An Interview with Melissa

Melissa D. Dodd is a doctoral student at the University of Miami, getting her PhD in Communication, with an emphasis on Public Relations. You can visit her Web site here, visit her on Facebook here, and follow her on Twitter here. Melissa kindly answered some questions for our blog.

Question: What drew you to Graduate Studies in the School of Communication at the University of Miami?

Answer: I came to the University of Miami because my mentor had received his PhD from this school, and also I knew some of the current faculty working here in areas that I’m interested in, particularly Dr. Don Stacks who does a lot of measurement in Public Relations, and that’s definitely something that I wanted to learn more about. I’ve been able to learn a lot of the statistics and methods behind Public Relations research from him, and I really enjoy working with the faculty here.

Q: Where do you see yourself going, from here?

A: I’m going to work at another university as an Assistant Professor of Public Relations.

Q: Where do you see the realm of PR progressing, both academically and professionally? 

A: Public Relations has really been redefined by social media, which is an area I both teach and research in. Social media has really empowered citizen journalists. It’s created a whole new range of publics that public relations people have to address in order to be effective.

Q: Why should a prospective student apply here for grad school?

A: They have some of the best faculty that you’ll find at any school. Faculty who conduct research as well as have practical experience. So they’re really on the cutting edge of their disciplines. Any graduate student should look to those things as reflective of the effectiveness of any program or school they apply to.

Communication Faculty Honored with Awards, Accolades

Faculty in the School of Communication are staying busy.

Professors and students are being recognized worldwide for their research, books, scholarly articles, and leadership in today’s ever growing communication field.

Among some recent notable achievements:

• A study by faculty members Cong Li, Sunny Tsai, and Gonzalo Soruco was honored as best paper by the The American Academy of Advertising.
• Professor Thomas Steinfatt published an article in Crime, Law, and Social Change.
• Faculty member Maggie Steber published photographs to accompany a story on the Taino culture in the October 2011 issue of “Smithsonian Magazine”. See the photos here.
• Associate Professor Tsitsi Wakhisi spent 11 days in the United Arab Emirates in December to chronicle the experiences of U.S. journalists who are working for “The National”, a 3 ½ year-old English newspaper based in Abu Dhabi.
• Associate Professor Sallie Hughes wrote the chapter on media and democracy for the “Oxford Handbook of Mexican Politics”. She edited a peer-reviewed special edition of the “Taiwan Journal of Democracy on Media and Citizenship” with Juliet Gill, who received her Ph.D. from the School of Communication in 2006.
• Professor Paul Lazarus was a finalist at the 2011 Hollywood Screenplay Contest in the Thriller category with his script “The Game Changer”.
• Professor John Soliday served as chairman of the National Communication Association’s theater, film, and new multi-media division and represented the University of Miami on the NCA Legislative Assembly for the second consecutive year.
• Professor Don Stacks, won the PRIDE award for the “Best Textbook Written in the Past Year” by the National Communication Association’s public relations division. The book is titled “A Practitioners Guide to Public Relations, Research, Measurement, and Evaluation.” Stacks is also the new editor of the “Journal of the Association for Communication Administration” and was named executive director of the International Public Relations Conference.
• The National Press Photographers Association honored Professor Rich Beckman with NPPA’s 2011 Kenneth P. McLaughlin Award of Merit.

Click here to read more: http://com.miami.edu/news/2012/03/18/school-of-communication-professors-recognized-for-their-achievements

 

Miami Basketball in National Tournament

The University of Miami men’s basketball team has secured a #2 seed in the NIT tournament.

Their first game will be here at home, tomorrow night.

Join the Canes as they welcome the Valparaiso Crusaders to the BankUnited Center for a first round game Wednesday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m.

This is the second year in a row that Miami has played in the NIT tournament.

 

Coach Jim Larranaga told The Miami Herald: “We’re excited to be a part of the NIT tournament. It gives us a chance to make a run and make it to New York and play at Madison Square Gardens which is exciting since we have a number of players from New York including some of our coaching staff, we’re excited about the opportunity.”

To read more, visit: hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl

 

 

Join the School of Communication team for the Miami Run/Walk

The School of Communication will have a team participating in this year’s Corporate Run/Walk. 

The 20-year-old Miami Corporate Run is the largest 5K in Florida, and the third largest in the United States. This year it will be held on Thursday April 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Free Team UM dry-fit shirts go to the first 500 Team UM registrants.

“It’s a huge party with legs,” according to Dave Steinberg, Lecturer in Communication Studies, who is organizing the team. “If you are not an athlete, but would like to get a little healthier, this is the perfect time to participate in a 5K walk or jog and not feel self-conscious. Help us represent the SOC!”

Early registration ($31) closes March 22. Late registration ($36) runs from March 23 to April 5.

To learn more, and register, visit: www.miami.edu/corporaterun. Or contact Steinberg at dave@miami.edu