NDSU Department of Communication

Calling all baseball fans!

Marney Gellner (2012, MA) is scheduled to call the upcoming three-game Twins-White Sox series as the lead TV play-by-play announcer.

Make sure to watch her on tonight!

Marney Gellner to make Twins TV history as she calls White Sox series Bally Sports North’s Marney Gellner is reportedly scheduled to call the upcoming three-game Twins-White Sox series as the lead TV play-by-play announcer.

Doctoral student Matthew Goldsmith and his advisor Dr. Shuning Lu won a Top Paper award at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) 2024 Community Journalism Interest Group for their research on news coverage of mass shootings.

Catch their presentation in Philly this August! Stay tuned for more information!

Let's check in with another alum!

Alum: Zhenyang Luo (PhD, 2021), Senior UX Researcher at Ford

What I Do: Spearhead research efforts and collaborated with cross-functional teams including UX designers, strategists, product managers, engineers, and data scientists to enhance Generative AI products/services and machine learning infrastructure and development solutions. Conduct both qualitative and quantitative user research to uncover fundamental user insights and provide guidance for product strategies.

Advice for Current Students: Believe in the value of what you are learning and always strive to do your best. The skills and knowledge you gain from this program will be the foundation for your future success. Embrace every opportunity to learn and grow, knowing that each experience will contribute to your professional journey and make you shine in your career.

ICYMI: Dr. Stephenson Beck published an article this year in Organizational Psychology Review. In the article, Dr. Beck and his co-authors (Drs. Emily A. Paskewtiz and Joseph A. Allen) use theoretical work in impression management and resource conservation to explain five ways people choose to participate in meetings. Check it out!

Toward a Strategic Perspective of Meeting Participation - Stephenson J. Beck, Emily A. Paskewitz, Joseph A. Allen, 2024 Participation in meetings is a multifaceted process. Meeting members must consider individual and meeting goals when creating their messages, as well as a host ...

We would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Dr. Samantha Archer! Dr. Archer finished her dissertation this spring and will be joining the Communication Studies & Theatre Arts Department at Concordia College as an Assistant Professor. She is pictured with her advisor Dr. Carrie Anne Platt.

She will also to continue to work as the lead photographer at The Archers and co-owner at The Foundry photo studio, which is a space available for local creatives to rent.

The Foundry: www.thefoundryfargo.com
The Archers: www.thearchers.studio

📷 credit: Ryan Archer

In May, Dr. Zoltan Majdik gave a short talk and participated in a roundtable discussion on distant reading and language modeling at Rhetoric Society of America's annual conference.

We had 72 students on the spring 2024 Dean's List!

We are so proud of each student's accomplishments. Congratulations to all who received this honor!

Congratulations to the 3,574 spring 2024 Dean's List honorees. We are so proud of you all! 🤘

View the full list here: t.ly/Yy7Tk

Congrats to Sophia Richards, a graduate of our strategic communication program!

This weekend she was named Miss North Dakota 2024! She will represent North Dakota at Miss America in January. Stay tuned! 📸 Level Up Photography

In May, Dr. Michael Vosburg (2023, PhD) presented "Watching the Watchers: A Meta-thematic Analysis of Media Effects Studies of Visual Communication" at the Benedict College Inaugural International Multidisciplinary Conference, Columbia, SC. He will be presenting two papers this August at AEJMC. Congrats, Dr. Vosburg!

📷 credit: Dr. Leon T. Geter

Let's check in with another alum! 🤩

Alum: Grant Ayers (Journalism, 2021), Editor at Spotlight Media

What I Do: I oversee the content creation and editorial processes for Spotlight Media's many magazines, including Fargo Monthly, Bison Illustrated, Fargo INC!, and more. I'm the Lead Editor of Bis-Man INC!, a B2B publication focused on the Bismarck-Mandan, ND area. My favorite part of this job is getting to know new businesses and entrepreneurs who are making an impact on their local communities!

Advice I Have for Current Students: Build Your Network! I can't stress enough the importance of building a strong network while you're in school. Your professors and classmates can offer much guidance and support. Take full advantage of the NDSU alumni network as well, and reach out to former students on LinkedIn. These connections can open doors to job opportunities and provide you with advice, no matter the path you want to pursue.

Students, did you know Outdoor Adventures in the North Dakota State University Wellness Center has all the gear you need to make your next trip or summer get-together great?

If you are part of the NDSU community, you can rent camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags), canoes and kayaks, and lawn games (spikeball, co****le) for very reasonable prices. A NDSU Wellness Center membership is not required to rent equipment.

For hours and pricing: https://www.ndsu.edu/wellness/open_recreation/outdoor_adventures/.

It's Thursday and time to check in with another alum!

Alum: Madison Quamme, Director of Public Relations and Social Media, Flint Group of Agencies

What She Does: As Director of Public Relations and Social Media, Madison Quamme takes a strategic approach to effectively communicate with audiences across various channels. Her drive to cultivate strong communities makes her a trusted partner to clients as they nurture their connections with stakeholders. Madison is passionate about quarterbacking public relations and social media plans. With a flair for quick thinking and a cool, calm and collected demeanor, she is dedicated to solution-focused outcomes for her clients. She brings excitement and experience to strategic planning, internal and external corporate communications, public positioning and reputation management.

Her Advice for Students: Never stop learning! We are in field that never stops evolving. Always take the opportunity to try something new and don't be afraid to fail. Stay curious and stay the course.

In late April, we honored two graduate students: Matthew Goldsmith (2024 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award) and Emmanuel Dadzie (2024 Outstanding Graduate Research Award).

Join us in giving these two amazing graduate students one more round of applause. 👏🏽 Congrats!

If you are in town next Saturday, make sure to cheer on Dr. Justin Walden as he runs the Fargo Half Marathon! 🏃 🎉

PhD in appreciation: NDSU professor running half marathon after 'terrifying' stroke It was just over a year ago when Justin Walden dealt with reprocussion of moyamoya syndrome

Congratulations to Will Thompson!

Will passed his MA exam defense in early May. Will is pictured here with his advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Crawford, and committee members Dr. Zoltan Majdik and Dr. Alexandra Hidalgo.

Congrats, Will!

We would like to extend a big congratulations to Dr. Maranda Goke. She successfully defended her dissertation, "'I am who I am, or am I?': Predictors of AR beautification filter use," at Penn State University.

Dr. Goke is a graduate of our MA program (2020). Her advisor at Penn State was Dr. Mary Beth Oliver, and her committee members were Drs. Jess Myrick, Chris Skurka, and Heather Shoenberger.

Congrats, Dr. Goke!

🚨 Thursday 🚨

Alum: Allasondra (Allye) Doyle (Journalism, 2021)

What I Do: I currently serve as the Communications Director at Cooperative Energy Futures, a renewable energy cooperative based in Minneapolis. Our mission is to make energy accessible and affordable for all while championing sustainability efforts. It's a fulfilling role that aligns perfectly with my passion for humans and advocacy.

Advice I Have For Current Students: Embrace the journey and don't be afraid to explore different paths. Finding what you truly love may involve some trial and error, and that's okay! Whether you're studying, job-hopping, or soul-searching, remember that every experience contributes to your growth. Stay open-minded, stay curious, and above all, stay true to yourself. After all, life's too short not to pursue what sets your soul on fire.

The North Dakota State University UAS Network held a panel discussion last week to explore collaborative research ideas involving uncrewed autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technology.

The panel featured our own David Westerman as well as Denver Tolliver (Director, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute), Joao Paulo Flores (Assistant Professor, NDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering), Page Klug (Research Biologist, USDA-APHIS National Wildlife Research Center), and Nick Dusek (Research Facilitator, NDSU Center for Computationally Assisted Science and Technology).

📷 credit: NDSU Office of Research and Creative Activity

We have turned the page on the academic year and are ready to welcome our annual Summer Scholar! We are excited to host Dr. Cameron Piercy of the University of Kansas. Graduate students, this is chance to learn from one of the field's leading experts on group and workplace communication. The three-credit class will start tomorrow with some readings (asynchronous) and then will meet 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May 20 to May 24. Spots are still open through Campus Connection.

We have more service learning projects to share!

In Dr. Stephenson Beck's COMM 315: Small Group Communication class, each of Dr. Beck's five student groups works with a local nonprofit organization on a project.

Pictured are two groups. The first group worked with the Ronald McDonald House, donating $700 worth of items to replenish the Petite Boutique, a free clothing store at the RMH dedicated to helping families with premature babies.

The second group worked with the R**e and Abuse Crisis Center, donating 700 items to fill their current feminine hygiene shortage.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

We look forward to seeing all the amazing things you do next.

🎓

📢 Calling all graduate students!

We are excited to host Dr. Cameron Piercy of the University of Kansas as our annual Summer Scholar. This will be a great opportunity to learn from one of the field's leading experts on group and workplace communication. The three-credit class will begin the middle of next week with some readings (asynchronous) and then will meet 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May 20 to May 24.

Spots are still open through Campus Connection.

Congratulations to Obehi Omokhuale!

Obehi passed her MA exam defense yesterday. She is pictured here with her advisor, Dr. Melissa Vosen Callens, and committee members, Dr. Justin Walden and Dr. Lisa Arnold.

Next year, she plans to pursue a PhD in Rhetoric, Writing, and Culture from the NDSU Department of English at North Dakota State University!

It's Thursday!

Alum: Dr. Muhabbat Yakubova (PhD, 2021), Assistant Professor in Communication Arts at Western Colorado University

What I Do: I lead the Strategic Communication/Public Relations Program and teach all related courses in this field.

This year, I've been working with my co-authors on a manuscript titled "Mixed Messages: An Experimental Study Using Taylor's Six-Segment Strategy Wheel to Test Blended and Unblended Meme Message Strategies,” which we've submitted to the Journal of Consumer Behaviour for consideration and review. Additionally, I'm actively involved in various school committees and continue to provide advising support.

Advice I Have For Current Students: Believe in yourself, work diligently, and expand your professional network.

Now THAT is a conceptual model! MA students Ava Gross and Ashlyn Schauer have been hard at work this week on a research study on Tik Tok influencer content and took up the entire whiteboard in our conference room with their qualitative data analysis. If you have ever considered grad school, take a close look at this impressive work!

Today marked a celebratory point in our spring semester! Thanks to our chefs for some excellent homemade food, thanks to Dr. Beck for his challenging geography trivia quiz, and thanks to everyone for joining us. Dr. Westerman won trivia, while Emmanuel Dadzie wowed us with his dish. Here’s to a terrific end to the semester, everyone!

In many of our courses, students work with organizations in our community.

As an example, Dr. Stephenson Beck’s COMM 315: Small Group Communication students conducted a brand management campaign for Down Home, a non-profit that provides furniture for individuals who were recently unhoused.

Sophia Richards, Valley News Live Host and Producer, was honored last month as a nominee for the 2024 YWCA Cass Clay Women of the Year awards. Sophia is a 2019 graduate of our strategic communication program.

Congrats, Sophia! Thank you for all you do for our community!