COM head
Greetings! I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break. When you get the chance feel free to stop by my office in Craig 375, give me a call at 417-836-4423, or email me at ShawnWahl@MissouriState.edu if you have questions about the department, advising, programs, student organizations, internships, and more. Check out the latest information, media, and events going on in the department at our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Also of course check out the Department of Communication’s University website for more resources and information available to students!
The COM Faculty started the Spring 2013 semester with a retreat held at the Discovery Center. The faculty focused on advising excellence and teaching innovation with a special focus on online course development and revision. The Department of Communication is featuring several guest scholars this semester in support of research and connection to the professional discipline. Our first guest scholar of the semester is, Dr. Lynn Harter (Steven and Barbara Schoonover Professor of Health Communication, Ohio University, alum of the Missouri State University Department of Communication Master’s program). I would like to highlight Dr. Harter’s documentary shared with the campus community on January 28th, 2013 (6:30-8:00PM Plaster Student Union Theatre).
The “Art of the Possible” invites viewers into the worlds of five families living with cancer, its treatment, and what remains in the aftermath. Producers Harter and Casey Hayward offer a haunting and humorous portrayal of families creating a “new normal” in the midst of cancer and the care providers that serve them. How can patients live well in the midst of treatment, remission, or reoccurrence? How can providers be responsive to patients’ uncertainties, fears, and life circumstances while efficiently organizing treatment? These questions motivated the documentary, co-created by filmmakers and families. With cameras in hand, families shot footage of their everyday lives, narrating their experiences from their unique points of view. The “Art of the Possible”, a creative montage of footage shot by filmmakers and families, provides the public and medical community-at-large a glimpse of cancer care that blends conventional therapies with humanizing communication practices. If you have any questions about this event, please email Dr. Stephanie Norander at StephanieNorander@MissouriState.edu.
Stay tuned for more information about future department events and accomplishments.
Shawn Wahl
