizations.

A passionate communications leader, researcher, speaker, and educator, she has held positions across many industries and fields. Currently, Dr. Miller is director of marketing and communications at Cone Health, one of the largest healthcare companies in the Southeast.

During her storied career, Dr. Miller was a tenured professor at Florida International University. A go-to instructor for students, she often says that one of the highlights of her career was educating, training, and mentoring future communicators, journalists, and scholars, many of whom are now making their mark as communications leaders and educators.

Stacey Abrams is a bestselling author and political leader, born Dec 9th, 1973, in Madison Wisconsin. Her family moved to and resided in Gulfport Mississippi for quite some time before ultimately landing in Atlanta when Abrams was in high school. Abrams has always had a reputation for brightness and leadership, from being her high school Valedictorian, to leading a protest against the Rodney King verdict while in attendance at HBCU Spelman College. Stacey went on to be the first woman and African American woman to hold positions in both state and national politics. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives for several years, many of those years holding the title of Minority Leader. In 2018, Abrams ran for Governor of Georgia, losing to Brian Kemp by a small margin. She attempts this again in 2022, but the outcome was the same. While political advocacy work was always a passion of hers, the Governor race fueled more attention and focus on voter suppression issues in Georgia. She is very well known for founding Fair Fight Action, an organization dedicated to eradicating voter suppression.

Abrams is also an entrepreneur, having co-founded NOWaccount Network Corporation (a financial services firm) and co-founded Nourish, a beverage company focused on infants and toddlers. A woman of many talents and passions, Abrams has been a successful fiction writer under her pen name Selena Montgomery. More recently she wrote a legal thriller, While Justice Sleeps, under her own name. This latest novel is being produced as a television series.

Stacey Abrams, chosen by Atlanta Women Magazine as one of its “25 Power Women to Watch” and named one of “30 leaders of the future” by Ebony Magazine, is a force to be reckoned with and a refreshing reminder that women's history is now.

In honor of , the Dept of Comm DEI Committee celebrates its Alumni. Here are some of the many accomplished women we're proud to call our Graduates!

We love seeing our students and alumni achieving professional success! At the annual conference earlier this month, PR Lecturer Dr. Carrie Whitney attended panel discussions featuring Aubree Dumas (MA 2022) and Brice Zimmerman (MA 2023), and she also met up with Kennedy Gooden (MA 2023), and current PRSSA Georgia State Chapter Events Co-Chair and future alum Stephanie Stephens (BA 2024).

Film director, producer, and screenwriter, Spike Lee is prominently known for his work that focuses on the African-American experiences, confronts controversial topics, and debates racial stereotypes. He graduated from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Mass Communication.

American conservative anchor, newscaster and television host, who joined the Fox News Channel in 2005. Harris Faulkner has won multiple Emmy Awards for her trailblazing wire in broadcast. She currently anchors The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET) and serves as the co-anchor of Outnumbered (weekdays, 12-1PM/ET). Harris was born in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Mass Communication.

Dr. Clarence B. Jones

This Black History Month, we are celebrating one of the icons of the Civil Rights Movement – Dr. Clarence B. Jones. Dr. Jones was born in Philadelphia on January 8, 1931 during a racially-charged moment in American history. His mother, Mary, was one of the biggest influences in his life. Mindful of the virulent racism at the time, she instilled in him a sense of racial pride and the confidence to believe in himself. Despite the various hardships faced by him and his family, he thrived in his education and political career.

He gave up his dream to become an entertainment lawyer and joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement as his personal lawyer and political advisor. He helped organize one of the largest civil rights protest and contributed to ending the American apartheid. Dr. Jones is also a gifted public speaker and speech writer. As the valedictorian for his high school, he wrote and delivered his first speech captioned “Education for A Better World” and encouraged his audience to break racial barriers. He also helped draft the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the March on Washington in August 1963.

Dr. Jones currently serves as Chairman of Spill the Honey foundation dedicated to eradicating racism and antisemitism. He continues to inspire us as a lawyer, scholar, and writer.

In honor of Black History Month, we are highlighting the ‘Princess of the Press’: Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Born in Holly Springs, Miss. on July 16, 1862, Wells-Barnett was a trailblazing editor and activist. She worked as an educator in Memphis public schools from 1883-1981, all while raising her younger siblings. During this time, she wrote in Black newspapers all across the nation under the pen name “Lola”. She went on to become the editor of Memphis Free Speech and Headlight and was elected secretary of the Black-run National Press Association in 1887.

After an incident where some of her friends were lynched, she turned her focus on investigating white mob violence. Wells-Barnett went on to publish her findings in a pamphlet, as well as several local newspapers. Her publications enraged locals, and consequently, her press was burned down, causing her and her family to move from Memphis to Chicago. Up north, she got married and had four children, all while continuing her activism. She was invited to lecture at many places internationally and shed light on the issue of lynching. In 1910, she became founder and first president of the Negro Fellowship League. She also helped found the National Association of Colored Women’s Club and was present in Niagara Falls for the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

If you haven't watched "The Smell of Money" documentary about an African American neighborhood in NC taking a mega hog corporation to court for pollution, check it out. Professor Carrie Freeman talks to the film's writer/producer on her "In Tune to Nature" radio show airing Wed at 6:30pm (89.3FM radio or https://t.gsu.edu/49uFu1F). This indie film is available for rent (see website, plus it has curriculum resources and an activist toolkit to fight environmental racism). https://t.gsu.edu/3UFLuR8

For those who can't listen to the livestream – https://t.gsu.edu/49BwyaX

The Smell of Money documentary: Pig Factory Farming & Environmental Racism in North Caroliina | In Tune to Nature Podcast The stench and pollution of pig factory farms is devastating Black rural neighborhoods, but, despite intimidation, NC residents are fighting back in court against the world's largest pork corporation, as documented in "The Smell of Money" a full-length documentary film winning awards at festivals. R...

Mark your calendars!

CGSA is inviting graduate students to the Time Management 101: Turn goals into accomplishments with a strategic plan workshop. Katherine Kountz, Ph.D. Candidate and presidential fellow will lead the online session.

📅 Friday, February 2nd
🕓 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Meeting link: 🔗https://t.gsu.edu/3Umum2I

(Password CGSA)

❓ Are you interested in exploring your relationship with social media?
👉 Attend a session organized by GSU Counseling Center and learn more about strategies to minimize negative impacts of social media on your mental health, relationships, academics, and self-esteem?
🔗 For the details: Chasing Likes?: Creating a Healthier Relationship with Social Media Lunch and Learn - Panther Involvement Network (PIN) (https://t.gsu.edu/3SjmsUn)

🎉NCA is pleased to announce the selection of Carol Winkler, Professor of Communication in the Department of Communication at Georgia State University, as the 2023 recipient of the Robert J. Kibler Memorial Award. The award recognizes those qualities epitomized by Professor Kibler's professional and personal life. These qualities include dedication to excellence, commitment to the profession, concern for others, vision of what could be, acceptance of diversity and forthrightness. Recipients were honored during the 109th Annual Convention in National Harbor, Maryland.

An amazing opportunity to spend part of your Maymester in Quebec City, Canada. If you are curious and want more details feel free to reach out to:

✉️ Helen Cauley, [email protected], Program Director
✉️ Tristan Rodenhauser, [email protected], Study Abroad Advisor

"The time is always right to do what is right"

A father. A husband. A minister. An activist. A world leader.

On this day in history, January 15, 1928, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born. Dr. King was highly regarded and well respected for his commitment to racist segregation laws and grotesque brutality against African Americans. He received his B.A. from Morehouse College in 1948. His commitment to non-violence made him the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (during that time).

Panthers, we encourage you to observe the day through acts of community service and civic engagement in honor of
Dr. King's legacy.

We pay homage to Atlanta's own- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Homecoming Recap- The Department of Communication had the honor to host fellow alums. This year's annual alumni mixer-The Commix, has now become a tradition, which aims for faculty & former students to meet, greet, and network.
Thanks to all who attended.

GSU PRSSA is hosting a networking event this week. Learn how to boost your networking skills and make valuable connections.

Wednesday, 11/8
1-2 pm
25 Park Place, Rm #1113
Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your networking abilities!

Any GSU student is welcome to attend this PRSSA networking event! Join .gsu for this professional development event, get more comfortable with the idea of networking, and enjoy some pizza.

# COMMGSU

🗨 Having issues with your communication skills?
No worries, it's as easy as 1..2..3..

👉Check out 11Alive's story highlighting
GSU COMM ALUM- Grace Quijano-Stone. She is recognized as one of Georgia's most influential Latinos!

https://bit.ly/475LZqG?utm_source=&utm_medium=social&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=

🌐 Have a question about how you can protect your device or your information?
✔️​ Consult with GSU’s cyber security team during this walk-up student information session. Learn more about antivirus, cyber security training and other tools for protecting yourself digitally.
📅 Tuesday, October 24 at 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍​ Aderhold CATlab 60 Luckie Street NW Atlanta, GA 30303
🔗https://t.gsu.edu/45LHh01

Department of Communication Professor Carrie Freeman is pictured with award winner Andrews Dwomoh at the Georgia State University 2023 Graduate Research Conference.