Have a Great Spring Break!

Students in Shawn Orr's COM 205: Intro to Public Relations class kicked off the last class before spring break with a pancake breakfast. The maple syrup was brought in by student Abby Rohr from her family's maple tree farm (available at Sweet Fire Sugar Bush), and students enjoyed a time of eating and networking.

The Communication Studies Department wishes everyone a safe and relaxing spring break!

PRSSA Meeting Slated for Monday, March 16

PRSSA meetings are open to any AU student interested in communication and public relations. 

COM Studies Professor Performs at Suffrage Celebrations

Communication Studies Professor and Director of the Online Communication Studies Program Dr. Deleasa Randall-Griffiths was recently featured on Good Morning Tulsa for her portrayal as suffragette Carrie Chapman Catt during the city's Women's Suffrage Commemoration events.

Events of the day, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th

Dr. Randall-Griffiths as Carrie Chapman Catt
Sharon King Davis as Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Rebecca Marks Jimerson as Ida B. Wells

Amendment, included Living History performances, during which Dr. Randall-Griffiths gave a keynote portrayal of Chapman Catt, a march and rally, and opening of the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum's "Votes for Women: Striking a Four-Letter Word from the Constitution" exhibit.  Additional Living History performances were given by suffragettes Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ida B. Wells, and Susan B. Anthony.

This event is one of a number for which Dr. Randall-Griffiths is slated to portray Chapman Catt, including a Living History Performance as part of Ashland University's Symposium Against Indifference.  Her performance at AU, which takes place Monday, March 2 at 7:00 pm in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center Auditorium, will include an in character monologue and Q&A.  The third portion of the performance will be an out of character Q&A session, which will allow Dr. Randall-Griffiths to comment on broader topics and themes surrounding the suffrage movement.  This event is free and open to the public. 

PRSSA Chapter Hosts Popular Career Talk

Lenroy Jones, director of
AU's Career Services

The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosted a standing room only LinkedIn event on Monday, February 17, where students learned how to build a great student profile, create a professional network, and use LinkedIn to find an internship or job.

Lenroy Jones, director of Career Services at Ashland University, led this interactive and information-packed session. Students from the American Marketing Association joined PRSSA students during the session in a collaborative effort to highlight and promote the impact social media has on today’s organizations.

AU's chapter of PRSSA provides opportunities for AU students interested in communication and public relations to enhance their education and broaden their network.

Dr. Deleasa Randall-Griffiths Presents with Communication Studies Alumna, Kelsey Nicolay

Cover of text, The Discourse of Disability 

in Communication Education, containing 

chapter on which Dr. Randall-Griffiths and 

Ms. Nicolay presented

Dr. Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Professor and Director of the Online Communication Studies Program in the Department of Communication Studies, presented a session with alumna Kelsey Nicolay titled Communication is the Key to Breaking Down Barriers for the American Council of the Blind Regional Conference, Columbus, OH.

Nicolay graduated from Ashland University in 2013 with a double major in French and Communication Studies.  She and Dr. Randall-Griffiths presented content from a chapter they co-authored for the book The Discourse of Disablity in Communication Education: Narrative-based Research for Social Change. (edited by Atay and Ashlock and published in 2016).

For more information about the American Council of the Blind, please visit their website here. 

Dr. Gwen Hullman and Health & Risk major Camille Pollutro Present at National Conference

​

Dr. Gwen Hullman and Camille Pollutro (Criminal Justice and Health & Risk Communication major) presented  "Strategic Messaging Elements of the Tips from Former Smokers Centers for Disease Control Video Campaign" at the National Communication Association's 105th Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD last week.  The conference focused on Communication for Survival, which "encourages Communication scholars and practitioners alike to think about the vital role communication plays in survival."

To learn more about the National Communication Association, visit their website. 

First Public Relations Student Society of America Meeting- open to all communication studies students!

Monday, September 16 - 7:00 p.m.

CFA 302 (Pizza provided)

COM Studies students are invited to attend this introductory meeting to learn the benefits of joining PRSSA!

Networking, internships, scholarships, guest speakers, conferences, participation in the national Bateman Case Study competition & more!

It's time to join the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)! PRSSA is a student-led organization that is open to all communication studies students, and seeks to “advance the public relations profession by developing ethically responsible pre-professionals who champion diversity, strive for an outstanding education and advocate for the profession” (http://prssa.prsa.org/about-prssa/mission/). AU students participate in leadership and service through this organization, and have attended social media conferences, regional PRSA meetings, and for the last two years participated in the Bateman Case Study Competition. In addition, monthly PRSSA meetings include guest speakers, PRSSA professional development webinars, internship sessions and social networking opportunities.

Our first meeting is coming up on Monday, September 16th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in CFA 302. During this meeting, Professor Shawn Orr will introduce the association and share the benefits of joining, and an election for officers for this year's chapter will be held. Students will also hear from a newly-graduated public relations student who will share her experiences with PRSSA and how it impacted her ability to find a job right after graduation.