1. 2011
Multichannels
A Publication of the School of Communication
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Cleveland State University
Communication Students
Take to theTown
Cleveland Is Our Canvas
School of Communication
College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
Music and Communication Building, MU 233
2121 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
216.687.4630
www.csuohio.edu

2. Levine takes career leap
and lands in South Korea
21
By Jordan Stevenson
“I needed a change. I wanted an ad-
venture, so I took the leap,” says Daniel
Levine, a 2010 Journalism and Promo-
tional Communication graduate.
Leap is exactly what Levine did. Only
months after graduating, Levine packed
up his life in Cleveland and moved to
South Korea, where he teaches Eng-
lish to young students. Despite the
fast-paced career placement, the seeds
of teaching abroad were planted years
in advance through shared stories and
experiences.
“During a CSU class, Dr. George Ray
told me about his son, who traveled
abroad to teach,” says Levine. “At that
time I thought, ‘Who would want to do
such a thing?’ Then, while I was in New
York City over the summer for music
gigs and internships, I came across peo-
ple who also traveled abroad to teach.
Even though I was familiar at this point
with teaching abroad, I still wasn’t inter-
ested until I started to research.”
Facing the tough economic crisis and
feeling the “pressure to immediately
jump into a major career,” Levine, with
the support of Cleveland State Com-
munication faculty, including Cheryl
Bracken, Ph.D., Gary Pettey, Ph.D. and
Ray, grappled with the decision to travel
across the world. But it was the advice
of Professor Emeritus Jae-won Lee
that may have cemented his decision to
teach abroad, as the South Korean na-
tive and International Communication
course professor encouraged Levine to
“think in a broader context.”
“(Daniel) was in my class in his final
semester, where many students were
very concerned about their immedi-
ate future like securing a job,” Lee says.
“Many students graduate at the age of
21 or 22, land a job somehow, get mar-
ried and very soon have their children,
and then they get into buying their first
house with a heavy mortgage. If our
graduates pursue a life cycle like this,
they will find it very difficult to have
an opportunity to experience the world
outside while things everywhere these
days are increasingly global.”
While nothing could prepare Levine
for the excitement of a new culture and
language, his experience as an America
Reads tutor, as well as his involvement
in several internships in Cleveland and
New York gave him “invaluable ‘real-
world’ experience” and an important
sense of professionalism.
Following the “honeymoon phase” of
adapting to new surroundings, Levine
finds comfort in a daily routine, which
includes preparing lesson plans of dif-
ferent vocabulary expressions and
searching for appropriate class materi-
als. Despite living in a large “radically
different” city, he feels close to home as
it is a more slow-paced environment.
The former Public Relations Student
Society of America, Cleveland Chap-
ter vice president encourages CSU stu-
dents to take an interest in the campus.
Levine stresses networking and building
relationships with professors as well as
being involved on campus and creating
a career plan at least six months prior
to commencement. Much like his CSU
professors and mentors, he also sup-
ports global exposure to travel and ca-
reer opportunities.
“I believe that the experience you get
in another country, whether it be study-
ing abroad, being employed, or leisure
traveling, is a great way to open your
eyes to what else is out there,” Levine
says. “You can only get so much infor-
mation on the television, radio, or even
in a book about another part of the
world. The first-hand experience is like
none other.”
News from alumni
Ashley Rockhold (2008 B.A.,
Journalism and Promotional
Communication and a con-
centration in Public Relations)
resides in Washington D.C.,
where she is the communica-
tions manager for the “To-
bacco Free Kids Campaign,” a
non-governmental organization
that encourages public policy
on tobacco control at a federal,
state and international level.
K.C. McKenna (2005 B.A.,
Communication with Journal-
ism certificate) is the director
of marketing and admissions
at St. Edward High School in
Lakewood. McKenna actively
manages the school’s branding
and marketing and implement-
ing prospective student recruit-
ing and retention programs.
Larry DeAngelis (1989 B.A.,
Communication and a minor in
Psychology) is senior vice presi-
dent in account management in
the Cleveland office of Doner,
one of the largest indepen-
dent advertising agencies in the
country.
Mike Kezdi (2005 B.A., Com-
munication with a Journalism
certificate) is assistant editor
and Brecksville reporter for The
Sun-Star Courier, and the assis-
tant editor for both the Bruns-
wick Sun and the Medina Sun.
Michael C. Butz (2006 B.A.,
Journalism and Promotional
Communication) enjoys his po-
sition as the editorial page edi-
tor for the northern Ohio news-
paper The News-Herald.
Staff
Co-Editors
Kristen Mott
Howard Primer
Photo Editors
DeAnna Harris
Colleen Reynolds
Online Editors
Derek Amrich
Lauren Solarz
Features Editor
Gabriella Tomaro
Staff
Muji Abang
Ashley Ammond
Joey Fulgenzi
Laramie Hedrick
Sherifatu Kafaru
Kelsey Mercurio
Mandy McCollum
Amanda McIlwain
James O’Malley
Justin Papcun
Colleen Reynolds
Anthony Sambula
Jessica Smith
Lauren Solarz
Jordan Stevenson
Andrew Stenger
Rachel Tuma
Faculty Instructor
Betty Clapp
Photo credits
Front cover
Muji Abang (building)
Ashley Ammond (car)
DeAnna Harris (art)
Back cover
Bill Reiter
The School of
Communication’s
Spring 2011 Editing and
Graphics class produced
Multichannels.
Table of Contents
Cleveland is our canvas .
......1
Communication students take “the city is our campus” and
“engaged learning” to heart. Read how in this collection
of stories highlighting work done by CSU students
in the Greater Cleveland area.
• Location stories introduce students to Cleveland’s past
• CSU researchers examine imprisoned women’s communication
• Research study leads to exploration of film documenting family relations
• Ingenuity Festival gives students real-world experience
• AWC targets domestic violence as club service project
• City journalists discuss emerging media
• Play-doh and spaghetti help students understand hearing loss
• Students help on promotion for Web show
School....................................9
Graduates explore a tight but interesting job market;CSU boosts
Health Communication; change expected with new director.
• Moving onto the job market
• Blazek suggests tips for getting started
• Health Communication: expects broader role
• Cleveland State plans expansion
• Perloff recalls many accomplishments as school director
• Ray sets goals as school director
• Alumna has tips for being the perfect intern
Faculty.................................15
Research articles and books are highlights of faculties
production in the past year.
• Diversity leads Dalisay to CSU
• Updates on Communication Faculty
Alumni.
................................17
Get advice from those who have already been through it-
Alumni share their stories of success after earning a degree
from Cleveland State.
• Dreams becoming reality for alumnus Dawson
• Being involved at CSU helped Peck follow his dreams in Journalism
• Interest in health leads to a career at Clinic
• Maria Keckan finds herself at the top
• Levine takes career leap and lands in South Korea
• News from alumni
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

3. 1
Cleveland is Our Canvas
By Justin Papcun
Professor Leo Jeffres, Ph.D., uses projects in his Advanced
Reporting class to send students into the community to use
all of their reporting skills.
Students focus on learning reporting skills: observing,
interviewing, information gathering, looking up public re-
cords, using electronic databases and learning by doing.
“You can lecture about reporting skills but, like lecturing
about writing, the best thing is to learn by doing,” Jeffres
says.
Taking this course lets students use a set of skills they can
apply in a media context.
“The goal is, build one’s portfolio and diversify it to show
the breadth of your skills,” Jeffres says.
Over the years, one of Jeffres’s favorite projects is what
he calls a “location” story, in which he picks a news story
centered on a location.
Sometimes this story might be obvious and, other times,
Jeffres wants students to do a little research to find a good
story.
Jeffres likes using neighborhoods in the Cleveland area
where things are happening to a structure such as foreclo-
sure, a new business opening, or anything that will raise
questions regarding the history of a location.
After picking a location, students use their skills in using
propertyandpublicrecordsthatwillbeneededforthestory.
“I usually pick an area of the city that is very old that I
happen to live in, too, and I have some background, too,
although I have not always done that,” Jeffres says. “Gen-
erally, I pick the areas so students can use all the wealth of
archives that are available in the Cleveland area.”
One of the archives students will use in this course is
Cuyahoga County property records in the county admin-
istration building, which will take students quite far back in
Cleveland’s history.
Students can also use the Western Reserve Historical Soci-
ety archives, which have all sorts of records, references, files,
recent census data, maps, a city directory and many other
kinds of material.
Jeffres also advises students to use Cleveland libraries. In
the Cleveland Public Library downtown, students can find
an extensive photo collection, and they can find the Cleve-
land Press collection in the CSU special collections. These
libraries have rare materials and sources students might not
be able to find anywhere else.
Another assignment students do regarding their location is
observation. This involves students using all of their senses
to collect information about their story.
Jeffres started teaching this course when the college con-
verted from quarters to semesters in 1997, and he has been
teaching Advanced Reporting for roughly 14 years.
The course did not always involve getting the students out
into the community. This concept is something that Jeffres
began.
This class will evolve as time goes on. “This really is what
engaged learning is all about, and CSU has been doing this
way before the ‘engaged learning’ slogan,” Jeffres says.
Jeffres notes Cleveland is a good area for this course. “Use
your environment and enjoy it for all it can provide,” he
says.
As the class evolved, so did Jeffres. As his knowledge
grew about the surrounding area he was able to incorporate
more ideas into the class, he says.
Communication students
and their professors
embrace CSU’s ‘engaged
learning’ slogan with projects
that benefit Greater Cleveland.
Here are some of their experiences
painting the town green.
Location stories
introduce students
to Cleveland’s past
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By Kelsey Mercurio
Maria Keckan has shown how hard
work and dedication have helped her
become the president of Cinecraft Pro-
duction Inc., a video production com-
pany that has been operating for more
than 65 years.
Keckan and
her husband
bought the com-
pany in February
1986, and have
kept the com-
pany strong even
through the eco-
nomic struggles.
“Our company
just had the best
year it ever had,”
Keckan said. “We’ve been blessed with
plenty of business, great employees and
customers who keep growing and com-
ing back for more of what we do.”
Keckan graduated from Cleveland
State in 1979 with a focus in Mass Me-
dia Communication, even though that’s
not what she wanted to do in the first
place.
She hoped to go into physical therapy,
but realized she was unable to put the
time and money into the program. Ke-
ckan then planned to somehow incor-
porate film/video with her interest in
the medical field.
Through her years at Cleveland State,
Keckan had a good experience while
earning her degree. “My experience at
CSU was great,” she notes. “I loved the
majority of my coursework. I got along
well with most of the professors and re-
spected them all. I felt I was getting an
education as good, or better, than most
of my peers who had gone off to col-
leges away from home.”
When Keckan graduated, she knew
what she wanted to do and whom she
wanted to work for, but also knew it
was going to be hard to get a high posi-
tion at the company she wanted.
“I knew when I was graduating from
CSU that my first choice would be to
work at Fairview Hospital, because it
was the only local hospital producing
broadcast-quality medical videos,” Ke-
ckan said. “I had been waitressing all
through college and I just kept on wait-
ressing while I worked as an intern for
free – my intention was to make myself
indispensable so they would end up hir-
ing me.”
This is exactly what Fairview Hospi-
tal did. She started at Channel 5 as an
intern, but then moved to Fairview
Hospital where she knew she wanted to
start her career.
Even though she started just writing
scripts, the director of the media de-
partment saw the skills Keckan had and
moved her to a higher position. With all
of her hard work and passion for what
she did, Keckan was promoted to pro-
ducer.
“I worked as an intern (for free),
first at Channel 5 (ABC) as an assistant
producer and editor, then at Fairview
General Hospital, writing scripts for
medical educational videos,” she recalls.
“The director of the media department
liked my writing so she created a posi-
tion for me – as a secretary (that was
all she could get the budget for) -- and
I wrote assistant-produced videos while
being the department’s ‘second’ secre-
tary until someone above me quit and I
was promoted to producer.”
After Fairview, Keckan and her hus-
band took over Cinecraft, where they
both held top positions in the com-
pany. Even though it may seem like
becoming the president right away
would be good, it came with a lot of
headaches.
“I started at the top, not as great as
it sounds,” she says. “A new owner
coming in to run the company was
not what the other employees wanted
and in fact, the day my husband and
I took over, one of the employees
handed us a letter signed by almost ev-
eryone on staff listing 17 changes that
they wanted to see happen under new
management or they would all leave.
Hence, the night that was supposed to
be a celebration was the beginning of
a long, uphill trek.”
Even though the start of her career at
Cinecraft was tough, now the company
is doing very well and Keckan says she
believes it will do well for many years.
Maria Keckan finds herself at the top
Alumna used unpaid interships to pave way for her future
20
Advice for graduates
“Do everything you need to
do to get the job you want
to get,” she stresses. “Don’t
underestimate the old tried and
true answers”:
• Get on the Dean’s list
• Ask people for help in making
contacts
• Shake hands firmly and make
eye contact
• Be willing to work harder and
listen harder than anyone else
• Be persistent and pleasant
• Attitude goes further than
skill
• You can teach employees
what skills they need, but you
can’t give someone a good
attitude – he has to bring that
himself.
Maria Keckan
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

4. Cleveland is Our Canvas
2
By Gabriella Tomaro
A professor, a part-time instructor
and three Communication graduate
students are trying to help female pris-
oners become better mothers.
CSU graduate students Janelle Franz,
Paul Palisin and Alicia Romano, Part-
time Instructor Claire Gross, and
School of Communication Professor
Jill Rudd, Ph.D., are working in a col-
laborative research project to explore
communication in families who have
incarcerated mothers.
Funded by a Faculty Research De-
velopment Grant, it will develop and
teach a parenting program with Har-
bor Light, a correctional pre-release
facility focusing on women, located on
Prospect Avenue in Cleveland.
Research questions focus on incar-
cerated women’s communication with
their children. The students conduct
interviews from a variety of correc-
tional facilities in the Greater Cleve-
land Area. The research project started
in 2008 and is still in progress.
The goal of the project is to help
mother-child communication as they
re-enter themselves into family life
upon their release.
Through their research, the team
has discovered what incarcerated
mothers, such as the women at Har-
bor Light, want to achieve through a
parenting program.
They want training in anger man-
agement, how to listen, how to cope
with issues of trust and how to de-
velop patience.
They have found that 75 percent of
women interviewed said their com-
munication has changed since their in-
carceration, and of that percentage, 56
percent said it worsened.
The researchers are working on a pa-
per to support a request for additional
grants to further their research.
Cleveland State researchers examine
imprisoned women’s communication
This year brings visitors
By Rachel Tuma
The Association for Women in Communications invited Melissa Newman, an
award-winning journalist and writer, to the campus to speak with students March 4.
Bill Guentzler, artistic director from the Cleveland International Film Festival,
spoke to the Documentary Form in Film and Television class on March 7.
Justin Boyd spoke about job searching in Professor Jennifer Eden’s Advertis-
ing Copywriting and Layout Design class, as did Tiffany Myroniak, who works for
Cleveland Magazine.
Professor Robert Abelman’s Media Criticism class had a number of speakers, in-
cluding Tony Brown, theater critic for The Plain Dealer, Mark Dawidziak, TV
critic for The Plain Dealer, Scott Spence, artistic director for Beck Center for the
Arts, Fred Sternfeld, artistic director at Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory,
and Richard Leder, an independent filmmaker.
In Assistant Professor Robert Whitbred’s Strategic Communication class, Mark
Crowley, director of internal communication for Sherwin-Williams, discussed the
strategic communication program that Sherwin-Williams follows.
Pete Hamill, distinguished writer in residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism
Institute at New York University, spoke to Professor Craig Sanders’ Principles of
Public Relations class on April 26. In addition to his journalistic career, Hamill is also
a novelist, essayist, editor and educator.
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By Lauren Solarz
Stephanie Jansky, a Communication
and Public Affairs manager at Cleve-
land Clinic reflects on her early years of
college and how she ended up where
she is today.
“All of my friends were going to John
Carroll so I took a look at the num-
bers,” says Jansky. “I had a scholarship
to CSU, so I started out there for finan-
cial reasons. My financial decision later
on led to an academic decision.”
Jansky graduated from Cleveland State
in May 2000 with her Bachelor of Arts
in Communication. Exactly two years
later, in May 2002, she graduated with
her master’s in Applied Communica-
tion Theory and Methodology from
CSU.
Starting out as an undergraduate,
Jansky began as an English major but
decided a double major would broaden
her skills. As a result, she ended up ma-
joring in English and Communication.
As an undergraduate, Jansky nabbed an
internship with the Cleveland Browns
in the team’s community relations de-
partment.
She began her internship in 1999, the
same year the Cleveland Browns re-
turned to the NFL for football fans all
over the area.
Jansky worked with community and
alumni relations to try to create a new
history for the city of Cleveland. Al-
though she had a great experience
interning for the Browns, Jansky says
she didn’t feel that sports was her
niche.
In addition to her internship with the
Browns, she also obtained an internship
at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jansky credits CSU for the reason she
was able to experience two great intern-
ships.
“If I would have gone to John Car-
roll or Miami of Ohio, I might not have
been able to intern at either of those
places,” she said.
Growing up in Parma, Jansky had
close access to the city. She lived at
home with a commute to the university,
which took no more than 10 minutes
on most days. Her main focus has al-
ways been health care and the wellness
of human beings.
When Jansky began graduate school,
she did a media production internship
at Cleveland Clinic. She helped create
programming that was appropriate for
children by holding an in-house educa-
tional show.
Now in her 30s, Jansky found her-
self back at Cleveland Clinic, only this
time with a permanent position. In No-
vember, 2009, two years before Jansky
returned to the Clinic as a communi-
cation and public affairs manager, the
Clinic started a Wellness Institute and
was looking for someone with a public
relations background. Jansky, who sup-
ports a more organic lifestyle for her-
self, found the Clinic position to be a
good fit.
When Jansky began working for the
Clinic, she began promoting the Clinic’s
wellness initiative in the media.
“We are trying promote all the ben-
efits of a healthy lifestyle - everything
from improved persnoal health to po-
tentially decreasing our national health-
care costs,” Jansky says.
She also credits her mother for moti-
vating her interest in a healthier lifestyle.
“My mom was always a very healthy
person,” she says.
Jansky advises Communication stu-
dents is to do internships. “Paid or un-
paid, it’s the only way to enjoy what you
do,” Jansky says.
19
Interest in health leads
to a career at Clinic
News from alumni
Dr. Kristin Cardinale (1992
BA, Communication and 1994
Med Adult Learning) is the au-
thor of the Amazon.com best-
seller “The 9-to-5 Cure: Work
on Your Own Terms and Re-
invent Your Life,” an innova-
tive guide discussing strategies
for optimizing employment in
any economy. In her book, Car-
dinale coined a new term for
freelancer, “patchworker,” an
expression recently recognized
by The New York Times. A ca-
reer coach, speaker, consultant
and optimist, Cardinale holds
multiple job titles, allowing her
to “(pursue) enjoyable work in
abundance and insulating (me)
from sudden and total job loss,
readily found in the traditional
9-to-5 work world.”
Rita Jermann (2000 BA, Com-
munication with a focus on au-
dio/video production and 2005
MEd, Adult Education) began
her career with CSU as a stu-
dent employee in the University
Events Office. She has worked
on committees for the inaugura-
tion of both President Michael
Schwartz and President Ronald
M. Berkman. She now can be
found in Julka Hall, where she
works for the College of Edu-
cation and Human Services as a
public inquiries assistant.
Melanie Murphy Miller
(2008 BA, Film and Digital Me-
dia and a minor in Journalism
and Promotional Communica-
tion) wrote for the Cleveland
Stater. She is now a competitor
for the Mrs. America crown.
continued on page 21
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

5. 3
By Gabriella Tomaro
Faculty members Jill Rudd, Ph.D. and
Kim Neuendorf, Ph.D. are making a
biographical documentary highlighting
Rudd’s past research with incarcerated
women and their relationships with
their families, particularly relationships
with their daughters.
Using Rudd’s previous research on
incarcerated women and Neuen-
dorf’s digital media expertise, they are
working in collaboration with Rachel
Campbell, Rudd’s graduate assistant,
and Tiffany Rathforn, Communica-
tion graduate student on the project.
Their documentary will focus on
incarcerated women’s re-entry into
their family and center on the effects
of incarceration on mother-daughter
relationships from the daughters’ per-
spective.
A key question in their research
covers how incarceration influences
the way mothers and daughter talk
before, during and after incarcera-
tion.
In Spring 2011, they began to shoot
the first interviews with one family in
hopes of using the footage to apply
for outside funding through financial
grants.
For their qualitative approach on the
subject, the research team hopes to at-
tain funding for research on incarcer-
ated women’s parenting.
Rudd’s passion for learning more
about women and family issues
through a relational communication
perspective is the driving force behind
the documentary. Rudd says she wants
to share her research and interviews in
a different medium.
Rudd and Neuendorf have different
goals for the documentary based on
their academic expertise.
Neuendorf wants to achieve a full-
feature documentary, not just a series
of interviews.
Rudd wants the first interview to
open the door to attain outside fund-
ing and to use the finished documenta-
ry as a tool in the incarcerated women’s
parenting program.
CLEVELAND is Our Canvas
Research study leads to exploration
of film documenting family relations
Photo by Colleen Reynolds
Rachel Campbell works on a lit review for Professor Rudd in her office.
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By Ashley Ammond
Journalism is often referred to as a
tough career field in which to find jobs.
Luckily, for recent Cleveland State Uni-
versity graduate Cody Peck, it was not.
Peck graduated from CSU in Spring
2009. After transferring to CSU from
Cuyahoga Community College, he
decided to succeed he would have to
become more involved in on-campus
activities. He says the CSU Advertising
Association is what helped him enjoy
college even more.
“Get involved in something,” he sug-
gests to incoming students. “It is a lot
easier, and I think it gives you a little
more confidence to move forward in
your education.”
A self-proclaimed workaholic, he put
his time and effort not only into his full
schedule of classes, but also into an in-
ternship.
DebbieSutherland,aRepublicanrun-
ning for commissioner of Cuyahoga
County, had internship positions avail-
able during her 2008 campaign, and
Peck wanted to take it.
“It was just an extra thing that I really
wanted to do,” Peck says.
After helping the Sutherland cam-
paign, Peck put his time back into the
Advertising Association and he be-
came secretary his senior year.
That year, Peck, along with the oth-
er members, traveled to Charleston,
W.Va., where they presented their ad-
vertising campaign to a panel of judges,
and placed fourth in the regional com-
petition.
“It was a challenge, but it was a chal-
lenge that I enjoyed,” Peck says about
his ability to juggle school and the Ad-
vertising Association.
Because it can be difficult to find a
job in journalism, Peck opted for an-
other internship after graduation with
a public relations firm in downtown
Cleveland where he had the opportu-
nity to sharpen his skills.
“Again, it took up a lot of my time,
but because I like to remain busy, it was
just an extra thing I wanted to do,” he
says.
After completing his internship with
the firm, Peck was offered a reporting
job by The Sun Sentinel and The Sun
Star-Courier in January 2010.
He moved to the Lakewood Sun
Post-Herald in 2011.
Hereportsonpoliceandwritessports
and feature stories.
He says he is always trying to improve
as a reporter, and views his work as a
way to continue his education.
Being involved at CSU helped
Peck follow his dreams in journalism
After completing an internship, Peck receives reporting offer
18
Tips for students
when they graduate
For those graduating this year,
Peck has this advice:
• When you graduate, be con-
fident that you will find employ-
ment. It is a tough job market,
and you have to work hard
sending out your resumes and
doing research on companies.
• Make sure that you are do-
ing whatever you can to meet
people, and surround yourself
with good people. Be sure to
network.
• Lastly, work hard. That is the
most important thing. Believe
in what you are doing, put your
head down and just work hard.
Photo Courtesy of Cody Peck
Cody Peck is a 2009 graduate of
Cleveland State.
“Get involved in
something. It is a lot
easier, and I think
it gives you a little
more confidence to
move forward in your
education .”
-Cody Peck
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

6. 4
Cleveland is Our Canvas
Photo by Amanda McIlwain
KaitlynneYuhas (front) andWanda Jackson (back), interview models fromVir-
ginia Marti College of Art and Design at Ingenuity Fest.
Ingenuity Festival gives students
real-world work experiences
By Mandy McCollum
Life as a student can become mun-
dane and repetitive. Professor John
Ban is changing that by taking his stu-
dents out of his Specialized Topics in
Media Arts and Technology class and
into the heart of the city.
A recent project by his Specialized
Topics in Media Arts and Technol-
ogy summer class took his pupils into
the Ingenuity Festival, an event that
highlights art, music and new ideas.
Students helped program and video-
tape the festival’s summer fundraising
program, The Speakeasy. This event
mimicked secretive bars established in
the 1920s during prohibition.
During the 1920s-themed speakeasy,
students dressed in period garb and
interviewed guests, asking questions
about whether they knew about In-
genuity Festival before the fundraiser,
and what they like about the space be-
ing used for the festival.
Kaitlynne Yuhas, a student who
worked on the event, says, “It was
good to be able to participate in real-
world experience rather than just being
lectured on event planning. In gen-
eral, I would suggest taking a class that
mixes learning with an outside experi-
ence.”
Yuhas says students should take
classes that offer experience outside
the classroom because this is the time
to see if they do in fact like their major.
It can also lead to other exciting op-
portunities.
Students also created promotional
video materials to help create aware-
ness of the upcoming Fall 2011 festi-
val.
In the fall, an advanced production
class videotaped many of the events
that occurred during the festival week-
end.
Ingenuity Festival Public Relations
Director James Krouse says the stu-
dents were a pleasure to work with and
he appreciates the help.
When asked if he would work with
Cleveland State students again, Krouse
says, “Anytime!”
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
17
By Colleen Reynolds
Cleveland State University alumnus
Ryan Dawson is proof that with hard
work, dedication and confidence, a stu-
dent’s dreams and goals can become
reality.
Dawson, raised in Westlake, decided to
start an undergraduate degree in Eng-
lish at Denison University. While taking
a break from school, he started a band,
toured the country and released three
CDs.
After seven years, he decided to con-
tinue his education at CSU with a major
in Communication and a focus in jour-
nalism. He knew this is what he wanted
to do and saw himself as a sports col-
umnist after graduation. Dawson liked
the opportunities that came with a big-
citycampusandusedittohisadvantage.
After relentlessly sending out writing
clips to newspaper and magazine in
Northeast Ohio, Dawson started do-
ing freelance work before graduation.
Upon graduation in 2001, Dawson did
sports freelance work for The Chron-
icle-Telegram in Elyria. He rapidly
moved up from part-time freelancer to
full-time sports writer and editor. Even-
tually, he became the front-page design-
er and is the reason behind the paper’s
look today.
Dawson also moved to South Carolina
for a year to write for the Sun News in
Myrtle Beach. He then moved on to
work at The Plain Dealer as a copy edi-
tor and designer, then moved to Stack
magazine to work as an associate edi-
tor and writer. In June 2010, Dawson
returned to The Chronicle-Telegram,
where he is the Accent Editor, dealing
with the arts and life section.
Dawson describes his role as Accent
Editor as challenging, inspirational and
fun, and offering insight about his typi-
cal work day.
“As the Accent Editor, my challenge
is to keep the section engaging and en-
tertaining while keeping a firm grasp on
our integrity,” he says. “I am the only
person in this department, and I use a
handful of freelance writers in my at-
tempt to keep content local and fun
(and educational, too).”
“I design six two- to six-page sec-
tions per week, write a short column
four days a week, choose the stories,
edit them, write the headlines, manage
a freelance budget and am constantly
searching for better ways to tell stories
and sell more papers,” he says.
“I doubt I’ll do this for the rest of my
career,” he adds. “As much as I enjoy it,
I’m always searching for new creative
outlets. So we’ll see.”
In addition to his writing job, Dawson
also does design work for the Cystic Fi-
brosis Foundation in Northeast Ohio
and puts together an 80-page event pro-
gram each spring for the Chef’s Fantasy
Dinner & Auction, the foundation’s
largest fundraiser. Dawson says that he
feels lucky to be on the executive com-
mittee for such a great cause.
Dawson reflects on his CSU days.
“When I was in the band, we played
hundreds of colleges and I found my-
self not missing the things I thought I
would. But I love learning and being in
a classroom, so I do miss that part,” he
notes.
Dreams becoming reality
for alumnus Dawson
News from alumni
Jennifer Boresz, (2004 B.A.,
Communication, with a certificate
in Journalism and focus on audio/
video production), an Emmy-
nominated and award-winning
journalist, enjoys the spotlight in
front of the camera as an actress
and host. She is the TV commer-
cial spokesperson for Crestmont
Cadillac, a Northeast Ohio-based
car dealership.
Anita Woodward (1988 B.A.,
Organizational Communica-
tion and 1999 MBA, Healthcare
Administration), president of
A. Woodward & Associates and
previous CSU part-time faculty
member, possesses more than 20
years of health care management
expertise. Previously presiding as
the president of the Executives
Association of Northeast Ohio, a
chapter of the American College
of Healthcare Executives, Wood-
ward recently moved to Green
Valley, Ariz. where she is a mem-
ber of the Arizona Health Execu-
tives.
Ben Sabol (2005 B.A., Commu-
nication) is currently a marketing
communications representative in
the University Marketing depart-
ment at Cleveland State Univer-
sity.
Stacey Vaselaney (1989 B.A.,
Communication) is a successful
owner of her own public rela-
tions business titled SLV Public
Relations. As a PR practitioner,
she works with editors in the me-
dia giving them information for
readers that involve products or
services.
continued on page 19
Ryan Dawson displays design
work he did for the Cystic Fibro-
sis Foundation of Northeast Ohio.
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

7. 16
Professor Robert Abel-
man, Ph.D. was one
of 25 arts journalists in
the nation chosen for a
National Endowment
for the Arts Institute
Fellowship with the Arts Journalism
Institute in Theatre and Musical The-
atre at the University of Southern
California. He also received top honors
from Ohio Professional Writers, Inc.
for his reviews of community and pro-
fessional theater.
Associate Professor Cheryl Bracken,
Ph.D. with Gary Pettey, Trupti Guha
and Bridget Rubenking, published a
piece in the Journal of Media Psychol-
ogy: Theories, Methods, and Applica-
tions on the Impact of Audio, Screen
Size and Pace. Bracken also co-au-
thored four other publications includ-
ing one article on the channels of com-
munication and the impact on mission
statement implementation in the 2010
edition of PsychNology.
Term Assistant Professor Francis
Dalisay, Ph.D. presented two papers
in 2010. The first, in Chicago, Ill., at the
Midwest Association for Public Opin-
ion Research, dealt with attitudes of
U.S. military buildup in Guam. The sec-
ond, presented at the National Com-
munication Conference in San Diego,
Calif., pertained to research on high
school students in South Korea.
Part-time Faculty member Michael
Ferrari, M.A. won the Delacorte Year-
ling Prize for a middle-grade novel with
his first book, “Born to Fly.” The book
is a WWII adventure about two kids, a
girl who wants to be a fighter pilot and
a boy who is a Japanese-American in-
ternment camp refugee.
Professor Leo Jeffres,
Ph.D. has three recent
articles in the process
of publication. The arti-
cles: “Acquiring knowl-
edge from the media in
the Internet age” for Communication
Quarterly, “Structural pluralism and the
urban context: How and when does
community matter?” for Mass Commu-
nication and Society and “Viewing the
public sphere with influentials and citi-
zens” for Qualitative Research Reports
in Communication, are co-authored
with several other Communication fac-
ulty members.
Associate Professor Guowei Jian,
Ph.D. published an article titled, “Artic-
ulating Circumstance, Identity and Prac-
tice: Toward a Discursive
Framework of Organiza-
tional Changing,” in the
journal, Organization. He
also published three co-
authored papers and pre-
sented three conference papers this year.
Assistant Professor Yung-I Liu, Ph.D.
presented a conferencepaper titled, “As-
sessing Communication and Political
Knowledge in Political Campaigns from
a Geospatial Perspective,” to the Politi-
cal Communication Division at the 60th
Annual Conference of the International
Communication Association in Singa-
pore.
Professor Kimberly A. Neuendorf,
Ph. D. received recognition for her
work as a content methodologist when
she was selected to present and discuss
at the Workshop on Social Science and
Social Computing: Steps to Integration,
sponsored by the Air Force Office of
Scientific Research, held at the Univer-
sity of Hawaii. Neuendorf co-authored
six studies and presented two confer-
ence papers this year.
Updates on Communication faculty
By Laramie Hedrick
and Anthony Sambula
Professor Richard Perloff, Ph.D. is
included in a forthcoming book entitled
“The Persuasion Handbook” with his
chapter on Political Persuasion. Perloff
also has two recent articles in Cleveland
Jewish News.
Associate Professor
Paul Skalski, Ph.D.
published a study on the
effects of motion-con-
trolled video games on
game enjoyment in New
Media & Society.
He was also invited to speak at the
2011 National Association of Broad-
casters Conference to talk about ad-
vanced video game technologies.
Robert Spademan, M.A., entered the
Cleveland State University “Engage”
posters in the American Advertising
Federation Cleveland ADDY competi-
tion where it earned Best of Show over
500 other entries.
Part-time Instructor M. Steve Talbott,
M.A. recently published an e-book ti-
tled, “How Much Should I Borrow for
College?”
Healsopublishedane-pamphletbased
off the e-book called, “The For-Profit
College Reality Check.”
Assistant Professor Robert Whitbred,
Ph.D. will have two entries in the up-
coming “Encyclopedia of Social Net-
working.”
One is entitled “Quadratic Assignment
Procedure” and the other is on “Affilia-
tion and Attribute Networks.”
Whitbredalsowroteapiecefortheup-
coming edition of Human Communi-
cation Research entitled “From Micro-
actions to Macro-structure: A Structural
Approach to the Evolution of Organi-
zational Networks.”
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
5
By Muji Abang
Leona Johnson, Communication
major, is passionate about domestic
violence awareness. As secretary of
Cleveland State University’s Associa-
tion of Women in Communications
(AWC), she and her fellow group
members have been involved with the
Cleveland Domestic Violence Center
(DVC) of Greater Cleveland since fall
2010.
CSU’s chapter of AWC, reactivated
in 2009, considered several organiza-
tions before agreeing with the Domes-
tic Violence Center because they had
ties with the organization. Elizabeth
Babin, Ph.D., faculty adviser for AWC,
has been involved with the Domestic
Violence Center for several years.
“The Domestic Violence Center
is Dr. Babin’s baby,” Johnson says.
Knowing someone who was already
involved with the organization made it
easier to form a connection and begin
their volunteer efforts, she explains.
Johnson explains that some mem-
bers of the organization have personal
experiences with domestic violence,
while others simply believe in the im-
portance of spreading awareness and
helping those affected by it.
Domestic violence is often thought
to be taboo, Johnson explains. But
many people, both male and female,
fall victim to it daily. Similar to rape,
Johnson continues, victims sometimes
feel as though they are responsible for
what happened to them. As a result,
many are afraid to come forward and
never tell anyone about what hap-
pened, especially male victims.
Because of the sensitive nature of
the center’s residents, AWC does not
work at the Domestic Violence Cen-
ter directly. Rather, they collect do-
nations and needed supplies for vic-
tims, such as diapers and cell phones.
These items are later delivered to the
center.
Recently, AWC held a workshop fea-
turing a speaker from the Domestic
Violence Center that targeted educat-
ing Cleveland State students about do-
mestic violence and raising awareness
of the topic. They also provide valu-
able information through the group’s
Facebook page.
Johnson says that members of
AWC were amazed at how much they
learned from the workshop. When
asked what her message is to victims
of domestic violence, Johnson says,
‘It's not your fault. If you need help,
DVC can help. All you have to do is
ask."
AWC targets domestic violence
awareness as club service project
Cleveland Is our canvas
By Andrew Stenger
The Cleveland State Chapter of the Society of Profession-
al Journalists (SPJ) hosted an on-campus panel discussion
April 21 on the topics of convergence and social media,
along with the specific details on what Communication stu-
dents need to know about working in the media industry.
“This panel discussion with the professionals on the cur-
rent state of the journalistic field will help the students un-
derstand on the one hand the new challenges in the fast
changing world of journalism,” said Anup Kumar, CSU SPJ
faculty adviser, “whereas, on the other hand it is an oppor-
tunity to reiterate the role of journalism in a democracy.”
The discussion took place in the atrium of the College of
Urban Affairs building, featuring panelists from different
journalistic media, and provided students the opportunity to
make connections with working professionals.
“We have worked very hard to make this event come to-
gether and are proud to be able to provide students with the
opportunity to meet people working in their field of interest
and to get firsthand advice,” said Lara De Alba, CSU SPJ
president.
The event included panelists Daniel Wolf, creator and
owner of NFLauthority.com and CSU graduate; Kenny
Crompton, feature reporter for Cleveland’s Fox 8; Debra
Adams Simmons, editor of The Plain Dealer; Dale Omori,
deputy director of photography at The Plain Dealer; and
Nick Camino of WTAM 1100, a 2010 CSU graduate.
“The fact that we had the editor of Plain Dealer and oth-
er senior journalists on the panel with young journalists,
who are just coming out of college, provided the audience
the opportunity to not only listen to the perspectives that
were grounded in years of experience, but also hear from
younger generation about how new journalism is adapting
to changes in technology and media convergence,” Kumar
said.
City journalists discuss emerging media
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

8. 6
By Mandy McCollum
Debbie Schwartz is completing her master’s degree in Applied
Communication Theory and Methodology, and she is also doing big
things through the Cleveland State University Hearing and Speech
Department.
She recently completed a study based on the Health Belief Model.
The Health Belief Model attempts to explain and predict health be-
havior by focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individuals.
The Health Belief Model operates on the principle that people will
take a health-related action if they: feel that a negative health condi-
tion can be avoided; have a positive expectation that by taking a rec-
ommended action, they will avoid a negative health condition; and
believe that they can successfully take a recommended health action.
With the help of two Hearing and Speech students, Schwartz
taught fifth and sixth graders in the Cleveland Metropolitan School
District about hearing conservation using Play-doh and spaghetti to
display how the inner ear works, a Flintstones YouTube video to give
students examples of what different kinds of hearing loss sound like
and using the Health Belief Model, she explained how the students
can prevent hearing loss.
Schwartz completed three surveys with students who returned a
signed permission slip: a base line, a post-test, and a follow-up test
to measure what the students learned during the conservation pro-
gram. She notes noise-induced hearing loss is on the rise with youth
because of MP3 players and iPods. She says it is important to let
children know that they can cause this type of hearing loss, and it is
permanent. She says she would like to see more programs like this
in the schools.
Schwartz said the Hearing and Speech Department at Cleveland
state was very helpful, especially Sue Ann Neff, who helped place
her in the Cleveland school, and Myrita Y. Wilhite, who provided
support by giving advice on the program components and helping
to find the speech and hearing students who assisted her.
Schwartz says the fifth and sixth graders who participated in the
study were very enthusiastic and smart. She notes the teachers in
the Cleveland school were supportive and interested in the study,
and emphasizes that the schools love to have volunteers come in and
introduce new things to the students.
Play-doh and spaghetti
help city youngsters
understand hearing loss
Cleveland is Our Canvas
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By Derek Amrich
The Fall 2010 semester welcomed a
new face to faculty row on the second
floor of the Music & Communication
Building, more than 7,600 miles from
where he grew up on the Western Pa-
cific island of Guam.
“It’s very diverse,” term assistant pro-
fessor Francis S. Dalisay, Ph.D., says. “I
grew up with close to 20 to 30 ethnici-
ties.”
Dalisay began his higher education
career studying print journalism, gradu-
ating from the University of Guam in
2000 with a bachelor’s degree in com-
munication. He moved to the U.S.
mainland and found work as a banker,
using his business writing skills in de-
signing templates and e-mails for the
launch of online banking. The move
also allowed him to pursue his musical
aspirations.
“I started playing guitar when I was
4 or 5, maybe even younger,” Dalisay
says. “I wanted to make it big as a
rock star. I eventually went to Seattle
and spent three and a half years there
working and doing my band stuff. I
decided to go back to grad school
because I wasn’t happy with working
9-5.”
Dalisay attended the Edward R. Mur-
row School of Communication at
Washington State University, where he
completed his master’s degree (2006)
and doctoral degree (2010). In 2007,
the quality of his research earned him
the honor of a top-five student paper
at the Association for Education in
Journalism and Mass Communication
(AEJMC) Conference in Washington
D.C.
His work as an academic researcher,
whether with colleagues or individ-
ual research studies, has already led
to journal publications including the
Howard Journal of Communications
(2009), Journal of Communication
Inquiry (2009), Journalism & Mass
Communication Quarterly (2009) and
Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic
Media (2010).
“I pride myself on being one of, if
not the only, communication scholars
from a social science background who
studies issues in the Western Pacific Is-
lands,” Dalisay says.
Even though CSU does not require
Dalisay to conduct research because of
his heavy class load, the movement of
8,600 U.S. military troops from Okina-
wa, Japan to Guam by 2014 has drawn
the interest of the native islander.
The result is a forthcoming solo
manuscript in the prestigious journal,
Communication Quarterly, titled, “The
spiral of silence and conflict avoidance:
Examining antecedents of opinion ex-
pression concerning the U.S. military
buildup in the Pacific Island of Guam.”
“Initially, my first research program
is and still is stereotypes and media ef-
fects,” Dalisay says. “I ended up refo-
cusing now on more of what’s keeping
minorities and people from marginal-
ized groups from being able to speak
out about certain issues and participat-
ing in politics.”
His ambition to advance profession-
ally prompted Dalisay to move from
the West Coast to Cleveland to work
with the accomplished staff at CSU.
“Leo Jeffres was more in the line of
a driving force that brought me out
here,” Dalisay says. “Professionally, the
reason why I’m here is to learn from
the scholars here.”
Once he arrived, it was the extraordi-
nary efforts of another colleague that
Dalisay credits for a smooth transition.
“I can’t thank Patty Burant enough
for her help,” Dalisay says. “If it wasn’t
for her, I would have never been pre-
pared.”
Dalisay views CSU as an opportunity
to propel his career in publishing
research and instructing young minds.
“I’m still learning,” he notes.
“Looking at the faculty here, just out
of observation, they care a lot about
their students. The beauty about this
program is that the faculty is strong
in their research and a lot of them are
good mentors for students.”
Diversity leads Dalisay to CSU post
15
Photo by Derek Amrich
Dalisay assists a student in his spring Communication Inquiry class.
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

9. 7
Photo courtsey Barbara Siss Oney
A Communication student films during a taping of“Got City Game,” a
reality show filmed in Cleveland and broadcast over the Internet.
By Justin Papcun
When “Got City Game” opened as
an Internet game show, School of
Communication students helped in its
creation.
Barbara Siss Oney, a native Cleve-
lander who spentnearly20 years in Los
Angeles working for movie studios in
marketing and promotions, came back
to Cleveland 10 years ago with an idea
to capitalize on the popularity of “The
Amazing Race” for the betterment of
Cleveland.
Interested in increasing the appeal of
Cleveland to the 18- to 35-year-old de-
mographic, Siss Oney recalls thinking,
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could use
something similar to that and use it as
a way to showcase the city?”
“When I moved back to Cleveland, I
was really looking to make a big shift in
my life,” Siss Oney says.
And she knew that the Internet was
a primary source of information for
the 18- to 35-year-old demographic.
People in that age group watch TV, get
their news and communicate all via the
Web.
“As a marketer, you look at first who
you are trying to reach and what kind
of media they are attracted to,” Siss
Oney says.
“Got City Game” showcased young
professionals excited about living in
Cleveland, and featured interesting lo-
cations to live, work and have fun in
the city.
“Cleveland State students came in to
help us put together the promotional
video for the series,” Siss Oney ex-
plains. “I knew John Ban was a really
high-quality production professional in
the region and was very innovative in
the way that he worked.”
She approached Ban, and as a result,
a number of students worked on the
promotional video in Fall 2008.
“Got City Game” runs online, al-
though it is now archived at youtube.
com, gotcitygame.tv, and www.un-
comn.tv.
Siss Oney is now in production for a
second “Got City Game,” which high-
lights Youngstown. She expects to roll
out the show in 2012.
She also mentions that if funding
becomes available, she, Ban and his
students may work on a project this
summer.
Siss Oney adds that a professional
production shoot provides a lot of
education, including basics, such as
how to show up on time ready and
prepared to go. Students also learn the
pace and timing needed, as well as set
etiquette.
“Students learn all the traditional
professional skills they need to be
part of a professional film shoot,” she
stresses.
The veteran marketer also works on
a for-profit Web media network called
uncomn.tv, which produces shows that
highlight careers in northeast Ohio.
Siss Oney started in the industry with
MGM/UA Video. She served as direc-
tor of World Wide Promotions for
20th Century Fox and helped “The
Simpsons” develop major deals with
the fast-food industry. Her last posi-
tion in Los Angeles was marketing
promotions vice president at Universal
Studios.
Cleveland is Our Canvas
Students help on promotion forWeb show
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
14
Communication
students have held
internships at the
following businesses:
1.PenskeTruck Leasing
2. Idea stream
3. Lubrizol Corp.
4. AmeriGas Propane
5. Apollo Research & Marketing
6. Collinwood/Euclid Observer
7. University Circle Incorporated
8. Alliance for the Great Lakes
9. ASM International
10. Sherwin-Williams Company
11. Lead America
12. Cleveland National Air Show
13. Rosetta
14. Ohio Pools & Spa
15. Blue Technologies, Inc.
16. Akron Racers
17. Earth Day Coalition
18. Cleveland Playhouse
19. Cleveland Indians Baseball
Company
20. Fox Sports Ohio
21. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
22. Children’s Museum
23. Cleveland Clinic
24. Moen Incorporated
25. DeVry University and Keller
Graduate School of Management
26. Arnoff & Associates
27. PolyOne Corporation
28. Global Spectrum
29. YWCA-Youngstown
30. Crushtone Music
31. HMP Special Events
32. Triton Products
33. In The Round Design Group
34. MRI Software
35. Creative Media Agency
36. Salem Community Hospital
37. Cleveland Business Connects
Magazine
38. Talent Group
39. City of Painesville
40. Fresh Mark, Inc.
Philadelphia-based third-party affiliate
called Global Spectrum, whose parent
company is Comcast Spectacor. Global
Spectrum is a management company
in more than 98 buiding, stadiums and
arenas throughout the United States
and Canada.
Global Spectrum hires 88 percent of
its interns upon graduation throughout
the company. As a result, Wolstein in-
terns have a high probability of finding
a job after graduation, if they play their
cards right.
According to Novak, the interns re-
ceive a number of tasks. If they per-
form well, they receive more responsi-
bility. Students’ performance on those
tasks will determine if they will be rec-
ommended for employment at Global
Spectrum. Novak provides unique in-
sight on what employers want.
The perfect intern possesses good ver-
bal and written communication skills,
efficiency, promptness, a good attitude,
a willingness to try new things, an ability
to diversify themselves, and an overall
presence, she says.
The No. 1 thing that would hinder an
applicant’s chances is a lack of commit-
ment to the time.
If employers feel an intern is not com-
mitted, they will focus on more dedi-
cated applicants, she says.
Interns assist in the publicity of the
Wolstein Center and the CSU men’s
and women’s basketball teams.
The task of assisting in marketing and
sales includes updating the cyberclub
through wolsteincenter.com, setting
and tearing down events, placing post-
ers and banners across campus, placing
phone calls, sending emails, reaching
out to community organizations, and
portraying an overall positive image of
the Wolstein Center.
By Muji Abang
With a tough economy and a high
number of entry-level position seek-
ers, college students face an extremely
competitive job market upon gradua-
tion. With the surplus of applications,
employers
only focus
their atten-
tion on can-
didates with
experience.
Nowadays,
a good GPA
and academ-
ic record
may not be
enough to land a job upon graduation.
Employers are looking for well-round-
ed students with a combination of im-
pressive academics and a relevant work
experience.
The importance of interning cannot
be stressed enough to college students
preparing for graduation.
Brooke Novak, marketing manager
for the Wolstein Center at Cleveland
State University, reviews applications
and selects eight to 12 interns to earn
college credit at the Wolstein Center.
Work experience is a necessity to find
a job upon graduation, she says. “I
wouldn’t hire anyone without intern-
ship experience.”
Employers need to be able to see that
the applicants are dependable and can
carry through, she says. “In marketing
and sales, you have to be able to pro-
mote ideas, sell what you’re doing, have
the character and skill sets necessary for
the position, and show employers that
you have more to offer than an ‘A’ in
design class,” says Novak.
The Wolstein Center is managed by a
She has tips for being
the perfect intern
Brooke Novak
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

10. Moving On...
Students explore opportunities in communication
By Kristen Mott
The School of Communication is
under new leadership.
George Ray, Ph.D., has replaced
Richard Perloff, Ph.D., as the direc-
tor of the School of Communica-
tion.
As director, Ray has specific goals
that he would like to accomplish. He
says his first priority is to maintain
faculty positions and retain the abil-
ity to replace retiring faculty.
He would then like to increase en-
rollment and maintain all levels of
staffing.
“If I accomplish those goals, I feel
like I’ll be effective,” Ray says.
Although he has goals in mind, Ray
is also wary of impending budget
cuts.
He knows that the school will face
a difficult time with the cuts and will
have to plan strategically.
“We’re definitely expecting it to
have an impact,” Ray notes. “We
must take effort to protect the stu-
dents in light of the budget cuts.”
He says he is concerned about the
support for higher education at the
local, state and federal level. State
support is shrinking, and no one
knows if that will be a permanent re-
duction. He adds that he would like
to see Ohio promote higher educa-
tion and make it more accessible to
students.
Even with the budget cuts, Ray says
he is confident that the School of
Communication will excel. An exter-
nal consultant from the University
of Wisconsin reviewed the school
last year and commended it for the
strength of its academic quality, spe-
cifically at the graduate and research
levels.
Ray notes that although the School
of Communication is not as large as
other schools in the area, it offers
high quality programs for students.
“I think we’re definitely competi-
tive,” says Ray. “What we offer, I
think, is satisfactory to very good in
comparison to competitors.”
Part of that competitive spirit stems
from new programs recently created
for students. Several years ago, the
College of Urban Affairs developed
a Communication doctoral sequence,
so students can earn a doctorate de-
gree in Urban Affairs with an em-
phasis in Communication. Ray adds
that one student now enrolled in the
program is finishing up classes and
will begin writing her dissertation in
2011-12.
The School of Communication
also takes part in the 4 + 1 program,
which allows students to pursue a
bachelor and master’s degree simul-
taneously.
These programs are beneficial to
students, but they are in the begin-
ning stages. As director, Ray will
keep a close eye on their develop-
ment. “We need to make sure these
programs are functioning smoothly,”
says Ray.
Ray notes that Perloff has started
the programs, and now it is up to
him to keep them running.
Ray has a long history with the
School of Communication. He
joined the faculty in 1987 and served
as assistant chair from 1993 to 1994.
He became the graduate program
director in 1997 and served in that
position until 2000.
He has also served on the CSU Fac-
ulty Senate and was secretary of the
College of Liberal Arts and Social
Sciences from 2001 to 2002.
Ray’s areas of expertise include
language, culture and interpersonal
communication. He usually teaches
interracial and intercultural commu-
nication classes.
Prior to coming to CSU, Ray taught
as a professor for 10 years at Berea
College and Transylvania University
in Kentucky.
13
Ray sets
goals as
school
director
Photo by DeAnna Harris
George Ray, Ph.D., succeeds Richard Perloff, Ph.D., as director of the
Cleveland State University School of Communication.
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
8
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

11. By Joey Fulgenzi
With the recession on an uphill
climb, what does the job market look
like for Communication majors?
According to Kelly Blazek, who
runs the third-largest marketing
and communication job bank in the
country here in
Cleveland, op-
portunities are
improving.
Blazek recom-
mends things
students could be
doing after grad-
uation, whether
they have years of
work experience or not.
“Don’t beat yourself up about not
landing a job in the first two weeks af-
ter completing your degree. Get out of
the house and don’t wait for employ-
ers to come to you. Attending industry
luncheons and networking events are a
great way to meet new contacts. “There
are things you can do to gain experi-
ence and tell a good story on a resume,”
says Blazek. Northeast Ohio is great for
volunteer opportunities with a Commu-
nication background. AmeriCorps is al-
ways looking for people, especially new
graduates. Students should be putting
themselves in new situations and meet-
ing new people as much as possible.
She suggests searching online for fund-
raising benefits in the area. Volunteer
opportunities are great ways to gain ex-
perience and leave a positive impression
on staff who can advocate for you in the
future.
“You can get a job with an online ap-
plication,” says Blazek. “Many large cor-
porate HR departments have staff that
goes through on-line resumes all day.”
She shared a recent example of success
regarding on-line applications. “In 2010
I was seeking a new senior communica-
tion opportunity and was applying to
large corporations around the country. I
ended up applying for 40 positions on-
line and received calls from 18 of them.
That’s nearly a 50 percent success rate of
my resume at least getting noticed.”
Blazek offers some resume tips.
Never use Times New Roman or Cou-
rier as a resume font. They are used by
trade school graduates. Garamond, New
Baskerville and Palatino Linotype are
the three best fonts to set yourself apart
from other applicants.
Always use white, ivory or beige paper
and never include any type of color print
or photo. The best resume format is
chronological. Blazek recommends that
if you are looking for a job as a journal-
ist or publicist, you have a portfolio that
not only includes your resume but five
to eight, written or designed, items ready
for review.
When searching for entry-level jobs, do
not overlook communication and public
relations positions at law firms. Firms
in the area often have entry level market-
ing and communications opportunities.
“Law firms contain in-house ad agen-
cies and are looking for good writers and
graphic designers,” she explains
She suggests keeping the new casino
and medical mart in mind. “There will
be many jobs in Communication, espe-
cially public relations, at both of these
large new venues,” she says.
Kelly Blazek has a combined 22 years
in the Communication field including
General Electric and Eaton Corpora-
tion.
She is employed at Ingersoll Rand and
continues to operate the Cleveland Job
Bank that is going on its ninth year.
9
...to the job market
Blazek suggests tips for getting started
How Cleveland
compares in pay
By Jessica Smith
According to salary Web sites, a
Communication graduate can en-
joy a higher standard of living in
Cleveland than in other major cit-
ies in the United States.
The average salaries for eight en-
try-level jobs for Communication
graduates were compared with
cities across the United States. Al-
though Cleveland salaries came in
on the lower half, living expenses
are also low.
Occupations, such as public rela-
tions specialist, journalist, adver-
tising coordinator, videographer,
copy editor, web designer and
telecommunications analyst, were
compared for the study. None of
these required more than a bach-
elor’s degree, making it ideal for a
recent graduate.
The following cities were com-
pared: Cleveland, New York, Los
Angeles and Boston.
In Cleveland, the average Com-
munication graduate earns a salary
of $50,240 annually, which ranks
sixth-highest of the cities com-
pared. However, Cleveland ranks
as third-lowest in cost of living.
While you may average an extra
$6,000 working in Boston, it’s also
31 percent more expensive to live.
The cost of living in New York
City is 79.69 percent higher than
Cleveland. Average Communica-
tion graduates in New York City
earn $59,511 annually. While this
is an additional $9,000 compared
to Cleveland, they would need to
earn $90,278 to enjoy the same
standard of living.
In all, Cleveland’s cost can ben-
efit recent graduates.
Blazek
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By Howard Primer
As professor, department chair, school
director and professor again, Richard
Perloff, Ph.D., can offer plenty of per-
spective on Cleveland State’s School of
Communication over the past 10 years.
Perloff took over as department chair
in 2003, and continued as director when
it became a school one year later. His
tenure ended this summer, with George
Ray, Ph.D., as his successor.
ThechangefromCommunicationDe-
partment to School of Communication
and adding three majors were two of
the most important accomplishments
of Perloff’s administration. They were
the catalysts for the achievements that
have been made since the nameplate
in the second-floor lobby switched in
2004.
The initiation of the school required
much effort in working with the College
of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the
university and the state. Perloff credits
his predecessor, Susan E. Kogler Hill,
Ph.D., for the opportunity to continue
what was started during her term.
“Her work helped the department be-
come a school,” he says. “I helped take
the hard work and craftsmanship of Dr.
Hill and turned them into administra-
tive realities.”
The department had one major, which
became four (Communication, Com-
munication Management, Film and
Digital Media, Journalism and Promo-
tional Communication).
With eight years to reference, Perloff
and other faculty in the school can see
the advancements that have been made.
“Each of the majors does a good job
of providing a more specific curricu-
lum,” Assistant Professor Robert Whit-
bred, Ph.D., says. “It’s substantial. We’re
getting more focused in responding to
the marketplace.”
Perloff says he is proud of the addi-
tional curriculum.
“It’s a major accomplishment and
dream of the faculty to offer career-
oriented majors,” he says. “We’re one
of the few units that offers that many
majors. It gives us more options.”
Associate Professor Paul Skalski,
Ph.D., earned his undergraduate and
master’s degrees from Cleveland State.
“It’s grown a lot since I was a student
here in the 1990s,” he says. “Now we
have more faculty and more facilities.
It’s an excellent time to be here.”
Since 2004, the majors have gone
through revisions, which Perloff says
have “beefed up” the Communication
degree. Certificate programs in science
writing, multimedia advertising and
health supplement the majors.
While many of the school’s approxi-
mately 600 undergraduate majors have
selected one of the three specific fields,
the general Communication degree re-
mains popular.
“I’ve noticed in talking to the general
Communication majors that many want
to allow for a more broad range,” Whit-
bred says.
Cleveland State had the country’s
eighth-most productive Communica-
tion Department in research productiv-
ity in 2004, and becoming a school has
allowed it to expand and further devel-
op. This includes two additional tenure-
track faculty positions.
Perloff is also proud of the doctoral
track offered in conjunction with the
Maxine Goodman Levine College of
Urban Affairs, which was approved in
2007, and the school’s dedication to
health communication.
The school has had other noteworthy
achievements in the last 10 years:
-Increased presence in undergraduate
career competitions
-International exchange programs
with Zeppelin University in Germany
and Chung-Ang University in Seoul
-The Cleveland Stater lab newspaper
increasing its multimedia presence, to
include YouTube, Facebook and Twit-
ter
-A transition in research from tele-
phone work to eye-tracking and physi-
ological equipment
-Better advising
-A video game research lab
Perloff says it’s healthy to bring in
someone with new ideas. He fondly
looks back on his eight years as chair
and director.
“We became more versatile, hands-on
and contemporary,” he says. “But we
continued to put the focus on scholar-
ship and research. We made ourselves a
lot more exciting.”
Perloff recalls many
accomplishments
as school director Photo by DeAnna Harris
Outgoing school Director Richard Perloff, Ph. D.
recalls highlights of his tenure as director.
12
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL

12. Moving ahead...
Health Communication expects broader role
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By James O’Malley
Students majoring in Film and Digital
Media may soon be brushing shoulders
with professionals working in public
broadcasting. Though the classrooms
in the School of Communication will
remain used, plans to move advanced
production classess to Idea Center
would involve students learning in the
same building as WVIZ and WCPN.
The main obstacle at this time is fund-
ing. The initial plan called for about $1.5
to $2 million to develop the space into
the new classrooms. CSU brought in a
new systems engineer, Don Mitchell of
DSM and Associates, who refined that
number down to $1.4 million.
Obtaining these funds has for
months been on the mind of Richard
Pitchford, who has been the director
of Broadcast, Computer and Com-
munication Engineering at CSU since
1990. The University Foundation is in
the process of generating funding, but
much of its dealings remain behind
closed doors.
One foundation may offer $500,000,
Pitchford says, adding that “we are
looking for others to match or double
that,” says Pitchford. “Generating these
funds is the only thing really holding us
back.”
Though the university had announced
plans to have the classes taught in the
facilities by the Fall 2011 semester, it is
likely that the facilities will not be up
and running until Fall 2012. After fund-
ing is generated, Idea Center’s architect
will draw up a plan.
“There aren’t any rooms at this point,
so that would be the first thing to do,”
says Pitchford. “Acquiring the new
equipment and getting it installed would
take an additional two to three months.”
The advantages of working in the same
building as WVIZ and WCPN will only
be seen as time progresses.
“Ideastream has been a bit hesitant
about working with us in the past,”
says Pitchford. “But the hope is that
with time we would be able to provide
programming for them to use and as-
sist in working with their content as
well.”
This hands-on experience would give
new meaning to CSU’s slogan of En-
gaged Learning.
11
Cleveland State plans expansion
Photo by Andy Stenger
The School of Communication hopes to use space in the Idea Center
for students majoring in Digital Media to study in advanced classrooms.
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
10
By Sherifatu Kafaru
The School of Communication’s
Health Communication track and re-
search areas may receive new promi-
nence under
the aegis of
Cleveland State
University’s in-
creased empha-
sisonhealthand
related fields.
Health Com-
munication,
which has been
part of the
School of Com-
munication’s course offerings for more
than a decade, has emphasized the im-
portance of communication in the in-
teraction between health care providers
and patients in the health care system.
The Health Communication program
may find a new interdisciplinary link
through the Community Health Ini-
tiative for the Center for 21st Century
Health Professions.
The initiative links CSU’s programs
with an accelerated program formed in
2007 with the Northeastern Ohio Med-
ical University (NEOMED) in Root-
stown. The Community Health Initia-
tive will help future doctors address
health issues in urban communities.
When Cleveland State joined
NEOMED in 2007, it did so at the rec-
ommendation of the Northeast Ohio
Universities Collaboration and Innova-
tion Study Commission.
CSU will offer a B.S. /M.D. program
with the medical college. This acceler-
ated program focuses on moving stu-
dents seeking a doctorate in medicine
into their prospective discipline with
reasonable timing. Under the new
program, students will take premedical
classes to earn their B.S./M.D. within
two to three years, and then move on to
a NEOMED M.D. program in Root-
stown. Some technicalities are still be-
ing ironed out, but 20 students will start
classes for this program August 2011.
Professor Eileen Berlin Ray, Ph. D.,
who has been an integral part of the
Health Communication track for the
School and who has extensive knowl-
edge and expertise in Health Com-
munication, represents the School of
Communication on the Community
Health Initiative Planning Committee,
as do Associate Professor Paul Skalski,
Ph.D, and Assistant Professor Eliza-
beth Babin, Ph.D.
Berlin Ray emphasizes that medical
students will need education in critical
communication areas pertinent to their
professions because communication is
essentially the most important factor
regarding doctor-patient relationships.
StudentswilltakeHealthCommunica-
tion courses now offered in the School
of Communication. Initially, the num-
ber of students who will begin taking
classes will be small, but as enrollment
grows, decisions will be made to change
the courses for the specific population.
New resources and faculty may be
needed to teach the courses. As of now,
it is not a problem. Classes can be de-
signed with new resources in the future.
Mark Penn, M.D., senior vice presi-
dent for academic affairs and execu-
tive associate dean at NEOMED will
implement the collaborative efforts be-
tween the university and NEOMED.
The curriculum at CSU for the
NEOMED will be cross-disciplinary
and draw from many departments at
the university. The Health Initiative
committee allows faculty to oversee
the new program implementation and
shape how the curriculum will fit within
all the involved colleges.
“The Health Initiative at CSU has a
very strong commitment empirically to
aid the research in Health Communica-
tion,” notes Professor Richard Perloff,
Ph. D., former director of the School
of Communication. “Our courses can
strengthen communication and the ef-
forts to develop a powerful program
that can solve the leading problems
with Health Communication. Miscom-
munication is a leading problem in the
health care system.”
The NEOMED collaboration is also
an outgrowth of The Centers of Ex-
cellence program in which Ohio public
universities selected specific areas for
research initiatives. This emphasis is ex-
pected to create new partnerships, jobs,
companies and private investments in
the state.
For example, under the Centers of
Excellence aegis, CSU is receiving
$900,000 to strengthen its cardiovascu-
lar repair and tissue engineering re-
search with the Cleveland Clinic.
As a Center of Excellence, CSU will
focus on developing its Health Science
and Bio-science programs to serve the
region, and expects to partner with ma-
jor area institutions such as the Cleve-
land Clinic, MetroHealth, St. Vincent
Charity Medical Center and Case West-
ern Reserve University.
Eileen Berlin Ray

13. Moving ahead...
Health Communication expects broader role
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By James O’Malley
Students majoring in Film and Digital
Media may soon be brushing shoulders
with professionals working in public
broadcasting. Though the classrooms
in the School of Communication will
remain used, plans to move advanced
production classess to Idea Center
would involve students learning in the
same building as WVIZ and WCPN.
The main obstacle at this time is fund-
ing. The initial plan called for about $1.5
to $2 million to develop the space into
the new classrooms. CSU brought in a
new systems engineer, Don Mitchell of
DSM and Associates, who refined that
number down to $1.4 million.
Obtaining these funds has for
months been on the mind of Richard
Pitchford, who has been the director
of Broadcast, Computer and Com-
munication Engineering at CSU since
1990. The University Foundation is in
the process of generating funding, but
much of its dealings remain behind
closed doors.
One foundation may offer $500,000,
Pitchford says, adding that “we are
looking for others to match or double
that,” says Pitchford. “Generating these
funds is the only thing really holding us
back.”
Though the university had announced
plans to have the classes taught in the
facilities by the Fall 2011 semester, it is
likely that the facilities will not be up
and running until Fall 2012. After fund-
ing is generated, Idea Center’s architect
will draw up a plan.
“There aren’t any rooms at this point,
so that would be the first thing to do,”
says Pitchford. “Acquiring the new
equipment and getting it installed would
take an additional two to three months.”
The advantages of working in the same
building as WVIZ and WCPN will only
be seen as time progresses.
“Ideastream has been a bit hesitant
about working with us in the past,”
says Pitchford. “But the hope is that
with time we would be able to provide
programming for them to use and as-
sist in working with their content as
well.”
This hands-on experience would give
new meaning to CSU’s slogan of En-
gaged Learning.
11
Cleveland State plans expansion
Photo by Andy Stenger
The School of Communication hopes to use space in the Idea Center
for students majoring in Digital Media to study in advanced classrooms.
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
10
By Sherifatu Kafaru
The School of Communication’s
Health Communication track and re-
search areas may receive new promi-
nence under
the aegis of
Cleveland State
University’s in-
creased empha-
sisonhealthand
related fields.
Health Com-
munication,
which has been
part of the
School of Com-
munication’s course offerings for more
than a decade, has emphasized the im-
portance of communication in the in-
teraction between health care providers
and patients in the health care system.
The Health Communication program
may find a new interdisciplinary link
through the Community Health Ini-
tiative for the Center for 21st Century
Health Professions.
The initiative links CSU’s programs
with an accelerated program formed in
2007 with the Northeastern Ohio Med-
ical University (NEOMED) in Root-
stown. The Community Health Initia-
tive will help future doctors address
health issues in urban communities.
When Cleveland State joined
NEOMED in 2007, it did so at the rec-
ommendation of the Northeast Ohio
Universities Collaboration and Innova-
tion Study Commission.
CSU will offer a B.S. /M.D. program
with the medical college. This acceler-
ated program focuses on moving stu-
dents seeking a doctorate in medicine
into their prospective discipline with
reasonable timing. Under the new
program, students will take premedical
classes to earn their B.S./M.D. within
two to three years, and then move on to
a NEOMED M.D. program in Root-
stown. Some technicalities are still be-
ing ironed out, but 20 students will start
classes for this program August 2011.
Professor Eileen Berlin Ray, Ph. D.,
who has been an integral part of the
Health Communication track for the
School and who has extensive knowl-
edge and expertise in Health Com-
munication, represents the School of
Communication on the Community
Health Initiative Planning Committee,
as do Associate Professor Paul Skalski,
Ph.D, and Assistant Professor Eliza-
beth Babin, Ph.D.
Berlin Ray emphasizes that medical
students will need education in critical
communication areas pertinent to their
professions because communication is
essentially the most important factor
regarding doctor-patient relationships.
StudentswilltakeHealthCommunica-
tion courses now offered in the School
of Communication. Initially, the num-
ber of students who will begin taking
classes will be small, but as enrollment
grows, decisions will be made to change
the courses for the specific population.
New resources and faculty may be
needed to teach the courses. As of now,
it is not a problem. Classes can be de-
signed with new resources in the future.
Mark Penn, M.D., senior vice presi-
dent for academic affairs and execu-
tive associate dean at NEOMED will
implement the collaborative efforts be-
tween the university and NEOMED.
The curriculum at CSU for the
NEOMED will be cross-disciplinary
and draw from many departments at
the university. The Health Initiative
committee allows faculty to oversee
the new program implementation and
shape how the curriculum will fit within
all the involved colleges.
“The Health Initiative at CSU has a
very strong commitment empirically to
aid the research in Health Communica-
tion,” notes Professor Richard Perloff,
Ph. D., former director of the School
of Communication. “Our courses can
strengthen communication and the ef-
forts to develop a powerful program
that can solve the leading problems
with Health Communication. Miscom-
munication is a leading problem in the
health care system.”
The NEOMED collaboration is also
an outgrowth of The Centers of Ex-
cellence program in which Ohio public
universities selected specific areas for
research initiatives. This emphasis is ex-
pected to create new partnerships, jobs,
companies and private investments in
the state.
For example, under the Centers of
Excellence aegis, CSU is receiving
$900,000 to strengthen its cardiovascu-
lar repair and tissue engineering re-
search with the Cleveland Clinic.
As a Center of Excellence, CSU will
focus on developing its Health Science
and Bio-science programs to serve the
region, and expects to partner with ma-
jor area institutions such as the Cleve-
land Clinic, MetroHealth, St. Vincent
Charity Medical Center and Case West-
ern Reserve University.
Eileen Berlin Ray

14. By Joey Fulgenzi
With the recession on an uphill
climb, what does the job market look
like for Communication majors?
According to Kelly Blazek, who
runs the third-largest marketing
and communication job bank in the
country here in
Cleveland, op-
portunities are
improving.
Blazek recom-
mends things
students could be
doing after grad-
uation, whether
they have years of
work experience or not.
“Don’t beat yourself up about not
landing a job in the first two weeks af-
ter completing your degree. Get out of
the house and don’t wait for employ-
ers to come to you. Attending industry
luncheons and networking events are a
great way to meet new contacts. “There
are things you can do to gain experi-
ence and tell a good story on a resume,”
says Blazek. Northeast Ohio is great for
volunteer opportunities with a Commu-
nication background. AmeriCorps is al-
ways looking for people, especially new
graduates. Students should be putting
themselves in new situations and meet-
ing new people as much as possible.
She suggests searching online for fund-
raising benefits in the area. Volunteer
opportunities are great ways to gain ex-
perience and leave a positive impression
on staff who can advocate for you in the
future.
“You can get a job with an online ap-
plication,” says Blazek. “Many large cor-
porate HR departments have staff that
goes through on-line resumes all day.”
She shared a recent example of success
regarding on-line applications. “In 2010
I was seeking a new senior communica-
tion opportunity and was applying to
large corporations around the country. I
ended up applying for 40 positions on-
line and received calls from 18 of them.
That’s nearly a 50 percent success rate of
my resume at least getting noticed.”
Blazek offers some resume tips.
Never use Times New Roman or Cou-
rier as a resume font. They are used by
trade school graduates. Garamond, New
Baskerville and Palatino Linotype are
the three best fonts to set yourself apart
from other applicants.
Always use white, ivory or beige paper
and never include any type of color print
or photo. The best resume format is
chronological. Blazek recommends that
if you are looking for a job as a journal-
ist or publicist, you have a portfolio that
not only includes your resume but five
to eight, written or designed, items ready
for review.
When searching for entry-level jobs, do
not overlook communication and public
relations positions at law firms. Firms
in the area often have entry level market-
ing and communications opportunities.
“Law firms contain in-house ad agen-
cies and are looking for good writers and
graphic designers,” she explains
She suggests keeping the new casino
and medical mart in mind. “There will
be many jobs in Communication, espe-
cially public relations, at both of these
large new venues,” she says.
Kelly Blazek has a combined 22 years
in the Communication field including
General Electric and Eaton Corpora-
tion.
She is employed at Ingersoll Rand and
continues to operate the Cleveland Job
Bank that is going on its ninth year.
9
...to the job market
Blazek suggests tips for getting started
How Cleveland
compares in pay
By Jessica Smith
According to salary Web sites, a
Communication graduate can en-
joy a higher standard of living in
Cleveland than in other major cit-
ies in the United States.
The average salaries for eight en-
try-level jobs for Communication
graduates were compared with
cities across the United States. Al-
though Cleveland salaries came in
on the lower half, living expenses
are also low.
Occupations, such as public rela-
tions specialist, journalist, adver-
tising coordinator, videographer,
copy editor, web designer and
telecommunications analyst, were
compared for the study. None of
these required more than a bach-
elor’s degree, making it ideal for a
recent graduate.
The following cities were com-
pared: Cleveland, New York, Los
Angeles and Boston.
In Cleveland, the average Com-
munication graduate earns a salary
of $50,240 annually, which ranks
sixth-highest of the cities com-
pared. However, Cleveland ranks
as third-lowest in cost of living.
While you may average an extra
$6,000 working in Boston, it’s also
31 percent more expensive to live.
The cost of living in New York
City is 79.69 percent higher than
Cleveland. Average Communica-
tion graduates in New York City
earn $59,511 annually. While this
is an additional $9,000 compared
to Cleveland, they would need to
earn $90,278 to enjoy the same
standard of living.
In all, Cleveland’s cost can ben-
efit recent graduates.
Blazek
CITY
FACULTY
ALUMNI
SCHOOL
By Howard Primer
As professor, department chair, school
director and professor again, Richard
Perloff, Ph.D., can offer plenty of per-
spective on Cleveland State’s School of
Communication over the past 10 years.
Perloff took over as department chair
in 2003, and continued as director when
it became a school one year later. His
tenure ended this summer, with George
Ray, Ph.D., as his successor.
ThechangefromCommunicationDe-
partment to School of Communication
and adding three majors were two of
the most important accomplishments
of Perloff’s administration. They were
the catalysts for the achievements that
have been made since the nameplate
in the second-floor lobby switched in
2004.
The initiation of the school required
much effort in working with the College
of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the
university and the state. Perloff credits
his predecessor, Susan E. Kogler Hill,
Ph.D., for the opportunity to continue
what was started during her term.
“Her work helped the department be-
come a school,” he says. “I helped take
the hard work and craftsmanship of Dr.
Hill and turned them into administra-
tive realities.”
The department had one major, which
became four (Communication, Com-
munication Management, Film and
Digital Media, Journalism and Promo-
tional Communication).
With eight years to reference, Perloff
and other faculty in the school can see
the advancements that have been made.
“Each of the majors does a good job
of providing a more specific curricu-
lum,” Assistant Professor Robert Whit-
bred, Ph.D., says. “It’s substantial. We’re
getting more focused in responding to
the marketplace.”
Perloff says he is proud of the addi-
tional curriculum.
“It’s a major accomplishment and
dream of the faculty to offer career-
oriented majors,” he says. “We’re one
of the few units that offers that many
majors. It gives us more options.”
Associate Professor Paul Skalski,
Ph.D., earned his undergraduate and
master’s degrees from Cleveland State.
“It’s grown a lot since I was a student
here in the 1990s,” he says. “Now we
have more faculty and more facilities.
It’s an excellent time to be here.”
Since 2004, the majors have gone
through revisions, which Perloff says
have “beefed up” the Communication
degree. Certificate programs in science
writing, multimedia advertising and
health supplement the majors.
While many of the school’s approxi-
mately 600 undergraduate majors have
selected one of the three specific fields,
the general Communication degree re-
mains popular.
“I’ve noticed in talking to the general
Communication majors that many want
to allow for a more broad range,” Whit-
bred says.
Cleveland State had the country’s
eighth-most productive Communica-
tion Department in research productiv-
ity in 2004, and becoming a school has
allowed it to expand and further devel-
op. This includes two additional tenure-
track faculty positions.
Perloff is also proud of the doctoral
track offered in conjunction with the
Maxine Goodman Levine College of
Urban Affairs, which was approved in
2007, and the school’s dedication to
health communication.
The school has had other noteworthy
achievements in the last 10 years:
-Increased presence in undergraduate
career competitions
-International exchange programs
with Zeppelin University in Germany
and Chung-Ang University in Seoul
-The Cleveland Stater lab newspaper
increasing its multimedia presence, to
include YouTube, Facebook and Twit-
ter
-A transition in research from tele-
phone work to eye-tracking and physi-
ological equipment
-Better advising
-A video game research lab
Perloff says it’s healthy to bring in
someone with new ideas. He fondly
looks back on his eight years as chair
and director.
“We became more versatile, hands-on
and contemporary,” he says. “But we
continued to put the focus on scholar-
ship and research. We made ourselves a
lot more exciting.”
Perloff recalls many
accomplishments
as school director Photo by DeAnna Harris
Outgoing school Director Richard Perloff, Ph. D.
recalls highlights of his tenure as director.
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15. Moving On...
Students explore opportunities in communication
By Kristen Mott
The School of Communication is
under new leadership.
George Ray, Ph.D., has replaced
Richard Perloff, Ph.D., as the direc-
tor of the School of Communica-
tion.
As director, Ray has specific goals
that he would like to accomplish. He
says his first priority is to maintain
faculty positions and retain the abil-
ity to replace retiring faculty.
He would then like to increase en-
rollment and maintain all levels of
staffing.
“If I accomplish those goals, I feel
like I’ll be effective,” Ray says.
Although he has goals in mind, Ray
is also wary of impending budget
cuts.
He knows that the school will face
a difficult time with the cuts and will
have to plan strategically.
“We’re definitely expecting it to
have an impact,” Ray notes. “We
must take effort to protect the stu-
dents in light of the budget cuts.”
He says he is concerned about the
support for higher education at the
local, state and federal level. State
support is shrinking, and no one
knows if that will be a permanent re-
duction. He adds that he would like
to see Ohio promote higher educa-
tion and make it more accessible to
students.
Even with the budget cuts, Ray says
he is confident that the School of
Communication will excel. An exter-
nal consultant from the University
of Wisconsin reviewed the school
last year and commended it for the
strength of its academic quality, spe-
cifically at the graduate and research
levels.
Ray notes that although the School
of Communication is not as large as
other schools in the area, it offers
high quality programs for students.
“I think we’re definitely competi-
tive,” says Ray. “What we offer, I
think, is satisfactory to very good in
comparison to competitors.”
Part of that competitive spirit stems
from new programs recently created
for students. Several years ago, the
College of Urban Affairs developed
a Communication doctoral sequence,
so students can earn a doctorate de-
gree in Urban Affairs with an em-
phasis in Communication. Ray adds
that one student now enrolled in the
program is finishing up classes and
will begin writing her dissertation in
2011-12.
The School of Communication
also takes part in the 4 + 1 program,
which allows students to pursue a
bachelor and master’s degree simul-
taneously.
These programs are beneficial to
students, but they are in the begin-
ning stages. As director, Ray will
keep a close eye on their develop-
ment. “We need to make sure these
programs are functioning smoothly,”
says Ray.
Ray notes that Perloff has started
the programs, and now it is up to
him to keep them running.
Ray has a long history with the
School of Communication. He
joined the faculty in 1987 and served
as assistant chair from 1993 to 1994.
He became the graduate program
director in 1997 and served in that
position until 2000.
He has also served on the CSU Fac-
ulty Senate and was secretary of the
College of Liberal Arts and Social
Sciences from 2001 to 2002.
Ray’s areas of expertise include
language, culture and interpersonal
communication. He usually teaches
interracial and intercultural commu-
nication classes.
Prior to coming to CSU, Ray taught
as a professor for 10 years at Berea
College and Transylvania University
in Kentucky.
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Ray sets
goals as
school
director
Photo by DeAnna Harris
George Ray, Ph.D., succeeds Richard Perloff, Ph.D., as director of the
Cleveland State University School of Communication.
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