COMMConnection
February 2024

Links and Information
Mason COMM Faculty/Staff Directory
Connect with Mason COMM on LinkedIn (important for Alumni!)
Donate to the Department: Click “Give" on our main website
Join the Mason COMM Society or update us: please email the Undergraduate Program Coordinator: medmond3@gmu.edu
Welcome: Letter from the Chair
Welcome to the Spring 2024 newsletter!
It has been a busy and wonderful year so far, and we have much to be proud of! Last semester, we celebrated award-winning students, colleagues, and alumni. The department hosted an energy-filled booth at the NCA grad fair and it was fantastic to meet and see so many alumni at the MasonCOMM happy hour! Students benefited from a successful Insight Committee Fall Career Forum, and students created communication campaigns for real clients in their courses. Another cohort of Air Force fellows in the M.A. program presented their research to their leadership at the Pentagon, and I had the great fortune of listening to the M.A. students' final research presentations! Our PhD students continue to gain experience teaching COMM courses, and pursuing important research. Our faculty and centers continue to produce engaged research that is leading to real action.
This spring semester, there's even more in store! February and April are full of great events sponsored by MasonCOMM, including our Valentine's COMM Cocoa & Cookies, co-hosting the SPJ Region 2 conference on April 13 with Mason Student Media, the COMM Center networking event on April 17, the Debate event on April 20, and then the end-of-year graduation and awards celebrations! We hope to see you at these upcoming events. We also look forward to marking 40 years of the Communication Department at Mason with a celebration in Fall 2024. Stay tuned for more information!
Wishing you all the best,
Kim Meltzer
———
Kimberly Meltzer, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Communication
George Mason University
Department News
Here's a re-cap of the Fall 2023 Semester!
- Mason Communication attends the 2023 NCA Conference at the National Harbour
Student & Alumni News
See what #MasonCOMM students have been up to this past fall!
Who we're proud of:
- The winter graduating Class of 2023! Congratulations to all of our 2023 students who graduated in December! Join our #MasonCOMM Alumni Listserv to keep in touch!
Keeping up with the GMU Debate and Forensics Teams:
- Keep up with the GMU Debate Team and what they accomplished this past fall semester, this past season their motto was "Keep up with the Momentum".
- The GMU Forensics Team had a fantastic fall as well! See what they accomplished this past semester and what they're up to this spring!
Did you know?
- GMU's Head Coach of the Men's Basketball Program, Tony Skinn (BA Communication 06'), was not only on the 2006 Final Four team but also a #MasonCOMM student??
Faculty News
See what #MasonCOMM faculty members have been up to this past fall!
Faculty Achievements:
- Dr. Xiaomei Cai awarded the 2023 CHSS Faculty Civic Excellence Award this past November, along with our Mason Communication Alumna and Staff CHSS Community & Catalyst award nominee's.
Faculty Promotions:
- Congratulations to Dr. Catherine Wright and Dr. Andrew Rudd!
Upcoming Events
See all Mason COMM upcoming events
- #MasonCOMM Undergraduate Student Awards Ceremony
- April 25th @ the JC Cinema
- #MasonCOMM Graduate Student Awards Ceremony
- TBA
- GMU Spring 2024 Commencement: May 9, 2024
- CHSS Degree Celebration: May 10, 2024
The 3rd Annual: COMM, Cocoa, & Cookies Valentines Day Event
Hosted by the Department of Communication
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM EST
Horizon Hall, 5200 kitchen
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Region 2 Conference
hosted by Mason Student Media & the Department of Communication
Saturday, April 13, 2024 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM EDT
Merten Hall
Mocktails and Mingling
Student "Networking Practice" Event: Hosted by the COMM Center & Dept. of Communication
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM EDT
Johnson Center, Bistro