Letter from the Chair
Dear friends:
I trust this message finds you well, and that your new year is beginning on a positive note! I hope you will enjoy this first Department of Communication Alumni Newsletter (Volume 1, Issue 1) as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you! There are exciting things going on in Mason’s Department of Communication. Our students are active and thriving; our faculty continues to push the boundaries of excellence in teaching and research.
We would like to have closer relations with you, our alumni. We want to know more about what you have been doing, and we would like to build a robust Department of Communication alumni network, with career mentoring events and social gatherings.
Please join our new Communication Alumni Society, spearheaded by Theresa Werner (BA 1996) and Mark Root (MA 2010). We will be holding a Mason Communication Alumni Happy Hour Meet and Greet event on Saturday, 21 March 2015. You will find details in this current edition. I hope to see you there!
Don’t forget to:
- Like our Communication Alumni Facebook page: Mason Communication Alumni Society
- Like our Communication Department Facebook page: GMUCommAdvising
- Follow us on Twitter: @MasonCommDept
Until next time, many best wishes to you and yours for an enjoyable winter season!
Sincerely,
Anne Nicotera
Alumni Highlights
photo credit: ClearChannel.com
Nick Ashooh, a communication alumnus and current anchor/producer for ESPN 980, is now a weekly sports talk show host on Fox Sports Radio!
The show airs every Saturday 6-9 am eastern and, although in the DC area they only have ESPN and CBS Sports affiliates, you can listen on the I Heart Radio App, FoxSportsRadio.com.
photo credit: blog.doriehowell.com
Annie Yu, a 2004 communication alumna and anchor/reporter for Fox 5 WTTG, was profiled for Washington Parent Magazine last spring!
Interview with MA Graduate, Future Lawyer Stan Polit
Alum discusses law school, crisis communication
Stan Polit, 2012 graduate of the MA program, came to visit us in April. We interviewed him to check in and see how he is doing.
What do you most fondly remember about your time as an MA student?
So many of my favorite memories are tied to the faculty members I had the privilege of interacting with each day. From the very start, I found the graduate faculty to be extremely warm and encouraging. The department’s open door policy made it easy for me to find mentors who had a tremendous impact on my development as both a graduate student and overall person.
How have you drawn on or used your communication MA degree while at law school?
It is often said that law school is all about teaching students to “think like a lawyer.” While that way of thinking is certainly valuable, it is not always the best approach for all problems. The practical nature of the communication MA program has provided me with another framework for thinking about these kinds of challenging issues. In particular, the program reinforced the many ways that communication can shape the way we influence and persuade others. Having this frame of reference has been an invaluable part of my legal education because it has helped me to think more critically about my role as a future oral and written advocate.
What are your plans, if any right now, for post-law school? Any particular area of law on which you'd like to focus?
My goal is to apply both my legal and communication backgrounds to litigation work within a firm setting. I hope that my ommunication MA will allow me to help clients not only navigate their legal issues, but also the crisis communication and public relations problems which can arise from related events.
Back in 2012, you conducted research on how media outlets used the term "crisis" in their reporting. Have you noticed any changes in the media since then?
Overall, the way the media uses the term “crisis” seems to have largely remained constant. During our initial research, we found that the largest changes in crisis usage could be attributed to large, catastrophic financial events. Now, it appears that the term is being attached to more far-reaching international events, such as the current political situation in Ukraine. The question still remains whether consistently attaching this term to particular domestic and international events may actually dull our sensitivity to the seriousness of these events.
Are there any other areas of communication on which you are doing any research or focusing?
Currently, I am very interested in the intersection between evolving communication technologies and other areas of the law. For example, the Securities and Exchange Commission sent shockwaves throughout the financial community in 2013 by allowing companies and executives to disclose material financial information via social media accounts. Policy changes such as these reflect how the evolving ways we consume information are forcing regulators to think increasingly as “communicators.” With communication mediums evolving at an increasingly rapid pace, it will be interesting to see whether regulators embrace this new aspect of their identity.
Undergraduate and Graduate Student Highlights
Raquel DeSouza, a junior, is an outstanding student. She is a communication major with a concentration in journalism and a minor in American government. She recently gained investigative reporting experience during an internship with Sharyl Attkisson at CBS, an American commentator and formerly an investigative correspondent in the Washington bureau for CBS News. Raquel also interned with Judicial Watch, a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law, last summer (2014). She is currently the university life beat reporter for George Mason’s student news outlet, Fourth Estate, and is seeking an internship in financial and economic reporting. Raquel is a true go-getter who takes advantage of all the communication department has to offer students. “I'm really seeing her shine this year,” says Professor Beth Jannery, with whom Raquel meets often to discuss ways to enhance her resume and college experience to better prepare her for employment post-graduation.
Oscar Cordova is a 31 year old senior in the communication department with a concentration in public relations and a minor in electronic journalism. Oscar was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and moved with his family to the United States when he was seven years old. He lived in California for a few years before moving to Virginia. Oscar feels very fortunate to get the opportunity to look back at the events that led up to this point in his life and even though some things were tougher than others, he likes to think of it all as just a part of living.
He recalls that the toughest part of all was the wait, waiting in fear that one day he would have to pick up and leave to go back to a country about which he knew nothing. A few years ago that fear became a reality when he received a letter asking him to appear before a judge to make a case as to why he deserved to stay in this country. He was in the process of removal, which is another name for being deported. Even though he grew up in the United States, where he also went to school, had friends and family, a job, and had paid taxes for years, he had become just another pending case, a file in a folder, and his time had come. Fortunately, several years and lawyer fees later, his case was resolved and he was finally able to live out one of his dreams: to attend college.
Oscar was unable to attend college immediately after high school. Even if he could, unless he was a permanent resident, he would have had to pay out-of-state tuition. He did not qualify for federal financial aid either, so all he could do at that point was to get a job and hope for the best. In 2010, Oscar was finally able to attend Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), nine years after his high school graduation. Having waited for so long gave him a better appreciation for the opportunities that he has now. Oscar has given it all he can since the very first day of classes in 2010 and does not plan to let off just yet. He left NOVA with a 3.7 GPA and has since earned a 3.9 during his first year at Mason. As a senior, he hopes he can carry the same motivation throughout the year and into graduate school.
Brynn Boyer is a part-time master’s student in the communication program, with a focus on strategic communication and public relations.
“The program allows me the flexibility to work full time while pursuing my degree,” said Boyer, assistant director of communications at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. “I appreciate that I can take classes at my own pace and that I can choose coursework that will benefit my career goals.”
Boyer chose the program to learn the theory that underpins the practice of public relations, to become a more effective communicator, and to have the foundation necessary to advance as a practitioner.
“I am able to apply what I am learning in class to my job, and am able to use examples of my work in class,” she said. “It really is a situation that allows me to make connections between both areas of my life.”
In 2014, Boyer received Mason’s Communication Graduate Challenge Award and the College Communicators Association’s Rising Star Award. She is a 2010 alumna of the University of Mary Washington.
Jordan Alpert is a PhD candidate in the Department of Communication. He is currently collecting and analyzing data for his doctoral dissertation, interviewing patients and conducting focus groups with providers at a large Northern Virginia family medical practice. Through the groups, he is compiling narratives about positive and negative experiences with the online health information system used at the practice. This data will inform significant refinements in the system by offering patients a customized, robust, easily accessible, and trusted information source to promote patient adherence with medical recommendations and informed health decision-making. The current system is also undergoing a content analysis to determine areas that need to be improved, such as levels of personalization, engagement and interactivity. In addition, Jordan is also teaching two undergraduate courses: Organizational Communication (COMM 335) and Public Speaking (COMM 100).
A Note from the Communication Alumni Society Co-Chairs
We are very excited to be part of the communication department alumni effort. As you know, Mason has a great communication program. We hope, by reaching out to alumni and giving you the opportunity to get more involved with the department, that all parties – alumni, students and faculty - will enjoy the benefits of a thriving communications community.
We are planning to hold social and networking events for alumni and also give you the opportunity to support upcoming career and professional development activities for current students. Our first event, a Mason Communication Alumni Happy Hour Meet and Greet, will be on Saturday, 21 March 2015, 4:00 pm, at Fat Tuesday’s in University Mall (10673 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22030).
Join the Communication Department Alumni Society! There are no dues to join, but some events (such as professional development workshops provided by our faculty) will have a fee, which will be discounted for society members. Society members may also be invited to act as mentors for our students at career events or guest speakers for student events/meetings/classes. To join, please email the following to commalum@gmu.edu:
- First and last name
- Preferred email address
- Year you graduated
- Degree earned (BA, MA, PhD)
- Current employment (name of company or what you’re doing now)
- Any personal or professional accomplishments or other news you would like to share
- Please indicate if you would like us to share this information in future newsletters
- OR fill out our quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MasonCommunicationAlumni
Please contact either of us with questions or if you’d like to get involved with event planning.
Theresa Werner – Theresa_Werner@hotmail.com
Theresa is an award winning journalist at PBS NewsHour. She was the first freelance journalist elected as president of the National Press Club. Theresa graduated from Mason in 1996, and in 2013 she received the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award - Communications.
Mark Root – RootMark5@gmail.com
Mark is the director of corporate media relations at Northrop Grumman. He earned a master’s degree in communication from Mason, was named the communication department’s Alumni of the Year in 2011, and is active in the university’s Communication Department Insight Committee.
Happenings
4th Annual Insight Committee of the Department of Communication Career Symposium
by Claire Goodman
The overarching theme that became apparent in the George Mason communication department’s symposium, “All Things Social,” was that everything has changed. Or perhaps as keynote speaker, Aaron Sherinian, stated, everything has changed as a result of everything being social. As director of communications for the United Nations Foundation, Sherinian sees communication from a worldwide perspective, and studies communication between different demographics. In his address to the students of George Mason University, Sherinian focused on how the millennials have drastically transformed the communication world by using social media.
Of the seven billion people in the world, 43 percent are under the age of 25. This is one of the reasons that Sherinian believes young people will make a difference. The mass numbers of young people combined with easy, fast communication mediums gives people the power to be heard, broadcast themselves, and send a message to the entire world. Sherinian closed by saying, “Everything has changed. Your market is global and philanthropy has changed. You want to be authentic and that’s how we know you’ll change the world.”
Following the well-received keynote speech, a panel of influential communication professionals was introduced and they shared their success stories. This allowed the attendees (faculty, students, etc.) to get to know the panelists, with whom they would be able to have a roundtable discussion shortly after the panel discussion.
The six distinguished panelist included Jordyn Buzza, a global digital consultant with Hill+Knowlton Strategies and a worldwide leader in public relations; Lauren Green, the Director of Social Media for major defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation; Angie Goff, an Emmy Award winning reporter, cross-platform journalist at NBC Washington, and guest host for Early TODAY; Jill Moss, a Democracy Fellow at the United States Agency for International Development; Lindsey Spindle, Chief Communications and Brand Officer for Share our Strength, a national childhood hunger nonprofit organization; and Deborah Yurow, Chief Operating Officer for Bully Pulpit Interactive, a prominent Washington based advertising agency.
The third part of the symposium, and perhaps the most popular event, was a round table discussion session. Eleven tables of ten students met one-on-one with each panelist and other communication professionals to exchange ideas and ask questions. After about 15 minutes, the moderators rotated between tables so each student was able to speak with all eleven professionals.
This writer received some of the most important advice from these experts.
On a broader, “life lesson” level, Patrick Fn’Piere, an Insight Committee member, urged students never to lose touch with the people around you, at any point in life. He encourages people to stay connected because you never know when those connections may become relevant. Lindsay Spindle, of Share Our Strength, said that working for a cause has taught her that everything doesn’t have to go up. She said that just because your title and salary may decrease doesn’t mean you’re not being successful: what matters is that you’re engaging your passions and getting experience and opportunities to do what you love.
It is hard to pick and choose from all the invaluable advice that was given regarding social media; however, Jordan Buzza gave some advice I had never before heard. She said, “Focus more on strategy and don’t just do tactics.” She gave an example of not just engaging every social media platform, but figuring out which one will be most beneficial to your client. In other words, you should put thought into how you’re going to utilize social media in order to stand out in all the noise.
The 2014 symposium was the best to date. The department is very grateful to have the continuing support and leadership provided by the Insight Committee. Since its beginning ten years ago, the Insight Committee has continued to offer Mason students a unique opportunity to engage and network with successful professionals. The symposium has upheld Mason’s promise to help and encourage its students to take advantage of the dynamic and ever-changing community in which we live and plans have already begun for the 2015 symposium.
5th Annual “No Fear in Love” Race (Upcoming)
For the past five years, the Department of Communication has sponsored the “No Fear in Love” 6-mile race, developed and run by Karen Bontrager -- a Mason bachelor of individualized study program alumna who had a concentration in communication. The event promotes healthy relationships and domestic violence awareness, with a specific interest in adolescents and young adults. It also raises funds to provide educational opportunities for teen survivors of relational violence (ages 16-24), and this year she has been able to raise enough funds to give a dating violence survivor a one-year scholarship to George Mason University.
For more information, visit http://nofearinloverace.org or contact Race Director, Karen Bontrager, at 571.471.9086.
PRSSA and Communication Department Annual Career Fair (Upcoming)
Keep your eyes peeled for details regarding our Third Annual PRSSA and Communication Department Career Fair to be held on 24 March 2015! This is the perfect opportunity to meet potential employers and network at the George Mason University Fairfax campus.
Each year, the Career Fair is organized by the local chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America in alliance with University Career Services, and is sponsored by the Department of Communication and the School of Business. The event includes a professional panel (last year’s was “Be Your Own Boss in the New Millennium") by professionals in public relations, marketing, and mass communications. This panel discussion presents an opportunity for students to get insight on how to become employed, become an entrepreneur, and build a successful career. Students are also able to network with the employer panelists.
Last year, the panel featured Gal Borenstein, founder & CEO of Borenstein Group; Tod Plotkin, principal at Green Buzz Agency; Vanessa French, president/lead strategist of Pivot Point Communications; Carla Briceno, co-founder of Bixal; Sherri Arnaiz, creative director/owner of Sherri Arnaiz Web Design, Branding, Advertising & Marketing; Kimberly Guarino, marketing and business advisor to growth CEOs at Evolve Marketing; and Jennifer Brand, principal at Brand Solutions Group.
The event is free to employers and students interested in careers in communication and marketing and will be held on 24 March 2015 (time TBA), in Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center on Fairfax campus.. Students are advised to bring several copies of their resumes and research their companies of interest before arriving. Professional dress is required.