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Communicator
MSU College of Communication Arts & Sciences   2010-2011
Communicator
2010-2011 edition

The Communicator magazine is
published annually by the MSU College of                    In this edition
Communication Arts & Sciences for alumni,
donors, friends, faculty, staff and students of
the college.

We welcome comments and news items.
                                                            Alumni news
Please send them to:
Kirsten Khire, Communications Manager
                                                   Page 6
College of Communication
Arts & Sciences,
                                                            4     Dean’s Message
287 Communication Arts & Sciences                           5     Alumni Board President’s Message
Building,
Michigan State University,                                  6     Alumni Awards
East Lansing, MI 48824
Email: CASnews@msu.edu                                      8     Journalism Centennial
Dean Pamela Whitten                                         10    Alumni Honors
Editor: Kirsten Khire,
                                                            12    New Scholarships
Communications Manager
                                                  Page 18   14    Career Boosts
Contributors: Nicole Bays, Lane Blackmer,
Edward Cohen, Phyllis Kacos, Andrea Kovac,
Trenton Lively, Meagan Meldrim, Kerri Jo
Molitor, Tom Oswald                                         Research and creative work changing lives
Designers: Ashley Calcagno, Kirsten Khire

Photographers: Kevin Fowler/dharma bum
                                                            16    Health
graphics, Zachary Jay, Christa Milster, Jin
Myung
                                                            18    International: Africa
                                                            20    Technology and Economy
Printer: Quad/Graphics

                                                  Page 20   22    Social Media
College of Communication Arts & Sciences
Alumni Board                                                24    Video Games
Ed Cohen, President
Diane Neal, Vice President                                  26    Film and Art
Jeff Lambert, Treasurer
Matt Martyn, Secretary

                                                            Around the college
Jim Alexander
Thomas Baldwin
Merri Jo Bales
W. Clark Bunting
David Coelho
Nancy Crawley                                               28    Faculty News
Brian Hamrick
Barbara Mason
Angela Massenberg                                 Page 25   30    Students/Programs
Erika Myers
Jana O’Brien
Ed Swiderski
                                                            Legacies
Visit us online
Website: www.cas.msu.edu
Twitter: www.twitter.com/msucommarts
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
                                                            32    Tribute: James Quello
msucommarts
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com -
                                                            33    In Memory: Jill Elfenbein
Communication Arts & Sciences Alumni
YouTube: www.youtube.com/msucommarts
Flickr: www.flickr.com/msucommarts
                                                            Connect with us
                                                  Page 36
                                                            34    Become an MSUAA member
Copyright © 2010
                                                            35    Update Your Information
Michigan State University                                   35    Nominate an Alum or Faculty Member
College of Communication Arts & Sciences
All rights reserved.™                                       36    Join us at Upcoming Events
On October 16, 2009 during MSU Homecoming
weekend, the college dedicated a new patio
made possible by a gift from Richard Bush and
Patricia McGuigan, honorary alumni award
winners of the college, with support from Bob
and Sally Snyder. The patio honors three special
women who were mothers, scholars and
Spartans: Ruth Cady Bush, Phyllis Spring
Petrullo and June Bercin Snyder.


                                                   2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 03
welcome




                                                                                     Pamela S. Whitten, Ph.D.

                                                           Dean’s Message
     Welcome to the 2010 edition of the            especially meaningful during a year          • and by evaluating and changing our
    Communicator magazine. It’s been a             of such change. As you undoubtedly           college to survive and thrive in any
    tremendously busy year in the MSU              know, MSU and all public universities        economic conditions.
    College of Communication Arts &                are receiving significantly less financial
    Sciences, especially in conducting             support from the government. Our              To accomplish all of this, we need
    research that changes lives. That is the       college has prepared for this reality in     your involvement and support. I wel-
    theme of this edition, which I hope            several ways:                                come your communication, whether by
    you enjoy. From helping families and                                                        phone, email or an in-person appoint-
    residents from Michigan to Tanzania,           • by increasing our emphasis on re-          ment. With almost 43,000 alumni from
    our researchers and students are mak-          search grants and funding                    our college, we can all make a differ-
    ing a huge difference.                         • by seeking increased donor and             ence. SPARTANS WILL.
                                                   foundational support
     On the pages inside, you will read            • by restructuring our college opera-
    about some of this academic year’s             tions
    greatest moments, from our student             • by making curriculum changes to
    successes to our alumni newsmakers.            benefit students headed toward tech-
                                                                                                Phone: 517-355-3410
                                                   nology and creative careers
                                                                                                Email: casdean@msu.edu
     Our successes, which in large part are        • by increasing career opportunities
                                                                                                Blog: www.cas.msu.edu/deanblog
    a product of all of our involvement, are       for our students




     Highlights of Comm
    Congratulations to
    Dr. luCinDa Davenport,
    reCipient of the 2010
    faCulty iMpaCt awarD

    Lucinda Davenport, center, with Dean
    Pamela Whitten and Alumni Board
    President Ed Cohen, was recently named
    director of the School of Journalism. She
    developed one of the first interactive
    software programs for journalism education
    and has co-authored three nationally-
    known textbooks in reporting and mass
    communication. Of this award, she said,
    “Every time I look at this monument, I see
    a tribute to all of my colleagues and to all
    of you who touched the life of an MSU
    student. And thanks to you for that.”

04 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
Alumni Board President’s Message
                                                  Ed Cohen
                                                  (BA ‘76 Telecommunication,
                                                  PhD ‘88 Mass Media)
                                                  Cohen, right, with head of the MSU Alumni Association Scott Westerman (BA
                                                  ‘78 Telecommunication), and the college’s founding alumni board president
                                                  Edward Deeb (BA ‘60 Advertising), at the 2010 Alumni Awards Celebration.


  The MSU College of Communication Arts & Sciences              time, expertise and resources. These strategies will help to
 Alumni Board, with 16 members representing all depart-         sustain our college over the long haul.
 ments, has made significant progress this year and I’d like
 to update you on some of our goals and successes.               Following this model, our board has set up an endow-
                                                                ment for the college. The endowment allows current and
  The mission of the board is to:                               past board members to work towards a shared fundrais-
 • provide a framework for CAS alumni to communicate            ing purpose. Upon completion, the interest earned from
 formally and informally for educational, professional and      the endowment will support several areas that the board
 social purposes;                                               feels passionate about, including the Faculty Impact Award
 • provide an advisory service to the College of Communi-       honorarium and initiatives to engage our alumni.
 cation Arts and Sciences staff, students, and alumni;
 • expand interest in, and financial support for, the College     We hope this endowment inspires other alumni to estab-
 of Communication Arts & Sciences at MSU.                       lish similar endowments and make gifts to support stu-
                                                                dents and programs. I encourage you to get involved in the
  To accomplish this mission, the board is seeking ways         college today. Every page lists a specific way you can (just
 to connect with alumni to encourage other alumni to en-        look for the Spartans Will shield). Connect with us today!
 gage, become informed and invest in the college through




encement 2010
                                                                                             Congratulations
                                                                                             to all graDuates
                                                                                             In May, 948 students graduated
                                                                                             from the college, becoming the
                                                                                             newest alumni. At the college’s
                                                                                             undergraduate convocation,
                                                                                             student speaker Zaneta Inpower
                                                                                             (BA ‘10 Advertising) said, “I am
                                                                                             incredibly proud of my efforts
                                                                                             and ability to prove that tenacity
                                                                                             and goal-setting can overcome
                                                                                             obstacles, even cultural barriers, as
                                                                                             I wrote myself into MSU’s history
                                                                                             simply by standing here right now
                                                                                             and delivering this speech.”
                                                                                                           2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 05
alumni awards

                                                    the
                                                   celebration
                                          BACK ROW
                          Loretta Sklar, Edward Deeb
                                    and Phil Bertolini.

                                       MIDDLE ROW
                          Kelley L. Carter, Ed Cohen,
                        Pamela Whitten and Lucinda
                                          Davenport.

                                         FRONT ROW
                          Stan Stein, Tim Whaley and
                            Nancy R. Kaufman at The
                                  Celebration in May.




     o
              n May 8,                                                             nanCY r. Kaufman
              friends of                                                           (BA ‘79 Audiology and Speech Sciences), outstanding Alumni Award,
              the college                                                          creator of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP), helping
     gathered for The                                                              children to become effective vocal and verbal communicators.
     Celebration: 2010
     Alumni Awards                                                                 stan stEin
     Banquet at the Kellogg                                                        (BA ‘75 Journalism, MA ‘80 Advertising & Public relations), outstanding
     Center. This year,                                                            Alumni Award, Executive Vice President for Weber Shandwick Worldwide,
     the college honored                                                           the world’s leading public relations agency, and re-opened its Detroit office
     eight outstanding                                                             in 2003.
     individuals. Alumni       2008 Outstanding Alumni Award winner
     Board President Ed        Lynn Henning signs his book, “Spartan               tim WhaLEY
     Cohen served as           Seasons II” for Dr. Bradley Greenberg.              (BA ‘81 Advertising), outstanding Alumni Award, founder of EnviroGLAS, a
     emcee for the event.                                                          recycled glass manufacturing company that produces customized flooring
     Presenting this year’s award winners:                                         and counters made of recycled glass from many sources. He designed the
                                                                                   awards that were accepted at the ceremony.
     KELLEY L. CartEr
     (BA ‘07 Journalism), rising Star Alumni Award, Emmy-award winning             LorEtta sKLar
     entertainment journalist for CNN who has written for publications including   Honorary Alumni Award, Vice President/regional Manager for Kohl’s,
     the Detroit Free Press, Vibe Magazine, USA Today and The Chicago              manages over $1 billion in total sales, manages 6 District Vice Presidents,
     Tribune.                                                                      over 250 executives and
                                                                                   3,000 hourly associates.
                                                                                                                                     tans W
     PhiL BErtoLini
     (BA ‘85 Telecommunication), outstanding Alumni Award, CIo for oakland
                                                                                                                                  ar
                                                                                                                                 P Nominate i
                                                                                                                                                       LL
                                                                                                                         s




     County. Vocal Advocate for enterprise solutions in government, cross-
     boundary resource sharing, and inter-jurisdictional cooperation.
                                                                                                                                  an alum today!
                                                                                       Listen to
     JamEs Gaudino                                                                  each winner at                           cas.msu.edu/alumni
     (PhD ‘88 Communication), outstanding Alumni Award, President                   youtube.com/
     of Central Washington University, founding Dean of the College of              msucommarts
     Communication and Information (CCI) at Kent State University.
06 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
“
                                    Luck and laughter have been




                                                                        “
                                    the keys to my success. But,
                                       also determination, taking       What I always wanted
                                                                        was a purpose, some-
                                        risks and having a strong
                                                                        thing I could look back
                                              belief in myself and
                                                                        to and say, ‘I left a
                                           my God-given talents.”       mark in what the future
                                                                        generation is going to
                                                                        achieve.’”
                                    — nancy r. Kaufman
                                    outstanding Alumni Award                   — tim Whaley
                                                                            outstanding Alumni
                                                                                        Award




                                      “ “
                                        one thing I learned here
                                          at MSU is how much it            Just because
                                           is a family. It’s really a      Michigan State is a
                                         community. It’s a family.         big school is not a
                                         once you’re a Spartan,            reason that you can’t
                                        you’re always a Spartan.           be an individual. You
                                               When you walk on            can seek help if you
                                                                           need it, you can have
                                         campus as a student to
                                                                           your own identity -
                                         when you graduate and             but nobody hands
                                       become an alum, you’re a            it to you. First and
                                                          Spartan.”        foremost, it’s a school
                                                                           that gives those who
                              — Phil Bertolini                             are willing to take on a
                              outstanding Alumni Award                     variety of challenges,
                                                                           the tools necessary to




                              “
                                                                           succeed in life, both profession-
                                                                           ally and personally.”

                                Much of the advice that has                                   — stan stein
                                guided my career I received                       outstanding Alumni Award
                                    from the faculty and the




                                                                        “
                                 administrators at Michigan
                                           State University.”

                                        — James Gaudino                    I really, really hope students understand
                                  outstanding Alumni Award                 the value of a career and how important
                                                                           it is to always network and to always
                                                                           stay hungry. When you stay hungry,
                                                                           you’re always putting out your best




“
                                                                           work, and when you’re
                                                                           always putting out
                                                                           your best work, you’re
I'm humbled as I stand here                                                always catching the
today, not being a                                                         attention of people who
graduate from Michigan                                                     are in positions to give
State, but truly feeling                                                   you more work.”
a Spartan loyalty that is
really deep, deep in my
                                                                               — Kelley L. Carter
heart. I am grateful for
this recognition and this                                                       rising Star Award
award.”

      — Loretta sklar
Honorary Alumni Award



                                                                                                                       2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 07
New journalism curriculum under way
     By: Meagan Meldrim

         MSU’s School of Journalism has
     overhauled its curriculum to strengthen
     its position as the go-to place for students
     wishing to become leaders in the industry.
         “Critical thinking, excellent writing
     and superb visual communication skills
     are the hallmarks of our students as they
     learn how to research and produce news
     and information in distinct platforms for
     different audiences,” said Lucinda Daven-
     port, director of the School of Journalism.
         The new curriculum is built upon the
     expertise and advice of faculty, profes-
     sionals, alumni, university administrators
     and students.
         Innovative technologies are in the suc-
     cessful journalist’s toolbox, are pervasive
     in newsrooms and are in the hands of           Journalism students showcase digital media projects.
     audiences. This innovation is pervasive
     in the new curriculum, building on solid,      photography, design). The concentration                as Creating and Marketing Journalism
     traditional journalism principles and          appears on transcripts.                                for developing innovations that have
     theories, said Davenport.                         “As a journalism major myself, this is              the potential for commercial success.
         Several major changes were made. One       exciting news because the term journal-                Other classes produce students’ work
     is that journalism students choose a con-      ism is so broad, and a concentration will              in professional newspapers, radio, TV,
     centration in addition to the major. The       help me make definite decision as to my                magazine and documentary outlets. The
     concentrations include courses outside of      focus for the future,” said journalism                 new capstone, Spartan Online Newsroom,
     journalism for different types of reporting    sophomore Zach Berridge.                               has students combining their research,
     such as sports, international, environmen-        Further benefits are that students can              writing and visual skills for the web. Still
     tal, public affairs, business and formats      take journalism courses in their freshman              in place is the requirement that students
     like electronic or TV news and visual          year, and it offers more room for electives.           have internships. Most journalism stu-
     communication (interactive graphics,              It also adds several new courses, such              dents average three.


    Mexican media CEO gives talk                                               NPR, AP media headline lecture
                              Alejandro Junco, president and                                             The MSU School of Journalism es-
                           CEO of the Mexican media organiza-                                        tablished the Siebert Lecture series in
                           tion Grupo Reforma, was the featured                                      1968 in honor of Frederick S. Siebert,
                           speaker of the 2010 Mary Gardner                                          director of the School of Journalism
                           Lecture on April 8.                                                       from 1957 to 1960 and dean of the
                              The focus of Junco’s speech was                                        College of Communication Arts & Sci-
                           “Adjusting the Paradigm: Building                                         ences from 1960 to 1967.
    Journalism for the Future.”                                                                          Don Gonyea of NPR and Kathy
        The Gardner Lecture was part of the celebration of 100                Hoffman of the Associated
    years of journalism at MSU, which will continue through 2010.             Press, both MSU graduates,                 rtans W
        Junco earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the               were the centennial Siebert             Pa
                                                                                                                        s



                                                                                                                                             iLL




    University of Texas at Austin in 1969 and received an Honor-              Lecture speakers on Feb. 18.
    ary Degree of Doctor of Humanities from MSU in 2000.                      This year’s lecture topic was          Celebrate with
        The Gardner Lecture is an annual endowed lecture at
    MSU that focus on issues facing Latin American journalism
                                                                              new technology and political
                                                                              coverage as part of the 100
                                                                                                                      the J-School!
    in honor of the late MSU journalism professor, Mary Gardner.              years of journalism celebra-
    For more information about the MSU School of Journalism,                  tion at MSU.                            jrn.msu.edu
    go online to www.jrn.msu.edu. The archived lecture is avail-
    able on demand at www.spartantv.cas.msu.edu.

08 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
j o u r n a l i s m ce n tennial
Stan Soffin reflects on years                                                                           Journalism
                                                                                                   Centennial Committee
leading School of Journalism                                                                           The School of Journalism at
By: Meagan Meldrim                                                                                 Michigan State University’s College
                                                                                                   of Communication Arts & Sciences
    As Michigan State University celebrates                                                        is pleased to announce the 2010
the 100th anniversary of the first journalism                                                      School of Journalism Centennial
course offered on campus, MSU’s ombuds-                                                            Committee, comprised of leading
man Stan Soffin reflects on his 30 years on                                                        journalism alumni.
the J-School faculty, including 16 as director.                                                        The establishment of the Cen-
    Soffin, who holds a master’s degree in                                                         tennial Committee demonstrates
journalism and a Ph.D. in American Studies                                                         the importance of 100 Years of
from MSU, joined the J-School faculty as an                                                        Journalism Education at Michigan
                                                  Stan Soffin                                      State University, an investment
instructor in 1968. He was appointed director
                                                  Courtesy: Jason Chiou, The State News            from alumni in the School of Jour-
of the J-School in 1982, a position he held
until 1998, when he was named the University          In 1984, Soffin spearheaded a $1 mil-        nalism and a commitment to the
ombudsman. His duties include helping MSU         lion grant to establish the Knight Chair in      next 100 years of journalism. The
students resolve disputes within the university   Environmental Journalism. The program, now       Centennial Committee consists of
in a neutral and confidential manner.             called the Knight Center for Environmental       the following members:
    “When I was appointed the director of         Journalism, teaches students to research,
the J-School, then dean of the college Erwin      report and write about environmental issues.     Benjamin Burns, Professor of
Bettinghaus told me my primary responsibil-       Soffin jumpstarted the J-School develop-         Communications at Wayne State
ity was ‘to build a strong department,’” Soffin   ment program, which, among other projects,       University
said.                                             established many of the student scholarships
    He went to work in a hurry. In 1982, Soffin   at the J-School. Alumni and friends endowed      Beverly Burns, Attorney and
brought the Michigan Interscholastic Press        a journalism scholarship in Soffin’s name in     Counselor at Law, Miller, Canfield,
Association to the J-School. A year later he      1998.                                            Paddock, & Stone
and colleague Carrie Heeter raised $100,000           Soffin remarked on the changes he has
from the Gannett Foundation to create a pio-      seen in journalism during his time at MSU.       Donald Dahlstrom, Senior
neering communication technology lab for the          “Symbolically, we went from typewriter-      Communications Officer at C.S.
College of Communication Arts & Sciences.         assisted journalism to computer-assisted jour-   Mott Foundation
In 1985, he helped restart and bring the long-    nalism. That was an expensive and significant
dormant Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame to       shift, and it’s still evolving,” he said.        Katherine Dahlstrom, Instructor of
the J-School.                                                                                      Journalism at Oakland University

                                                                                                   Karen Healy, Vice President of Cor-

            UPCOMING EVENTS                                                                        porate Affairs & Marketing at Delphi

                                                                                                   Larry Lee, Former Vice President at
                                                                                                   Gongwer News
 Neal Shine Lecture Centennial Weekend
                                                                                                   Joseph Serwach, Media Relations
 Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 Friday and Saturday                                                         at University of Michigan
 2 p.m. 145 CAS        Oct. 22-23, 2010                                                            Stan Soffin, Ombudsman at
                                                                                                   Michigan State University
 The Neal Shine Lecture is named after            The weekend following Homecoming
 Neal Shine, former publisher of the              culminates the celebratory centennial
 Detroit Free Press. This year’s lecture          year. Three keynote speakers anchor a            Centennial Planning Committee:
 on Homecoming Friday celebrates                  day filled with alumni and profession-
 the new sports journalism concentra-             als leading workshops and seminars.              Jeremy Steele, Pam Saunders,
 tion with a panel of highly successful           The event ends with a spectacular                Lucinda Davenport, Bob Gould,
 sports reporting alumni discussing               evening reception.                               Joe Grimm, Karl Gude, Steve Lacy
 ethical situations and new technology.                                                            and Cheryl Pell

                                                                                                    Thank you to additional faculty for
       For a complete list of journalism centennial events,                                              their time and efforts.
                    visit www.jrn.msu.edu
                                                                                                                      2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 09
alumni honors
    Taking the helm
    at the MSUAA                                    Book signings by alumni
                                                       M.L. Elrick (BA ‘90 Journal-
                          Scott Westerman          ism), near right, along with De-
                       (BA ‘78 Telecom-            troit Free Press fellow reporter
                       munication) took the        Jim Schaefer, discuss their book
                       helm in January as          “The Kwame Sutra” at a local
                       MSU’s new associ-           book signing. Elrick and Schae-
                       ate vice president for      fer won a 2009 Pulitzer Prize
                       alumni relations and        in the local reporting category
                       executive director of       for uncovering incriminating
                       the MSU Alumni Asso-        text messages by former Detroit
     ciation. Westerman came to MSU from           Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
     Albuquerque, N.M., where he was area
     vice president for Comcast Corp.’s West          Writer and editor Robin
     Division. He spearheaded a public rela-       Stone (BA ‘86 Journalism),
     tions turnaround for the company by           right, discusses the book “My
     leveraging social media such as Face-         Times in Black and White” by
     book and Twitter to respond to custom-        Gerald Boyd, her late husband,
     er complaints. In 2001, he received the       former managing editor of the
     MSU College of Communication Arts &           New York Times. Stone helped
     Sciences Outstanding Alumni award.            edit the book and bring it to
     He has served as president on the Col-        publication and shared the
     lege of Communication Arts & Sciences         story with MSU students.
     Alumni Board.




                                                                                       From MSU
                                                                                       By: Kerri Jo Molitor

                                                                                           Two alumni have used their MSU
                                                                                       journalism training at the well-known
                                                                                       journalism corporation, National
                                                                                       Geographic.
                                                                                           Anisa Abid Peters (MA ‘08 Jour-
                                                                                       nalism), has worked with National
                                                                                       Geographic Television since finish-
                                                                                       ing her master’s degree at MSU. She
                                                                                       started out working with the program
                                                                                       “Dangerous Encounters” as a produc-
                                                                                       tion coordinator intern and is now
                                                                                       associate producer. Applying for the
                                                                                       National Geographic internship was
                                                                                       a natural choice, Peters said, because


        Telecasters alumni reunion
                                                                                       working for an international wildlife
                                                                                       program seemed perfect for her.
                                                                                           “I was fortunate to get the intern-
                                                                                       ship,” Peters said. “It was the best
        Former Telecasters and MSU alumni Ryan Alloway, Maureen Enright, Andrew        news I’d ever heard. National Geo-
        Sobotka, Debora Del Valle, Heather Zara, Brian Murray and Tim Taylor spoke     graphic’s mission is appealing because
        about their professions to more than 50 students and alumni in February as     it is inspiring people to care about
        part of an all-day Telecasters alumni reunion for the MSU Telecasters Alumni   the planet. I knew the job would be a
        interest group.                                                                good fit because that’s what I want to
                                                                                       do, through television and documen-
                                                                                       tary film.”
10 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
Alum Craig Murray and his daughter         Alumni shine
                                               at the oscars
    Jessie at the 82nd Annual Academy
    Awards. Murray’s company Craig Murray
    Productions had a major production role
    in the Oscars.
                                                   The college was well represented
                                               by alumni at the 82nd Annual Acad-
                                               emy Awards in February, including
                                               by:
                                               • Craig Murray (BA ‘76 Advertising),
                                               whose company Craig Murray Pro-
                                               ductions created the nomination film
                                               sequences, the Governors Award
                                               sequence and the World of Sound,
                                               • Bob Murawski (BA ‘87 Telecommu-
                                               nication, Film Studies), who received
                                               an Oscar for best film editing for
                                               “The Hurt Locker” with Chris Innis       Alum Bob Murawski and wife Chris Innis
                                               • and Justin Shaw (BA ‘99 Telecom-       with the Oscar for editing “The Hurt Locker.”
                                               munciation, Film Studies), who was       Murawski’s company Grindhouse Releasing
                                               assistant film editor on “Avatar,”       is a Hollywood-based distribution company.
                                               which was nominated in the film
                                               editing category.




... to National Geographic jobs
                                                   In 2003, Lerman returned home to        after graduation, whereas usually this
                                               Croatia and applied to be the associ-       specialization comes to journalists
                                               ate editor of the new Croatian edition      later in a career after working several
                                               of National Geographic Magazine.            years in general beats. Overall, the
                                               Not only did she get the job, but she       knowledge and experience I gained at
                                               was later promoted to deputy edi-           MSU was invaluable and it prepared
                                               tor in chief and worked there for six       me well for my career and gave me all
                                               years.                                      the necessary tools to succeed in this
                                                   “My favorite part of the job was        field.”
                                               writing feature stories,” Lerman said.
 Anisa Abid Peters works on a crocodile suit   “Among the ones I am especially
 for “Dangerous Encounters.”
                                               proud of is the story on overfishing
                                               in the Adriatic Sea for which I got
                                               the Croatian Journalist Association’s
                                                                                                             tans W
     Another graduate,
                                               award for excellence in environmental
                                                                                                         r
                                                                                                      Pa           i
 Ivona Lerman (MA ‘01
 Journalism) was part                          journalism.”
                                                                                                                           LL




 of the National Geo-                              Recently, Lerman was transferred
                                                                                                s




 graphic family. The                           to Sensa, a health, environment and
 MSU environmental                             wellness magazine.                                   Share your story!
 journalism program                                “Being a graduate from MSU’s
 was a good choice for                         School of Journalism opened a lot of
 her, she said, because                        doors for me,” Lerman said. “Also,              spartansagas.msu.edu
 it combined her love                          my specialization in environmen-
                                Lerman
 for science and nature                        tal journalism and experience as an
 with her newly discov-                        editor of EJ News provided me with
 ered passion for journal-                     a possibility to start working in the
 ism.                                          environmental journalism field right
                                                                                                                  2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 11
new scholarships
    Leo Burnett Detroit creates
    award to honor colleague                                                                            PR firm
    By: Kirsten Khire                                                                                   establishes
        Creative. Someone who took a
    chance on others. A mentor. A family
    man. Smart, passionate. Great sense
                                                                                                        scholarship
    of humor.                                                                                            By: Rebecca Pagels
        These were among 1,100 qualities
    that people loved about George Kat-                                                                     Investing in the younger generation
    sarelas (BA ’82 Advertising) – perma-                                                               in Michigan and giving back. These
    nent remembrances on a wall in the                                                                  are the words that Jeff Lambert (BA
                                 Leo Burnett                                                            ’93 Advertising) used to describe
                                 Detroit of-                                                            the Lambert, Edwards & Associates
                                 fice, where                                                            Expendable Scholarship.
                                 Katsarelas      Advertising student Tess Maurici, left, is the first       When Lambert became a member
                                 worked for      recipient of the George Katsarelas Endowed Memo-       of the college alumni board, he began
                                 many years      rial Scholarship, founded by friends at Leo Burnett    looking for ways to give back and
                                 as a creative   Detroit including Jeff Cruz, right.                    introduce CAS students to real-world
                                 leader.         first recipient is advertising student                 public relations as well as investor
                                     Katsar-     Tess Maurici, who met Cruz in April.                   relations, an area
                                 elas passed         Leo Burnett Detroit isn’t stopping                 in which his firm
                                 away in         there. The advertising agency is work-                 specializes.
                                 June 2009.      ing on fundraisers, wristbands and                         The result
                                 When he         campaigns to encourage everyone who                    was the Lambert,
                                 passed, his     knew Katsarelas to get involved and                    Edwards & Associ-
    George Katsarelas                                                                                   ates Expendable
                               colleagues        contribute toward the scholarship.
    in the office sought a special way to        “Our goal is to make this scholar-                     Scholarship in
    remember a very special colleague.           ship bigger and greater,” Cruz said.                   the Department
    They created a remembrance wall and          “The more students we can help, the                    of Advertising, Public Relations, and
    made it blue to symbolize one of Kat-        better.” Leo Burnett offers matching                   Retailing in the college.
    sarelas’ last projects: a pro bono effort    funds to employees who make a gift.                        As part of the scholarship offered
    for the Detroit Public Schools. They             “For us, this is about George: how                 to juniors or seniors studying public
    planted an apple tree, symbolic of the       he approached life, how he treated                     relations at Michigan State University,
    Leo Burnett culture. But they wanted         people, how he taught people in the                    students will participate in a job shad-
    to go even further to keep his memory        business. He was a great guy. You                      ow day at one of Lambert, Edwards &
    alive. The result? They established          would have liked George,” Cruz said.                   Associates’ locations. The first recipi-
    the MSU George Katsarelas Endowed                Katsarelas was president of the                    ents are students Jessie Murninghan
    Memorial Scholarship.                        Detroit Creative Director’s Council                    and Emily Tschirhart.
        Jeff Cruz of Leo Burnett said the        and a leader in the Detroit advertising                    Lambert considers this gift to be
    scholarship was a group decision that        community. He is survived by his wife                  a perfect example of investing in the
    made perfect sense. “He was my role          Mary, sons Max and Nick and daugh-                     future generation, adding “I grew up in
    model. Anyone who knew George                ter Elizabeth.                                         Michigan, my employees live and work
    would say he was creative by trade,                                                                 here, and this scholarship will support
                                                                   r   tans W                           students from Michigan.”
    and he was even better with people.
    He understood that some people                              Pa           i                              Lambert is the president and
                                                                                   LL




                                                                                                        co-founder of Lambert, Edwards & As-
                                                         s




    crave extra guidance and mentoring,”
    Cruz said. “He could see potential in                    Create or support                          sociates, founded in 1998. The firm has
    people, and he would want to foster                        a scholarship!                           grown to become a top-10 Midwest-
                                                                                                        based PR firm and a top-20 investor
    the next generation of creatives. We
    had to make this scholarship happen.”                     (in any amount)                           relations firm nationally with more
        Leo Burnett Detroit contributed                                                                 than 100 clients based in 20 states and
                                                                                                        five countries. The firm recently won
    $30,000 to set up the scholarship en-
    dowment with the CAS Advancement
                                                          cas.msu.edu/giving                            PR Week’s Small Agency of the Year
    Office. The scholarship will benefit                                                                award.
    MSU advertising students, and the
12 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
Alumna creates scholarship to honor parents
 By: Kirsten Khire                                                           sure and work load for the students who receive it.”
                                                                                 The first recipient of the scholarship is advertising student Thomas
    For alumni board member Diane Neal (BS ‘79 retailing), helping           Shaver, who hopes to pursue a career in art direction at an advertising
others achieve their dream to go to college is a fulfilled dream for her     firm. “When I gain enough experience, my ultimate goal would be to
through a new scholarship she established.                                   start my own business.”
                                         Due to her family’s financial           Shaver will push to become a motivated student with the opportu-
                                     circumstances, Neal paid for her        nity this scholarship has presented to him.
                                     own MSU education, and she                  “receiving a scholarship for school means so much to me, and
                                     hopes this fund helps others who        I’m so grateful that I was chosen to receive the Neal scholarship.
                                     are supporting themselves through       Even though I believe getting a good education and going to college
                                     college.                                is extremely important in today’s world, I also believe in keeping out of
                                         “It was always distressing to       debt and saving as much money as possible. Scholarships help relieve




                                                                                                          “
                                     my parents that they were unable        some of the burden of debt students face after graduation, while also
                                     to pay for my                           motivating them to work
                                     education,” she said. “However,         harder.”
                                     it was their unconditional support          “Because I received           this inspires me to also be
                                     and belief in me, that helped me        a scholarship I will strive       a scholarship donor in the
                                     get to the position I am at today.”     to achieve better grades
Alumni board member Diane Neal          To honor her parents, Neal           so that I can enhance my          future so that i may help in
founded the Donald and Annette Neal Scholarship to benefit students          chances for future scholar-        the education of a young
who are transferring to MSU. “My parents helped set the stage for my         ship awards. Another way                       person.”
success, and this scholarship honors their love and support, while           this scholarship makes a
providing financial support to students.”                                    difference in my own life is
                                                                                                                      -thomas shaver
    Neal, CEo of Bath and Body Works, knows first hand how valuable          the realization that there       (neal scholarship recipient)
this support can be to students. “I wanted to set up a scholarship fund      are people who are gener-
to help out students who are unable to find resources for their educa-       ous givers. This inspires
tion. I personally understand how difficult it is to work and go to school   me to also be a scholarship donor in the future so that I may help in
at the same time, so hopefully this scholarship will help ease the pres-     the education of a young person.”




     Telecasters alumni help students
        The MSU Telecasters Alumni Group created and                         film live concerts for musicians.
    awarded its first scholarship this spring.                                   “Life is about stories. We carry our stories with us,
        MSU Telecasters provides opportunities for MSU un-                   share them with others we encounter and create new
    dergraduates to gain hands-on experience working with                    ones from scratch. We aim to enlighten and inspire
    state-of-the-art television equipment such as cameras,                   those around us with our stories, and I want to do it on
    lighting and editing software. Students produce, direct,                 a larger scale,” Marshall said.
    write and edit their own shows. All shows are entirely
    created by student casts and crews.
        “If you are like us, you are proud to have been a                                                                            Media arts and
    part of the Telecasters experience at MSU. It was likely                                                                         technology
    a highlight of your college career that formed lasting                                                                           student Colin
    friendships and provided a launching pad to a career in                                                                          Marshall re-
    television, film, communication technology and many                                                                              ceived the
    other fields,” said Pam Saunders, president of the MSU                                                                           Telecasters
                                                                                                                                     Alumni Group’s
    Telecasters Alumni Group.
                                                                                                                                     first scholarship
        The Telecasters alumni group presented a $500                                                                                in the spring.
    scholarship in the spring to media arts and technology
    student Colin Marshall. Marshall is in the Honors Col-                                                                           Credit: Matt
    lege and in the fiction film specialization. He was editor                                                                       Radick/
    of Telecaster productions “The Giraffe House” and “The                                                                           Residential
    Show.” He has helped produce videos for musical artists                                                                          College in the
    and a video for the MSU Office of Admissions. He also                                                                            Arts and
    interned with the Big Ten Network. Marshall’s goal is to                                                                         Humanities


                                                                                                                              2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 13
Students help protect
         Alumni provides                                            children via internships
         internship help                                            By: Nicole Marble

                                                                        For the second year in a row, dozens of Michigan State
         By: Kirsten Khire                                          University students volunteered around the state to help
                                                                    organizations that protect children from abuse and neglect.
                                                   Alumni board         One such student is MSU public relations master’s
                                               member Jana          student Halley Buchan, who is interning at the Children’s
                                               O’Brien has set up   Trust Fund main office in Lansing.
                                               an internship fund       “This internship has meant a lot to me. I have been able
                                               for advertising      to finally use all my schooling and put it to use on actual
                                               students so that     projects that are helping to prevent abuse and neglect of
                                               they can pur-        children all around the state of Michigan. It has been nice
                                               sue their career     working with people that truly want to help children and
                                               dreams. Often,       people in need,” Buchan said.
         Jana O’Brien
                                               internships are          The Children’s Central volunteer program is part of a
                                             unpaid, located in     relationship between the Department of Advertising, Public
         expensive locations or require travel funds. O’Brien’s     Relations, and Retailing and Michigan Children’s Trust
         contribution is helping eight students this summer to      Fund (CTF).
         pursue their dream internships.                                In the program, advertising and public relations stu-
             “I honestly attribute a lot of my career success to    dents are working as fundraising and publicity volunteers
         my summer internship experience at BBDO in Detroit         for CTF affiliate offices among other nonprofits statewide.
         in the summers of 1977-1978. It is so gratifying to see        Last summer, the nonprofits received approximately
         that students have been able to find similar opportu-      $48,000 worth of contributed labor from 20 MSU under-
         nities in the midst of our challenging economic times      graduate PR and advertising students over the 12-week
         and also to know that my small donation helped             summer break.
         them take advantage of those opportunities,” O’Brien           “PR and advertising students in our program get a great
         said.                                                      deal of exposure to child abuse and prevention efforts
             Here are a few examples of students interning          as well as other important social causes through various
         around the country:                                        courses in the department. We help local CTF affiliates
         • Lauren Fifarek, interning at MWW in New York City;       meet their objectives by giving the students a chance to
         • Yale Miller, interning in Palm Springs with the Pow-     show what they can do. This program benefits the student
         ers Minor League Baseball Team;                            and society,” said Richard Cole, chair of the Department of
         • Lynsey Tomac, intern-                                    Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing.
         ing at Allied in Chicago.                                      This summer, MSU has placed student volunteers in
           Fifarek says, “This                                      local CTF affiliate offices in Ingham, Livingston, Gratiot, Ot-
         summer has been a                                          tawa, Macomb, Eaton, Wayne, Clinton and Jackson coun-
         chance of a lifetime                                       ties. In addition to CTF internships, students are interning
         here in New York City.                                     at organizations including Matrix Human Services, Ann
         I am so fortunate to                                       Arbor Center for Independent Living and Cranbrook Insti-
         attend a university that                                   tute of Science.
         has such a strong and                                          Keri Keck, executive director of the Council for the Pre-
         supportive alumni base. Lauren Fifarek                     vention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Jackson, said MSU
         With the donation I received                               intern Stacy Scheier has made a difference this summer.
         I was allowed to put                                           “Stacy has been very busy and such an asset. She has
         it towards my experi-                                      done great things for the agency, from creating a website to
                                                  tans W
                                              ar
         ence here and focus less                                   developing media opportunities for the agency to get out
         about how I will pay for            P              i       into the community,” Keck said.
                                                          LL
                                      s




         everything and more on                                         “One of the side benefits of our relationship with MSU
         growing not only as a                                      has been the value that these interns have been able to
         young professional but
                                             Host or support        add in our offices. That’s important,” said Michael Foley,
         as a person all around.                an intern!          executive director of CTF. “What may be more important,
         This was my third intern-                                  over the long haul, is the degree to which we are helping set
         ship, but my first one out       cas.msu.edu/giving        these kids off on a lifetime course of volunteering to help
         of the Lansing area.”                                      prevent child abuse and neglect. I’d call that a win-win-
                                                                    win.”

14 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
care e r b o o st s




Participants at the Grand Rapids Showcase in April 2010.



Grand Rapids businesses open doors to students...
By: Nicole Bays

   On April 16, the college hosted a showcase and networking event           ...leading to career
for Grand Rapids professionals and alumni to highlight careers in
West Michigan for graduating MSU students.
   Huntington Bank provided the MSU College of Communication
                                                                             success stories!
Arts and Sciences with a $10,000 donation to organize the event and
support the college’s Career Services.                                           madalyn Kaltz (BA ‘10 Journalism) attended the
   MSU students toured downtown Grand Rapids businesses and                 Grand rapids Showcase and is now working in Grand




“
                                organizations to learn about possible       rapids at SeyferthPr.
          We hope to            career opportunities in West Michi-                                   “This event helped me find a
  present Grand Rapids as gan. After the tour, area professionals                                 job! I think the media tour is a great
 a viable option for gradu- and MSU alumni joined the students at                                 idea. I also went to career network-
  ating seniors to consider Tavern on the Square for a networking                                 ing events and job fairs at MSU,
                                                                                                  but with so many people present, it
    for their future career     session.
                                                                                                  can be overwhelming. The agency
      plans. We are also           The event was free to students,
                                MSU alumni and local professionals,         tour was a personal way to go to the businesses
      excited about the                                                     instead of having them come to us. This helps us to
  opportunity for them to thanks to the support of Huntington               get a better feel for what the company is truly like. And
 network with area alumni Bank.                                             it showed us that there are jobs out there, a lot of good
                                   “With Huntington Bank’s close
   who can help them get relationship with the MSU [College of              jobs, and they are hiring in Michigan.
      connected in the          Communication Arts & Sciences], we               Throughout much of my college career, I knew I
         community.”            thought it would be a great opportu-        had to be independent and have strong self-discipline
                                nity to reach out to this year’s graduat-   and motivation. This is what college is about. But this
        — Michael Lindley
                                ing class and give them an opportunity      event built a bridge between us as students and the
     senior vice president of                                               real work force. This is necessary for our first job, to
  marketing for Huntington Bank to experience downtown Grand Rapids         build networking and to use the brand “Michigan State
                                and career and lifestyle options avail-
able,” said Michael Lindley (BA ‘76 Advertising), senior vice presi-        University” with pride to make us stand out in a stack
dent of marketing for Huntington Bank. “We hope to present Grand            of resumes.
Rapids as a viable option for graduating seniors to consider for their           Thank you and the team at CAS for the opportuni-
future career plans. We are also excited about the opportunity for          ties and experiences that made me feel that personal
them to network with area alumni who can help them get connected            connection and personal attention that large univer-
in the community.”                                                          sities often lack. Having people care if you end up
   Participating companies in the showcase included Huntington              successful is definitely a great feeling.”
Bank, Bevelwise, Hanon McKendry, Lambert, Edwards & Associates,
Meijer, SeyferthPR and Spectrum Health.

                                                                                                                2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 15
health

     Getting creative to help                                                                                           social media project is
                                                                                                                          potential life-saver
     Grand Rapids get FIT
                                                                                                                            According to Donate Life Amer-
    By: Kirsten Khire
                                                                                                                        ica, a nonprofit organization whose
                                                                                                                        mission is to increase education
        What if entire schools and the
                                                                                                                        about organ and tissue donation,
    community committed to getting fit?
                                                                                                                        more than 100,000 Americans
    That’s the healthy idea for students at
                                                                                                                        currently need life-saving organ
    schools who have received Project FIT
                                                                                                                        transplants. The organization said
    kits, designed and packaged by faculty
                                                                                                                        an average of 18 people die each day
    and students from Michigan State
                                                                                                                        from the lack of available organs for
    University.
                                                                                                                        transplant.
        MSU is partnering with Blue Cross
                                                                                                                            In a new project funded through
    Blue Shield of Michigan and Grand
                                                                                                                        a $340,000 grant from the U.S.
    Rapids Public Schools to lead a $1
                                                                                                                        Health Resources and Services
    million health initiative led by the MSU                 partnered with colleagues throughout
                                                                                                                        Administration’s Division of Trans-
    College of Human Medicine to promote                     the Department of Advertising, Public
                                                                                                                        plantation, MSU researchers are
    physical activity and healthy eating.                    Relations, and Retailing including Keith
                                                                                                                        studying ways in which social me-
        Project FIT, funded by Blue Cross                    Adler, Henry Brimmer, David Regan,
                                                                                                                        dia – in particular Facebook – can
    Blue Shield, is focusing on four el-                     and graduate student Karina Garcia-
                                                                                                                        increase the numbers of people who
    ementary schools and surrounding                         Ruano to take a more integrative ap-
                                                                                                                        register as organ and tissue donors.
    neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. The                       proach to marketing this project. The
                                                                                                                        “There is a great need in the state
    program, working with community                          team’s goal is to raise awareness of the
                                                                                                                        of Michigan to increase the number
    organizations, seeks to increase ac-                     initiative among appropriate audiences
                                                                                                                        of citizens who enroll on the state
    cess to safe and affordable physical                     through educational materials, adver-
                                                                                                                        organ donor registry,” said Sandi
    activities, improve the affordability                    tisements and promotional items –
                                                                                                                        Smith, director of MSU’s Health
    and availability of nutritious food, and                 including Spanish-language materials.
                                                                                                                        and Risk Communication Center
    increase knowledge, attitudes and be-                        “The creative part of this project is
                                                                                                                        and director of the project.
    haviors associated with healthy living,                  a vital complement to the research,”
                                                                                                                             “We’re hopeful that we can help
    in collaboration with school staff and                   Paek said. “The packaging and brand-
                                                                                                                        increase the number of young adults
    parents.                                                 ing of the Project FIT makes it stand
                                                                                                                        registering on the Web by as much
        Associate Professor Hye-Jin Paek is                  out. It’s a comprehensive health inter-
                                                                                                                        as 15 percent.”
    leading the branding, social marketing,                  vention project that employs the cre-
    and promotion of the project. Paek has                   ativity of advertising and marketing.”


          Breast cancer research to help advocates
           Growing concerns about breast cancer lead many people turn to breast           for mothers and daughters. So it’s critical that they have the latest research
      cancer organizations for help with the latest information, including risk factors   translated at their fingertips to share with people who seek this information.”
      and treatment options.                                                                   Atkin and Smith, along with Associate Professor Kami Silk, translate hard
           MSU faculty, as part of a Breast Cancer and the Environment grant, are         science research – which can take decades to produce meaningful data – into
      working with advocates at breast cancer organizations to help translate breast      health communication messages for testing with breast cancer advocates.
      cancer research into information that families can use to reduce breast cancer           Atkin says the messaging will include advertising and website messages,
      risk, particularly among young girls.                                               and the research team will test messages of varying complexity with different
           This communication is vital to connect the basic science with the advo-        audiences. For example, Atkin said, exposure to the chemical perfluorooc-
      cates, who influence the research agenda and help disseminate findings, say         tanoic acid (PFoA) can increase the risk of certain types of cancers in mice.
      the faculty involved in the project.                                                This man-made chemical is found in our environment, but also many different
           Charles Atkin, chair of the Department of Communication, along with            products. The researchers want to study whether people can understand
      Sandi Smith, director of the Health and risk Communication Center, are lead-        multiple ways PFoA can be reduced, and they will create multiple ads to test
      ing this project, which continues a longtime research project on breast cancer      this example of hard science research.
      communication funded by the NIEHS and NCI.                                               recent focus groups conducted with mothers and their young daughters
           “once people are diagnosed with cancer, they become information seek-          this summer by Kami Silk and her research team are looking at the PFoA
      ers looking for treatment and research that might help them,” Atkin said. For       messages as well as others that are related to breast cancer and the environ-
      people not yet touched by breast cancer, organizations must be more proac-          ment research.
      tive in reaching out to a broad audience.                                                “The focus groups had valuable feedback for us regarding messages. We
           “Advocates at breast cancer organizations are trying every day to increase     are trying to find ways to create messages for parents that are engaging and
      public awareness about breast cancer efforts, especially prevention advice          useful as the manage the health of their families.”

16 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
Assistant Professor Elizabeth


Games for health
                                                 Quilliam is studying online games
                                                 that incorporate named food prod-


focus of grant
                                                 ucts. Quilliam’s research is
                                                 supported by the Michigan Agricul-
                                                 tural Experiment Station.
                                                 Photo by Kurt Stepnitz/MSU
By: Kirsten Khire

    Faculty members have received a
$284,000 grant from the robert Wood
Johnson Foundation (rWJF) to explore how
digitally-delivered games can improve health.
    Wei Peng, assistant professor, is working
with Brian Winn, associate professor, in the
Department of Telecommunication, Informa-
tion Studies & Media on the project to help
strengthen the evidence related to the devel-
opment and use of digitally-delivered games
for positive health outcomes.
    Their project investigates effects of the
Mount olympus game, a 3D fantasy role-           Faculty study                                      Consumer Culture and the
playing game                                                                                        Ethical treatment of Children
that requires                                    food games
players to move
their upper and                                  with NIH grant                                     By: Elizabeth Quilliam
lower body in
                                                                                                        Michigan State University’s Children’s
order to control                                 By: Kirsten Khire                                  Central research Collaborative unit in the
their character’s
                                                                                                    Department of Advertising, Public relations,
movements                                            With nationwide and White House con-           and retailing hosted the inaugural “Consumer
throughout the                                   cern over childhood obesity and a need for         Culture and the Ethical Treatment of Children:
game. Inactive college students participate      healthier lifestyles, researchers at MSU are       Theory, research and Fair Practice” confer-
in the study, which randomly assigns them        studying food marketing and how it shapes          ence in November. Children’s Central has been
to different versions of the Mount olympus       children’s dietary behaviors.                      working with the Michigan Children’s Trust
game. The study examines the extent to                MSU Professor Nora rifon says food            Fund (CTF), the state’s child abuse prevention
which each version of the game meets             marketers have increasingly targeted children      agency, on a variety of initiatives including this
individuals’ needs for competence, autonomy      with web-based approaches specifically to          conference.
and social relatedness and how meeting           promote their branded food products. “Free             Two plenary session speakers, two lun-
these needs may motivate. More engagement        online games, also known as advergames,            cheon speakers, and 28 conference breakout
is expected to lead to more physical activity    are everywhere, and food products are              sessions were included in the program that
in daily life, and therefore, to better health   everywhere in the games,” she says. “often,        attracted scholars from six countries and 150
outcomes.                                        the food products in these games are not           practitioners from 81 of the 83 counties in
    “our Mount olympus game will be              nutritiondense products.”                          Michigan. The Academy was well represented
designed with a strong theoretical foundation         rifon and colleagues Mira Lee, Elizabeth      in competitive paper and special topic ses-
and play testing. We expect that the game        Quilliam, richard Cole, Hye-Jin Paek and           sions, and three current and former Journal
can engage the players in a fun way and the      Lorraine Weatherspoon recently received a          of Advertising editors participated – russ
exercise can become part of their routines,”     $418,000 grant from the National Institutes of     Laczniak, Marla royne and Les Carlson.
said Peng.                                       Health to identify the role of food advergames         royne (University of Memphis) and Carlson
                                                 in determining children’s dietary behaviors        (University of Nebraska – Lincoln) co-chaired
                                                 and health status. “It’s important to study        the conference, along with Nora rifon, Brad
                                                 whether these games are having effects on
                    tans W
                                                                                                    Greenberg and Elizabeth Taylor Quilliam, all of
              ar
                                                 children and their eating habits,” said rifon.     MSU.
                                                      The research team aims to identify how            researchers presented papers on a variety
      sP



                             iLL




                                                 pervasive food advergame play is among a           of topics, including television ads and violence,
              Help us make                       wide variety of children. Then the team will       child development and media literacy and food
              others healthy!                    study how food advergames attract children         advertising and branding.
                                                 to their brands. Combined with information             Save the date for Consumer Culture Con-
                                                 about children’s health, the research team         ference Sept. 14-16, 2012. More information is
            hrcc.cas.msu.edu                     hopes to identify factors that can contribute to   online at www.childrenscentral.msu.edu.
                                                 improved childhood dietary behavior.

                                                                                                                             2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 17
Gift aids students
    Effecting climate change                                                        studying ICT
                               By: Kristen Parker                                 for development
                                    For the first time, crop breeders and                                  By: Cara Boeff
                                agricultural specialists in East Africa will
                                have regionally specific climate data to                                        Drs. Jake and Max-
                                research and manage crops in an effort                                      ine Ferris will provide
                                to improve food production, according                                       students with an
                                to Michigan State University researchers.                                   international experi-
                                    Using a $430,000 Rockefeller                                            ence while they bring
                                Foundation grant, researchers will study                                    technology to remote
                                the impact of climate change on the                                         corners of the world.
    drought-stricken area, including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, said               The couple made a gift toward the Information
    lead researcher Jennifer Olson, associate professor in the College          & Communication Technology for Development
    of Communication Arts & Sciences.                                           Corps, a collaboration of the College of Communi-
       “This part of Africa is getting over the worst drought it has            cation Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering
    had in many years,” said Olson, who is working with geographers,            and the Honors College that includes a specializa-
    agronomists, sociologists and climatologists at MSU and in East             tion and study abroad program. Thanks to their
    Africa. “Climate change is leading to warmer temperatures and               donation, student recipients will receive a stipend
    heightened water stress for plants, as well as less reliable rain.”         for the costly travel expenses of participating in
       With assistance from an MSU supercomputer and the Michi-                 this hands-on study abroad experience.
    gan Agricultural Experiment Station, the research team will link a              “We accomplished exactly what we hoped to
    customized regional climate model with crop and water models.               achieve. We made a
                                                                                                                      an
                                                                                                                    rt s
                                                                                                               Pa
    This will enable agriculture specialists to determine the impact of         gift reflecting our be-
    climate change on different crop varieties. As a result, they will          lief that international




                                                                                                         s



                                                                                                                            Wi
    develop crop varieties that better withstand climate change.                experiences broaden
                                                                                                         Suppo
                                                                                                                rt o




                                                                                                                              LL
                                                                                students’ perspec-
                                                                                                          progra ur global eff
       “Most of our research has focused on the causes and conse-
                                                                                tives and help them
                                                                                                                 ms an           o
                                                                                                                       d stud rts,
    quences of climate change,” said Nathan Moore, assistant profes-
                                                                                become better
    sor in the Department of Geography and co-investigator on the                                                              ents!
                                                                                citizens of the world,” ca
    project. “This grant will apply those results in a new way by asking                                    s.msu
                                                                                said Dr. Maxine Ferris              .edu/g
    African specialists what their information needs are and how they
                                                                                (PhD ’62 Rhetoric
                                                                                                                           iving
    want us to help.
       “The project also will allow us to train African researchers how         and Public Address).
    to analyze crop-climate data so they can test different possibilities
    themselves.”


    Scholarship honors Ethiopian journalist
    By: Rebecca Pagels                            forward thinking and uncompromis-
                                                  ing in his writing or reporting. Girma
        The College of Communication              was abducted in 1984 by the military
    Arts & Sciences and the School of             government and was later killed.
    Journalism are pleased to award the               “Our family is very pleased to
    first Baalu Girma Expendable Schol-           make this scholarship available in
    arship.                                       honor of Baalu Girma,” says daughter
        This scholarship was established          Zelalem Girma. “To the family, this
    in honor of Baalu Girma (MA ‘63 Po-           scholarship represents his commit-
    litical Science and Journalism). After        ment to making a difference in the
    graduation, Girma returned to his na-         lives of others. It is our hope that his
    tive Ethiopia where he made signifi-          story and professional life will inspire
    cant contributions to the profession          others to achieve their best and give
    as a news correspondent, mentor and           back to society as well.”
    editor-in-chief of several of the na-             The first recipient of this scholar-
    tion’s prominent newspapers. He also          ship is journalism master’s student                      Baalu Girma
    was a fiction writer and authored             Yue Xu, originally from China.
    several famous novels. He was
18 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
international




MSU students and faculty in Tanzania,
summer 2010.


By: Lane Blackmer



    E
         very six months for the
         past two years, a study
         abroad group known as
the Information and Communica-
tion Technology for Development
(ICT4D) has been going to Tan-
zania, teaching locals how to do
something Americans do every day        Top: Primary school in Tanzania. Above, (left to right): MSU students install solar panels on the roof of the
— use computers in the classroom.       school; MSU student sets up computers; computers ready in the classroom; schoolchildren in Tanzania.
                                        Photos courtesy of Andy Bruinsma, Bret Charboneau and Eric Tarkleson
   The ICT4D program began in
2008 as a collaboration among
MSU’s colleges of Communication         stalled computer systems in three                         students learn the language, Swa-
Arts and Sciences, Engineering          schools since 2008, one of which                          hili, and learn about and experi-
and Honors. The idea of the trip to     run by solar power. Before traveling                      ence the culture. Two weeks later,
Tanzania was to develop easy-to-        abroad, the students also devel-                          the students went to the schools to
use computer programs, bring them       oped computer programs, includ-                           update computers, and train and
to the country and set up comput-       ing games to assist in teaching the                       test the new games. Media arts and
ers, as well as the programs, for the   Tanzanian students.                                       technology senior James Przytulski
teachers and students’ use.                Computer science senior Chris                          was one of the students who helped
   Eric Tarkleson, an electrical en-    Dasbach, along with student Dan                           train Tanzanian teachers and stu-
gineering graduate student who has      Shillair, created a game called                           dents.
attended every study abroad trip to     Tanzania Trader for students to test                         “The Tanzanian students were
Tanzania, said that an entire school    out before heading to Africa.                             so excited to see the games and
typically gets less money than             The game is set in Tanzania, and                       play the games,” Przytulski said.
American schools get per student.       the player is supposed to travel and                      “They’d huddle around the room as
This budget problem is hopelessly       answer questions from the Tan-                            we were working on the comput-
inhibiting for the students’ educa-     zanian school curriculum to help                          ers.”
tion in Tanzania.                       the video game character with its                            Przytulski said the trip not only
   Since books can be outdated          quests.                                                   made him apply the knowledge of
rather quickly, computers provide          “Along the way the player must                         his field, but he acquired a valuable
more up-to-date information. MSU        answer questions in order to suc-                         cultural experience.
students go to Tanzania every six       ceed in the game,” said Dasbach.                             “I think employers want to see
months to install new computers,        “For instance, a player’s vehicle                         students go on trips that relate to
update computer systems and to          may break down and, if they an-                           their area of study,” Przytulski said.
train the school’s faculty and stu-     swers question correctly, it will be                      “Employers want to see students
dents.                                  much cheaper to fix.”                                     go to developing countries and see
   Students and faculty have in-           After arriving in Tanzania, MSU                        how technology is used.”


                                                                                                                              2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 19
Communicator 2010 2011 edition
Communicator 2010 2011 edition
Communicator 2010 2011 edition
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Communicator 2010 2011 edition
Communicator 2010 2011 edition
Communicator 2010 2011 edition
Communicator 2010 2011 edition
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Communicator 2010 2011 edition

  • 1. Communicator MSU College of Communication Arts & Sciences 2010-2011
  • 2. Communicator 2010-2011 edition The Communicator magazine is published annually by the MSU College of In this edition Communication Arts & Sciences for alumni, donors, friends, faculty, staff and students of the college. We welcome comments and news items. Alumni news Please send them to: Kirsten Khire, Communications Manager Page 6 College of Communication Arts & Sciences, 4 Dean’s Message 287 Communication Arts & Sciences 5 Alumni Board President’s Message Building, Michigan State University, 6 Alumni Awards East Lansing, MI 48824 Email: CASnews@msu.edu 8 Journalism Centennial Dean Pamela Whitten 10 Alumni Honors Editor: Kirsten Khire, 12 New Scholarships Communications Manager Page 18 14 Career Boosts Contributors: Nicole Bays, Lane Blackmer, Edward Cohen, Phyllis Kacos, Andrea Kovac, Trenton Lively, Meagan Meldrim, Kerri Jo Molitor, Tom Oswald Research and creative work changing lives Designers: Ashley Calcagno, Kirsten Khire Photographers: Kevin Fowler/dharma bum 16 Health graphics, Zachary Jay, Christa Milster, Jin Myung 18 International: Africa 20 Technology and Economy Printer: Quad/Graphics Page 20 22 Social Media College of Communication Arts & Sciences Alumni Board 24 Video Games Ed Cohen, President Diane Neal, Vice President 26 Film and Art Jeff Lambert, Treasurer Matt Martyn, Secretary Around the college Jim Alexander Thomas Baldwin Merri Jo Bales W. Clark Bunting David Coelho Nancy Crawley 28 Faculty News Brian Hamrick Barbara Mason Angela Massenberg Page 25 30 Students/Programs Erika Myers Jana O’Brien Ed Swiderski Legacies Visit us online Website: www.cas.msu.edu Twitter: www.twitter.com/msucommarts Facebook: www.facebook.com/ 32 Tribute: James Quello msucommarts Linkedin: www.linkedin.com - 33 In Memory: Jill Elfenbein Communication Arts & Sciences Alumni YouTube: www.youtube.com/msucommarts Flickr: www.flickr.com/msucommarts Connect with us Page 36 34 Become an MSUAA member Copyright © 2010 35 Update Your Information Michigan State University 35 Nominate an Alum or Faculty Member College of Communication Arts & Sciences All rights reserved.™ 36 Join us at Upcoming Events
  • 3. On October 16, 2009 during MSU Homecoming weekend, the college dedicated a new patio made possible by a gift from Richard Bush and Patricia McGuigan, honorary alumni award winners of the college, with support from Bob and Sally Snyder. The patio honors three special women who were mothers, scholars and Spartans: Ruth Cady Bush, Phyllis Spring Petrullo and June Bercin Snyder. 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 03
  • 4. welcome Pamela S. Whitten, Ph.D. Dean’s Message Welcome to the 2010 edition of the especially meaningful during a year • and by evaluating and changing our Communicator magazine. It’s been a of such change. As you undoubtedly college to survive and thrive in any tremendously busy year in the MSU know, MSU and all public universities economic conditions. College of Communication Arts & are receiving significantly less financial Sciences, especially in conducting support from the government. Our To accomplish all of this, we need research that changes lives. That is the college has prepared for this reality in your involvement and support. I wel- theme of this edition, which I hope several ways: come your communication, whether by you enjoy. From helping families and phone, email or an in-person appoint- residents from Michigan to Tanzania, • by increasing our emphasis on re- ment. With almost 43,000 alumni from our researchers and students are mak- search grants and funding our college, we can all make a differ- ing a huge difference. • by seeking increased donor and ence. SPARTANS WILL. foundational support On the pages inside, you will read • by restructuring our college opera- about some of this academic year’s tions greatest moments, from our student • by making curriculum changes to successes to our alumni newsmakers. benefit students headed toward tech- Phone: 517-355-3410 nology and creative careers Email: casdean@msu.edu Our successes, which in large part are • by increasing career opportunities Blog: www.cas.msu.edu/deanblog a product of all of our involvement, are for our students Highlights of Comm Congratulations to Dr. luCinDa Davenport, reCipient of the 2010 faCulty iMpaCt awarD Lucinda Davenport, center, with Dean Pamela Whitten and Alumni Board President Ed Cohen, was recently named director of the School of Journalism. She developed one of the first interactive software programs for journalism education and has co-authored three nationally- known textbooks in reporting and mass communication. Of this award, she said, “Every time I look at this monument, I see a tribute to all of my colleagues and to all of you who touched the life of an MSU student. And thanks to you for that.” 04 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 5. Alumni Board President’s Message Ed Cohen (BA ‘76 Telecommunication, PhD ‘88 Mass Media) Cohen, right, with head of the MSU Alumni Association Scott Westerman (BA ‘78 Telecommunication), and the college’s founding alumni board president Edward Deeb (BA ‘60 Advertising), at the 2010 Alumni Awards Celebration. The MSU College of Communication Arts & Sciences time, expertise and resources. These strategies will help to Alumni Board, with 16 members representing all depart- sustain our college over the long haul. ments, has made significant progress this year and I’d like to update you on some of our goals and successes. Following this model, our board has set up an endow- ment for the college. The endowment allows current and The mission of the board is to: past board members to work towards a shared fundrais- • provide a framework for CAS alumni to communicate ing purpose. Upon completion, the interest earned from formally and informally for educational, professional and the endowment will support several areas that the board social purposes; feels passionate about, including the Faculty Impact Award • provide an advisory service to the College of Communi- honorarium and initiatives to engage our alumni. cation Arts and Sciences staff, students, and alumni; • expand interest in, and financial support for, the College We hope this endowment inspires other alumni to estab- of Communication Arts & Sciences at MSU. lish similar endowments and make gifts to support stu- dents and programs. I encourage you to get involved in the To accomplish this mission, the board is seeking ways college today. Every page lists a specific way you can (just to connect with alumni to encourage other alumni to en- look for the Spartans Will shield). Connect with us today! gage, become informed and invest in the college through encement 2010 Congratulations to all graDuates In May, 948 students graduated from the college, becoming the newest alumni. At the college’s undergraduate convocation, student speaker Zaneta Inpower (BA ‘10 Advertising) said, “I am incredibly proud of my efforts and ability to prove that tenacity and goal-setting can overcome obstacles, even cultural barriers, as I wrote myself into MSU’s history simply by standing here right now and delivering this speech.” 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 05
  • 6. alumni awards the celebration BACK ROW Loretta Sklar, Edward Deeb and Phil Bertolini. MIDDLE ROW Kelley L. Carter, Ed Cohen, Pamela Whitten and Lucinda Davenport. FRONT ROW Stan Stein, Tim Whaley and Nancy R. Kaufman at The Celebration in May. o n May 8, nanCY r. Kaufman friends of (BA ‘79 Audiology and Speech Sciences), outstanding Alumni Award, the college creator of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol (K-SLP), helping gathered for The children to become effective vocal and verbal communicators. Celebration: 2010 Alumni Awards stan stEin Banquet at the Kellogg (BA ‘75 Journalism, MA ‘80 Advertising & Public relations), outstanding Center. This year, Alumni Award, Executive Vice President for Weber Shandwick Worldwide, the college honored the world’s leading public relations agency, and re-opened its Detroit office eight outstanding in 2003. individuals. Alumni 2008 Outstanding Alumni Award winner Board President Ed Lynn Henning signs his book, “Spartan tim WhaLEY Cohen served as Seasons II” for Dr. Bradley Greenberg. (BA ‘81 Advertising), outstanding Alumni Award, founder of EnviroGLAS, a emcee for the event. recycled glass manufacturing company that produces customized flooring Presenting this year’s award winners: and counters made of recycled glass from many sources. He designed the awards that were accepted at the ceremony. KELLEY L. CartEr (BA ‘07 Journalism), rising Star Alumni Award, Emmy-award winning LorEtta sKLar entertainment journalist for CNN who has written for publications including Honorary Alumni Award, Vice President/regional Manager for Kohl’s, the Detroit Free Press, Vibe Magazine, USA Today and The Chicago manages over $1 billion in total sales, manages 6 District Vice Presidents, Tribune. over 250 executives and 3,000 hourly associates. tans W PhiL BErtoLini (BA ‘85 Telecommunication), outstanding Alumni Award, CIo for oakland ar P Nominate i LL s County. Vocal Advocate for enterprise solutions in government, cross- boundary resource sharing, and inter-jurisdictional cooperation. an alum today! Listen to JamEs Gaudino each winner at cas.msu.edu/alumni (PhD ‘88 Communication), outstanding Alumni Award, President youtube.com/ of Central Washington University, founding Dean of the College of msucommarts Communication and Information (CCI) at Kent State University. 06 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 7. Luck and laughter have been “ the keys to my success. But, also determination, taking What I always wanted was a purpose, some- risks and having a strong thing I could look back belief in myself and to and say, ‘I left a my God-given talents.” mark in what the future generation is going to achieve.’” — nancy r. Kaufman outstanding Alumni Award — tim Whaley outstanding Alumni Award “ “ one thing I learned here at MSU is how much it Just because is a family. It’s really a Michigan State is a community. It’s a family. big school is not a once you’re a Spartan, reason that you can’t you’re always a Spartan. be an individual. You When you walk on can seek help if you need it, you can have campus as a student to your own identity - when you graduate and but nobody hands become an alum, you’re a it to you. First and Spartan.” foremost, it’s a school that gives those who — Phil Bertolini are willing to take on a outstanding Alumni Award variety of challenges, the tools necessary to “ succeed in life, both profession- ally and personally.” Much of the advice that has — stan stein guided my career I received outstanding Alumni Award from the faculty and the “ administrators at Michigan State University.” — James Gaudino I really, really hope students understand outstanding Alumni Award the value of a career and how important it is to always network and to always stay hungry. When you stay hungry, you’re always putting out your best “ work, and when you’re always putting out your best work, you’re I'm humbled as I stand here always catching the today, not being a attention of people who graduate from Michigan are in positions to give State, but truly feeling you more work.” a Spartan loyalty that is really deep, deep in my — Kelley L. Carter heart. I am grateful for this recognition and this rising Star Award award.” — Loretta sklar Honorary Alumni Award 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 07
  • 8. New journalism curriculum under way By: Meagan Meldrim MSU’s School of Journalism has overhauled its curriculum to strengthen its position as the go-to place for students wishing to become leaders in the industry. “Critical thinking, excellent writing and superb visual communication skills are the hallmarks of our students as they learn how to research and produce news and information in distinct platforms for different audiences,” said Lucinda Daven- port, director of the School of Journalism. The new curriculum is built upon the expertise and advice of faculty, profes- sionals, alumni, university administrators and students. Innovative technologies are in the suc- cessful journalist’s toolbox, are pervasive in newsrooms and are in the hands of Journalism students showcase digital media projects. audiences. This innovation is pervasive in the new curriculum, building on solid, photography, design). The concentration as Creating and Marketing Journalism traditional journalism principles and appears on transcripts. for developing innovations that have theories, said Davenport. “As a journalism major myself, this is the potential for commercial success. Several major changes were made. One exciting news because the term journal- Other classes produce students’ work is that journalism students choose a con- ism is so broad, and a concentration will in professional newspapers, radio, TV, centration in addition to the major. The help me make definite decision as to my magazine and documentary outlets. The concentrations include courses outside of focus for the future,” said journalism new capstone, Spartan Online Newsroom, journalism for different types of reporting sophomore Zach Berridge. has students combining their research, such as sports, international, environmen- Further benefits are that students can writing and visual skills for the web. Still tal, public affairs, business and formats take journalism courses in their freshman in place is the requirement that students like electronic or TV news and visual year, and it offers more room for electives. have internships. Most journalism stu- communication (interactive graphics, It also adds several new courses, such dents average three. Mexican media CEO gives talk NPR, AP media headline lecture Alejandro Junco, president and The MSU School of Journalism es- CEO of the Mexican media organiza- tablished the Siebert Lecture series in tion Grupo Reforma, was the featured 1968 in honor of Frederick S. Siebert, speaker of the 2010 Mary Gardner director of the School of Journalism Lecture on April 8. from 1957 to 1960 and dean of the The focus of Junco’s speech was College of Communication Arts & Sci- “Adjusting the Paradigm: Building ences from 1960 to 1967. Journalism for the Future.” Don Gonyea of NPR and Kathy The Gardner Lecture was part of the celebration of 100 Hoffman of the Associated years of journalism at MSU, which will continue through 2010. Press, both MSU graduates, rtans W Junco earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the were the centennial Siebert Pa s iLL University of Texas at Austin in 1969 and received an Honor- Lecture speakers on Feb. 18. ary Degree of Doctor of Humanities from MSU in 2000. This year’s lecture topic was Celebrate with The Gardner Lecture is an annual endowed lecture at MSU that focus on issues facing Latin American journalism new technology and political coverage as part of the 100 the J-School! in honor of the late MSU journalism professor, Mary Gardner. years of journalism celebra- For more information about the MSU School of Journalism, tion at MSU. jrn.msu.edu go online to www.jrn.msu.edu. The archived lecture is avail- able on demand at www.spartantv.cas.msu.edu. 08 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 9. j o u r n a l i s m ce n tennial Stan Soffin reflects on years Journalism Centennial Committee leading School of Journalism The School of Journalism at By: Meagan Meldrim Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences As Michigan State University celebrates is pleased to announce the 2010 the 100th anniversary of the first journalism School of Journalism Centennial course offered on campus, MSU’s ombuds- Committee, comprised of leading man Stan Soffin reflects on his 30 years on journalism alumni. the J-School faculty, including 16 as director. The establishment of the Cen- Soffin, who holds a master’s degree in tennial Committee demonstrates journalism and a Ph.D. in American Studies the importance of 100 Years of from MSU, joined the J-School faculty as an Journalism Education at Michigan Stan Soffin State University, an investment instructor in 1968. He was appointed director Courtesy: Jason Chiou, The State News from alumni in the School of Jour- of the J-School in 1982, a position he held until 1998, when he was named the University In 1984, Soffin spearheaded a $1 mil- nalism and a commitment to the ombudsman. His duties include helping MSU lion grant to establish the Knight Chair in next 100 years of journalism. The students resolve disputes within the university Environmental Journalism. The program, now Centennial Committee consists of in a neutral and confidential manner. called the Knight Center for Environmental the following members: “When I was appointed the director of Journalism, teaches students to research, the J-School, then dean of the college Erwin report and write about environmental issues. Benjamin Burns, Professor of Bettinghaus told me my primary responsibil- Soffin jumpstarted the J-School develop- Communications at Wayne State ity was ‘to build a strong department,’” Soffin ment program, which, among other projects, University said. established many of the student scholarships He went to work in a hurry. In 1982, Soffin at the J-School. Alumni and friends endowed Beverly Burns, Attorney and brought the Michigan Interscholastic Press a journalism scholarship in Soffin’s name in Counselor at Law, Miller, Canfield, Association to the J-School. A year later he 1998. Paddock, & Stone and colleague Carrie Heeter raised $100,000 Soffin remarked on the changes he has from the Gannett Foundation to create a pio- seen in journalism during his time at MSU. Donald Dahlstrom, Senior neering communication technology lab for the “Symbolically, we went from typewriter- Communications Officer at C.S. College of Communication Arts & Sciences. assisted journalism to computer-assisted jour- Mott Foundation In 1985, he helped restart and bring the long- nalism. That was an expensive and significant dormant Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame to shift, and it’s still evolving,” he said. Katherine Dahlstrom, Instructor of the J-School. Journalism at Oakland University Karen Healy, Vice President of Cor- UPCOMING EVENTS porate Affairs & Marketing at Delphi Larry Lee, Former Vice President at Gongwer News Neal Shine Lecture Centennial Weekend Joseph Serwach, Media Relations Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 Friday and Saturday at University of Michigan 2 p.m. 145 CAS Oct. 22-23, 2010 Stan Soffin, Ombudsman at Michigan State University The Neal Shine Lecture is named after The weekend following Homecoming Neal Shine, former publisher of the culminates the celebratory centennial Detroit Free Press. This year’s lecture year. Three keynote speakers anchor a Centennial Planning Committee: on Homecoming Friday celebrates day filled with alumni and profession- the new sports journalism concentra- als leading workshops and seminars. Jeremy Steele, Pam Saunders, tion with a panel of highly successful The event ends with a spectacular Lucinda Davenport, Bob Gould, sports reporting alumni discussing evening reception. Joe Grimm, Karl Gude, Steve Lacy ethical situations and new technology. and Cheryl Pell Thank you to additional faculty for For a complete list of journalism centennial events, their time and efforts. visit www.jrn.msu.edu 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 09
  • 10. alumni honors Taking the helm at the MSUAA Book signings by alumni M.L. Elrick (BA ‘90 Journal- Scott Westerman ism), near right, along with De- (BA ‘78 Telecom- troit Free Press fellow reporter munication) took the Jim Schaefer, discuss their book helm in January as “The Kwame Sutra” at a local MSU’s new associ- book signing. Elrick and Schae- ate vice president for fer won a 2009 Pulitzer Prize alumni relations and in the local reporting category executive director of for uncovering incriminating the MSU Alumni Asso- text messages by former Detroit ciation. Westerman came to MSU from Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Albuquerque, N.M., where he was area vice president for Comcast Corp.’s West Writer and editor Robin Division. He spearheaded a public rela- Stone (BA ‘86 Journalism), tions turnaround for the company by right, discusses the book “My leveraging social media such as Face- Times in Black and White” by book and Twitter to respond to custom- Gerald Boyd, her late husband, er complaints. In 2001, he received the former managing editor of the MSU College of Communication Arts & New York Times. Stone helped Sciences Outstanding Alumni award. edit the book and bring it to He has served as president on the Col- publication and shared the lege of Communication Arts & Sciences story with MSU students. Alumni Board. From MSU By: Kerri Jo Molitor Two alumni have used their MSU journalism training at the well-known journalism corporation, National Geographic. Anisa Abid Peters (MA ‘08 Jour- nalism), has worked with National Geographic Television since finish- ing her master’s degree at MSU. She started out working with the program “Dangerous Encounters” as a produc- tion coordinator intern and is now associate producer. Applying for the National Geographic internship was a natural choice, Peters said, because Telecasters alumni reunion working for an international wildlife program seemed perfect for her. “I was fortunate to get the intern- ship,” Peters said. “It was the best Former Telecasters and MSU alumni Ryan Alloway, Maureen Enright, Andrew news I’d ever heard. National Geo- Sobotka, Debora Del Valle, Heather Zara, Brian Murray and Tim Taylor spoke graphic’s mission is appealing because about their professions to more than 50 students and alumni in February as it is inspiring people to care about part of an all-day Telecasters alumni reunion for the MSU Telecasters Alumni the planet. I knew the job would be a interest group. good fit because that’s what I want to do, through television and documen- tary film.” 10 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 11. Alum Craig Murray and his daughter Alumni shine at the oscars Jessie at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. Murray’s company Craig Murray Productions had a major production role in the Oscars. The college was well represented by alumni at the 82nd Annual Acad- emy Awards in February, including by: • Craig Murray (BA ‘76 Advertising), whose company Craig Murray Pro- ductions created the nomination film sequences, the Governors Award sequence and the World of Sound, • Bob Murawski (BA ‘87 Telecommu- nication, Film Studies), who received an Oscar for best film editing for “The Hurt Locker” with Chris Innis Alum Bob Murawski and wife Chris Innis • and Justin Shaw (BA ‘99 Telecom- with the Oscar for editing “The Hurt Locker.” munciation, Film Studies), who was Murawski’s company Grindhouse Releasing assistant film editor on “Avatar,” is a Hollywood-based distribution company. which was nominated in the film editing category. ... to National Geographic jobs In 2003, Lerman returned home to after graduation, whereas usually this Croatia and applied to be the associ- specialization comes to journalists ate editor of the new Croatian edition later in a career after working several of National Geographic Magazine. years in general beats. Overall, the Not only did she get the job, but she knowledge and experience I gained at was later promoted to deputy edi- MSU was invaluable and it prepared tor in chief and worked there for six me well for my career and gave me all years. the necessary tools to succeed in this “My favorite part of the job was field.” writing feature stories,” Lerman said. Anisa Abid Peters works on a crocodile suit “Among the ones I am especially for “Dangerous Encounters.” proud of is the story on overfishing in the Adriatic Sea for which I got the Croatian Journalist Association’s tans W Another graduate, award for excellence in environmental r Pa i Ivona Lerman (MA ‘01 Journalism) was part journalism.” LL of the National Geo- Recently, Lerman was transferred s graphic family. The to Sensa, a health, environment and MSU environmental wellness magazine. Share your story! journalism program “Being a graduate from MSU’s was a good choice for School of Journalism opened a lot of her, she said, because doors for me,” Lerman said. “Also, spartansagas.msu.edu it combined her love my specialization in environmen- Lerman for science and nature tal journalism and experience as an with her newly discov- editor of EJ News provided me with ered passion for journal- a possibility to start working in the ism. environmental journalism field right 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 11
  • 12. new scholarships Leo Burnett Detroit creates award to honor colleague PR firm By: Kirsten Khire establishes Creative. Someone who took a chance on others. A mentor. A family man. Smart, passionate. Great sense scholarship of humor. By: Rebecca Pagels These were among 1,100 qualities that people loved about George Kat- Investing in the younger generation sarelas (BA ’82 Advertising) – perma- in Michigan and giving back. These nent remembrances on a wall in the are the words that Jeff Lambert (BA Leo Burnett ’93 Advertising) used to describe Detroit of- the Lambert, Edwards & Associates fice, where Expendable Scholarship. Katsarelas Advertising student Tess Maurici, left, is the first When Lambert became a member worked for recipient of the George Katsarelas Endowed Memo- of the college alumni board, he began many years rial Scholarship, founded by friends at Leo Burnett looking for ways to give back and as a creative Detroit including Jeff Cruz, right. introduce CAS students to real-world leader. first recipient is advertising student public relations as well as investor Katsar- Tess Maurici, who met Cruz in April. relations, an area elas passed Leo Burnett Detroit isn’t stopping in which his firm away in there. The advertising agency is work- specializes. June 2009. ing on fundraisers, wristbands and The result When he campaigns to encourage everyone who was the Lambert, passed, his knew Katsarelas to get involved and Edwards & Associ- George Katsarelas ates Expendable colleagues contribute toward the scholarship. in the office sought a special way to “Our goal is to make this scholar- Scholarship in remember a very special colleague. ship bigger and greater,” Cruz said. the Department They created a remembrance wall and “The more students we can help, the of Advertising, Public Relations, and made it blue to symbolize one of Kat- better.” Leo Burnett offers matching Retailing in the college. sarelas’ last projects: a pro bono effort funds to employees who make a gift. As part of the scholarship offered for the Detroit Public Schools. They “For us, this is about George: how to juniors or seniors studying public planted an apple tree, symbolic of the he approached life, how he treated relations at Michigan State University, Leo Burnett culture. But they wanted people, how he taught people in the students will participate in a job shad- to go even further to keep his memory business. He was a great guy. You ow day at one of Lambert, Edwards & alive. The result? They established would have liked George,” Cruz said. Associates’ locations. The first recipi- the MSU George Katsarelas Endowed Katsarelas was president of the ents are students Jessie Murninghan Memorial Scholarship. Detroit Creative Director’s Council and Emily Tschirhart. Jeff Cruz of Leo Burnett said the and a leader in the Detroit advertising Lambert considers this gift to be scholarship was a group decision that community. He is survived by his wife a perfect example of investing in the made perfect sense. “He was my role Mary, sons Max and Nick and daugh- future generation, adding “I grew up in model. Anyone who knew George ter Elizabeth. Michigan, my employees live and work would say he was creative by trade, here, and this scholarship will support r tans W students from Michigan.” and he was even better with people. He understood that some people Pa i Lambert is the president and LL co-founder of Lambert, Edwards & As- s crave extra guidance and mentoring,” Cruz said. “He could see potential in Create or support sociates, founded in 1998. The firm has people, and he would want to foster a scholarship! grown to become a top-10 Midwest- based PR firm and a top-20 investor the next generation of creatives. We had to make this scholarship happen.” (in any amount) relations firm nationally with more Leo Burnett Detroit contributed than 100 clients based in 20 states and five countries. The firm recently won $30,000 to set up the scholarship en- dowment with the CAS Advancement cas.msu.edu/giving PR Week’s Small Agency of the Year Office. The scholarship will benefit award. MSU advertising students, and the 12 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 13. Alumna creates scholarship to honor parents By: Kirsten Khire sure and work load for the students who receive it.” The first recipient of the scholarship is advertising student Thomas For alumni board member Diane Neal (BS ‘79 retailing), helping Shaver, who hopes to pursue a career in art direction at an advertising others achieve their dream to go to college is a fulfilled dream for her firm. “When I gain enough experience, my ultimate goal would be to through a new scholarship she established. start my own business.” Due to her family’s financial Shaver will push to become a motivated student with the opportu- circumstances, Neal paid for her nity this scholarship has presented to him. own MSU education, and she “receiving a scholarship for school means so much to me, and hopes this fund helps others who I’m so grateful that I was chosen to receive the Neal scholarship. are supporting themselves through Even though I believe getting a good education and going to college college. is extremely important in today’s world, I also believe in keeping out of “It was always distressing to debt and saving as much money as possible. Scholarships help relieve “ my parents that they were unable some of the burden of debt students face after graduation, while also to pay for my motivating them to work education,” she said. “However, harder.” it was their unconditional support “Because I received this inspires me to also be and belief in me, that helped me a scholarship I will strive a scholarship donor in the get to the position I am at today.” to achieve better grades Alumni board member Diane Neal To honor her parents, Neal so that I can enhance my future so that i may help in founded the Donald and Annette Neal Scholarship to benefit students chances for future scholar- the education of a young who are transferring to MSU. “My parents helped set the stage for my ship awards. Another way person.” success, and this scholarship honors their love and support, while this scholarship makes a providing financial support to students.” difference in my own life is -thomas shaver Neal, CEo of Bath and Body Works, knows first hand how valuable the realization that there (neal scholarship recipient) this support can be to students. “I wanted to set up a scholarship fund are people who are gener- to help out students who are unable to find resources for their educa- ous givers. This inspires tion. I personally understand how difficult it is to work and go to school me to also be a scholarship donor in the future so that I may help in at the same time, so hopefully this scholarship will help ease the pres- the education of a young person.” Telecasters alumni help students The MSU Telecasters Alumni Group created and film live concerts for musicians. awarded its first scholarship this spring. “Life is about stories. We carry our stories with us, MSU Telecasters provides opportunities for MSU un- share them with others we encounter and create new dergraduates to gain hands-on experience working with ones from scratch. We aim to enlighten and inspire state-of-the-art television equipment such as cameras, those around us with our stories, and I want to do it on lighting and editing software. Students produce, direct, a larger scale,” Marshall said. write and edit their own shows. All shows are entirely created by student casts and crews. “If you are like us, you are proud to have been a Media arts and part of the Telecasters experience at MSU. It was likely technology a highlight of your college career that formed lasting student Colin friendships and provided a launching pad to a career in Marshall re- television, film, communication technology and many ceived the other fields,” said Pam Saunders, president of the MSU Telecasters Alumni Group’s Telecasters Alumni Group. first scholarship The Telecasters alumni group presented a $500 in the spring. scholarship in the spring to media arts and technology student Colin Marshall. Marshall is in the Honors Col- Credit: Matt lege and in the fiction film specialization. He was editor Radick/ of Telecaster productions “The Giraffe House” and “The Residential Show.” He has helped produce videos for musical artists College in the and a video for the MSU Office of Admissions. He also Arts and interned with the Big Ten Network. Marshall’s goal is to Humanities 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 13
  • 14. Students help protect Alumni provides children via internships internship help By: Nicole Marble For the second year in a row, dozens of Michigan State By: Kirsten Khire University students volunteered around the state to help organizations that protect children from abuse and neglect. Alumni board One such student is MSU public relations master’s member Jana student Halley Buchan, who is interning at the Children’s O’Brien has set up Trust Fund main office in Lansing. an internship fund “This internship has meant a lot to me. I have been able for advertising to finally use all my schooling and put it to use on actual students so that projects that are helping to prevent abuse and neglect of they can pur- children all around the state of Michigan. It has been nice sue their career working with people that truly want to help children and dreams. Often, people in need,” Buchan said. Jana O’Brien internships are The Children’s Central volunteer program is part of a unpaid, located in relationship between the Department of Advertising, Public expensive locations or require travel funds. O’Brien’s Relations, and Retailing and Michigan Children’s Trust contribution is helping eight students this summer to Fund (CTF). pursue their dream internships. In the program, advertising and public relations stu- “I honestly attribute a lot of my career success to dents are working as fundraising and publicity volunteers my summer internship experience at BBDO in Detroit for CTF affiliate offices among other nonprofits statewide. in the summers of 1977-1978. It is so gratifying to see Last summer, the nonprofits received approximately that students have been able to find similar opportu- $48,000 worth of contributed labor from 20 MSU under- nities in the midst of our challenging economic times graduate PR and advertising students over the 12-week and also to know that my small donation helped summer break. them take advantage of those opportunities,” O’Brien “PR and advertising students in our program get a great said. deal of exposure to child abuse and prevention efforts Here are a few examples of students interning as well as other important social causes through various around the country: courses in the department. We help local CTF affiliates • Lauren Fifarek, interning at MWW in New York City; meet their objectives by giving the students a chance to • Yale Miller, interning in Palm Springs with the Pow- show what they can do. This program benefits the student ers Minor League Baseball Team; and society,” said Richard Cole, chair of the Department of • Lynsey Tomac, intern- Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing. ing at Allied in Chicago. This summer, MSU has placed student volunteers in Fifarek says, “This local CTF affiliate offices in Ingham, Livingston, Gratiot, Ot- summer has been a tawa, Macomb, Eaton, Wayne, Clinton and Jackson coun- chance of a lifetime ties. In addition to CTF internships, students are interning here in New York City. at organizations including Matrix Human Services, Ann I am so fortunate to Arbor Center for Independent Living and Cranbrook Insti- attend a university that tute of Science. has such a strong and Keri Keck, executive director of the Council for the Pre- supportive alumni base. Lauren Fifarek vention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Jackson, said MSU With the donation I received intern Stacy Scheier has made a difference this summer. I was allowed to put “Stacy has been very busy and such an asset. She has it towards my experi- done great things for the agency, from creating a website to tans W ar ence here and focus less developing media opportunities for the agency to get out about how I will pay for P i into the community,” Keck said. LL s everything and more on “One of the side benefits of our relationship with MSU growing not only as a has been the value that these interns have been able to young professional but Host or support add in our offices. That’s important,” said Michael Foley, as a person all around. an intern! executive director of CTF. “What may be more important, This was my third intern- over the long haul, is the degree to which we are helping set ship, but my first one out cas.msu.edu/giving these kids off on a lifetime course of volunteering to help of the Lansing area.” prevent child abuse and neglect. I’d call that a win-win- win.” 14 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 15. care e r b o o st s Participants at the Grand Rapids Showcase in April 2010. Grand Rapids businesses open doors to students... By: Nicole Bays On April 16, the college hosted a showcase and networking event ...leading to career for Grand Rapids professionals and alumni to highlight careers in West Michigan for graduating MSU students. Huntington Bank provided the MSU College of Communication success stories! Arts and Sciences with a $10,000 donation to organize the event and support the college’s Career Services. madalyn Kaltz (BA ‘10 Journalism) attended the MSU students toured downtown Grand Rapids businesses and Grand rapids Showcase and is now working in Grand “ organizations to learn about possible rapids at SeyferthPr. We hope to career opportunities in West Michi- “This event helped me find a present Grand Rapids as gan. After the tour, area professionals job! I think the media tour is a great a viable option for gradu- and MSU alumni joined the students at idea. I also went to career network- ating seniors to consider Tavern on the Square for a networking ing events and job fairs at MSU, but with so many people present, it for their future career session. can be overwhelming. The agency plans. We are also The event was free to students, MSU alumni and local professionals, tour was a personal way to go to the businesses excited about the instead of having them come to us. This helps us to opportunity for them to thanks to the support of Huntington get a better feel for what the company is truly like. And network with area alumni Bank. it showed us that there are jobs out there, a lot of good “With Huntington Bank’s close who can help them get relationship with the MSU [College of jobs, and they are hiring in Michigan. connected in the Communication Arts & Sciences], we Throughout much of my college career, I knew I community.” thought it would be a great opportu- had to be independent and have strong self-discipline nity to reach out to this year’s graduat- and motivation. This is what college is about. But this — Michael Lindley ing class and give them an opportunity event built a bridge between us as students and the senior vice president of real work force. This is necessary for our first job, to marketing for Huntington Bank to experience downtown Grand Rapids build networking and to use the brand “Michigan State and career and lifestyle options avail- able,” said Michael Lindley (BA ‘76 Advertising), senior vice presi- University” with pride to make us stand out in a stack dent of marketing for Huntington Bank. “We hope to present Grand of resumes. Rapids as a viable option for graduating seniors to consider for their Thank you and the team at CAS for the opportuni- future career plans. We are also excited about the opportunity for ties and experiences that made me feel that personal them to network with area alumni who can help them get connected connection and personal attention that large univer- in the community.” sities often lack. Having people care if you end up Participating companies in the showcase included Huntington successful is definitely a great feeling.” Bank, Bevelwise, Hanon McKendry, Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Meijer, SeyferthPR and Spectrum Health. 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 15
  • 16. health Getting creative to help social media project is potential life-saver Grand Rapids get FIT According to Donate Life Amer- By: Kirsten Khire ica, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase education What if entire schools and the about organ and tissue donation, community committed to getting fit? more than 100,000 Americans That’s the healthy idea for students at currently need life-saving organ schools who have received Project FIT transplants. The organization said kits, designed and packaged by faculty an average of 18 people die each day and students from Michigan State from the lack of available organs for University. transplant. MSU is partnering with Blue Cross In a new project funded through Blue Shield of Michigan and Grand a $340,000 grant from the U.S. Rapids Public Schools to lead a $1 Health Resources and Services million health initiative led by the MSU partnered with colleagues throughout Administration’s Division of Trans- College of Human Medicine to promote the Department of Advertising, Public plantation, MSU researchers are physical activity and healthy eating. Relations, and Retailing including Keith studying ways in which social me- Project FIT, funded by Blue Cross Adler, Henry Brimmer, David Regan, dia – in particular Facebook – can Blue Shield, is focusing on four el- and graduate student Karina Garcia- increase the numbers of people who ementary schools and surrounding Ruano to take a more integrative ap- register as organ and tissue donors. neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. The proach to marketing this project. The “There is a great need in the state program, working with community team’s goal is to raise awareness of the of Michigan to increase the number organizations, seeks to increase ac- initiative among appropriate audiences of citizens who enroll on the state cess to safe and affordable physical through educational materials, adver- organ donor registry,” said Sandi activities, improve the affordability tisements and promotional items – Smith, director of MSU’s Health and availability of nutritious food, and including Spanish-language materials. and Risk Communication Center increase knowledge, attitudes and be- “The creative part of this project is and director of the project. haviors associated with healthy living, a vital complement to the research,” “We’re hopeful that we can help in collaboration with school staff and Paek said. “The packaging and brand- increase the number of young adults parents. ing of the Project FIT makes it stand registering on the Web by as much Associate Professor Hye-Jin Paek is out. It’s a comprehensive health inter- as 15 percent.” leading the branding, social marketing, vention project that employs the cre- and promotion of the project. Paek has ativity of advertising and marketing.” Breast cancer research to help advocates Growing concerns about breast cancer lead many people turn to breast for mothers and daughters. So it’s critical that they have the latest research cancer organizations for help with the latest information, including risk factors translated at their fingertips to share with people who seek this information.” and treatment options. Atkin and Smith, along with Associate Professor Kami Silk, translate hard MSU faculty, as part of a Breast Cancer and the Environment grant, are science research – which can take decades to produce meaningful data – into working with advocates at breast cancer organizations to help translate breast health communication messages for testing with breast cancer advocates. cancer research into information that families can use to reduce breast cancer Atkin says the messaging will include advertising and website messages, risk, particularly among young girls. and the research team will test messages of varying complexity with different This communication is vital to connect the basic science with the advo- audiences. For example, Atkin said, exposure to the chemical perfluorooc- cates, who influence the research agenda and help disseminate findings, say tanoic acid (PFoA) can increase the risk of certain types of cancers in mice. the faculty involved in the project. This man-made chemical is found in our environment, but also many different Charles Atkin, chair of the Department of Communication, along with products. The researchers want to study whether people can understand Sandi Smith, director of the Health and risk Communication Center, are lead- multiple ways PFoA can be reduced, and they will create multiple ads to test ing this project, which continues a longtime research project on breast cancer this example of hard science research. communication funded by the NIEHS and NCI. recent focus groups conducted with mothers and their young daughters “once people are diagnosed with cancer, they become information seek- this summer by Kami Silk and her research team are looking at the PFoA ers looking for treatment and research that might help them,” Atkin said. For messages as well as others that are related to breast cancer and the environ- people not yet touched by breast cancer, organizations must be more proac- ment research. tive in reaching out to a broad audience. “The focus groups had valuable feedback for us regarding messages. We “Advocates at breast cancer organizations are trying every day to increase are trying to find ways to create messages for parents that are engaging and public awareness about breast cancer efforts, especially prevention advice useful as the manage the health of their families.” 16 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 17. Assistant Professor Elizabeth Games for health Quilliam is studying online games that incorporate named food prod- focus of grant ucts. Quilliam’s research is supported by the Michigan Agricul- tural Experiment Station. Photo by Kurt Stepnitz/MSU By: Kirsten Khire Faculty members have received a $284,000 grant from the robert Wood Johnson Foundation (rWJF) to explore how digitally-delivered games can improve health. Wei Peng, assistant professor, is working with Brian Winn, associate professor, in the Department of Telecommunication, Informa- tion Studies & Media on the project to help strengthen the evidence related to the devel- opment and use of digitally-delivered games for positive health outcomes. Their project investigates effects of the Mount olympus game, a 3D fantasy role- Faculty study Consumer Culture and the playing game Ethical treatment of Children that requires food games players to move their upper and with NIH grant By: Elizabeth Quilliam lower body in Michigan State University’s Children’s order to control By: Kirsten Khire Central research Collaborative unit in the their character’s Department of Advertising, Public relations, movements With nationwide and White House con- and retailing hosted the inaugural “Consumer throughout the cern over childhood obesity and a need for Culture and the Ethical Treatment of Children: game. Inactive college students participate healthier lifestyles, researchers at MSU are Theory, research and Fair Practice” confer- in the study, which randomly assigns them studying food marketing and how it shapes ence in November. Children’s Central has been to different versions of the Mount olympus children’s dietary behaviors. working with the Michigan Children’s Trust game. The study examines the extent to MSU Professor Nora rifon says food Fund (CTF), the state’s child abuse prevention which each version of the game meets marketers have increasingly targeted children agency, on a variety of initiatives including this individuals’ needs for competence, autonomy with web-based approaches specifically to conference. and social relatedness and how meeting promote their branded food products. “Free Two plenary session speakers, two lun- these needs may motivate. More engagement online games, also known as advergames, cheon speakers, and 28 conference breakout is expected to lead to more physical activity are everywhere, and food products are sessions were included in the program that in daily life, and therefore, to better health everywhere in the games,” she says. “often, attracted scholars from six countries and 150 outcomes. the food products in these games are not practitioners from 81 of the 83 counties in “our Mount olympus game will be nutritiondense products.” Michigan. The Academy was well represented designed with a strong theoretical foundation rifon and colleagues Mira Lee, Elizabeth in competitive paper and special topic ses- and play testing. We expect that the game Quilliam, richard Cole, Hye-Jin Paek and sions, and three current and former Journal can engage the players in a fun way and the Lorraine Weatherspoon recently received a of Advertising editors participated – russ exercise can become part of their routines,” $418,000 grant from the National Institutes of Laczniak, Marla royne and Les Carlson. said Peng. Health to identify the role of food advergames royne (University of Memphis) and Carlson in determining children’s dietary behaviors (University of Nebraska – Lincoln) co-chaired and health status. “It’s important to study the conference, along with Nora rifon, Brad whether these games are having effects on tans W Greenberg and Elizabeth Taylor Quilliam, all of ar children and their eating habits,” said rifon. MSU. The research team aims to identify how researchers presented papers on a variety sP iLL pervasive food advergame play is among a of topics, including television ads and violence, Help us make wide variety of children. Then the team will child development and media literacy and food others healthy! study how food advergames attract children advertising and branding. to their brands. Combined with information Save the date for Consumer Culture Con- about children’s health, the research team ference Sept. 14-16, 2012. More information is hrcc.cas.msu.edu hopes to identify factors that can contribute to online at www.childrenscentral.msu.edu. improved childhood dietary behavior. 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 17
  • 18. Gift aids students Effecting climate change studying ICT By: Kristen Parker for development For the first time, crop breeders and By: Cara Boeff agricultural specialists in East Africa will have regionally specific climate data to Drs. Jake and Max- research and manage crops in an effort ine Ferris will provide to improve food production, according students with an to Michigan State University researchers. international experi- Using a $430,000 Rockefeller ence while they bring Foundation grant, researchers will study technology to remote the impact of climate change on the corners of the world. drought-stricken area, including Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, said The couple made a gift toward the Information lead researcher Jennifer Olson, associate professor in the College & Communication Technology for Development of Communication Arts & Sciences. Corps, a collaboration of the College of Communi- “This part of Africa is getting over the worst drought it has cation Arts & Sciences, the College of Engineering had in many years,” said Olson, who is working with geographers, and the Honors College that includes a specializa- agronomists, sociologists and climatologists at MSU and in East tion and study abroad program. Thanks to their Africa. “Climate change is leading to warmer temperatures and donation, student recipients will receive a stipend heightened water stress for plants, as well as less reliable rain.” for the costly travel expenses of participating in With assistance from an MSU supercomputer and the Michi- this hands-on study abroad experience. gan Agricultural Experiment Station, the research team will link a “We accomplished exactly what we hoped to customized regional climate model with crop and water models. achieve. We made a an rt s Pa This will enable agriculture specialists to determine the impact of gift reflecting our be- climate change on different crop varieties. As a result, they will lief that international s Wi develop crop varieties that better withstand climate change. experiences broaden Suppo rt o LL students’ perspec- progra ur global eff “Most of our research has focused on the causes and conse- tives and help them ms an o d stud rts, quences of climate change,” said Nathan Moore, assistant profes- become better sor in the Department of Geography and co-investigator on the ents! citizens of the world,” ca project. “This grant will apply those results in a new way by asking s.msu said Dr. Maxine Ferris .edu/g African specialists what their information needs are and how they (PhD ’62 Rhetoric iving want us to help. “The project also will allow us to train African researchers how and Public Address). to analyze crop-climate data so they can test different possibilities themselves.” Scholarship honors Ethiopian journalist By: Rebecca Pagels forward thinking and uncompromis- ing in his writing or reporting. Girma The College of Communication was abducted in 1984 by the military Arts & Sciences and the School of government and was later killed. Journalism are pleased to award the “Our family is very pleased to first Baalu Girma Expendable Schol- make this scholarship available in arship. honor of Baalu Girma,” says daughter This scholarship was established Zelalem Girma. “To the family, this in honor of Baalu Girma (MA ‘63 Po- scholarship represents his commit- litical Science and Journalism). After ment to making a difference in the graduation, Girma returned to his na- lives of others. It is our hope that his tive Ethiopia where he made signifi- story and professional life will inspire cant contributions to the profession others to achieve their best and give as a news correspondent, mentor and back to society as well.” editor-in-chief of several of the na- The first recipient of this scholar- tion’s prominent newspapers. He also ship is journalism master’s student Baalu Girma was a fiction writer and authored Yue Xu, originally from China. several famous novels. He was 18 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 2010
  • 19. international MSU students and faculty in Tanzania, summer 2010. By: Lane Blackmer E very six months for the past two years, a study abroad group known as the Information and Communica- tion Technology for Development (ICT4D) has been going to Tan- zania, teaching locals how to do something Americans do every day Top: Primary school in Tanzania. Above, (left to right): MSU students install solar panels on the roof of the — use computers in the classroom. school; MSU student sets up computers; computers ready in the classroom; schoolchildren in Tanzania. Photos courtesy of Andy Bruinsma, Bret Charboneau and Eric Tarkleson The ICT4D program began in 2008 as a collaboration among MSU’s colleges of Communication stalled computer systems in three students learn the language, Swa- Arts and Sciences, Engineering schools since 2008, one of which hili, and learn about and experi- and Honors. The idea of the trip to run by solar power. Before traveling ence the culture. Two weeks later, Tanzania was to develop easy-to- abroad, the students also devel- the students went to the schools to use computer programs, bring them oped computer programs, includ- update computers, and train and to the country and set up comput- ing games to assist in teaching the test the new games. Media arts and ers, as well as the programs, for the Tanzanian students. technology senior James Przytulski teachers and students’ use. Computer science senior Chris was one of the students who helped Eric Tarkleson, an electrical en- Dasbach, along with student Dan train Tanzanian teachers and stu- gineering graduate student who has Shillair, created a game called dents. attended every study abroad trip to Tanzania Trader for students to test “The Tanzanian students were Tanzania, said that an entire school out before heading to Africa. so excited to see the games and typically gets less money than The game is set in Tanzania, and play the games,” Przytulski said. American schools get per student. the player is supposed to travel and “They’d huddle around the room as This budget problem is hopelessly answer questions from the Tan- we were working on the comput- inhibiting for the students’ educa- zanian school curriculum to help ers.” tion in Tanzania. the video game character with its Przytulski said the trip not only Since books can be outdated quests. made him apply the knowledge of rather quickly, computers provide “Along the way the player must his field, but he acquired a valuable more up-to-date information. MSU answer questions in order to suc- cultural experience. students go to Tanzania every six ceed in the game,” said Dasbach. “I think employers want to see months to install new computers, “For instance, a player’s vehicle students go on trips that relate to update computer systems and to may break down and, if they an- their area of study,” Przytulski said. train the school’s faculty and stu- swers question correctly, it will be “Employers want to see students dents. much cheaper to fix.” go to developing countries and see Students and faculty have in- After arriving in Tanzania, MSU how technology is used.” 2010 | THE CoMMUNICATor I 19