Reynolds College Blog

MSU alumna Sarah Russell navigates new technology in her marketing role

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For alumna Sarah Russell, a communication studies degree from Missouri State University opened doors to a variety of career opportunities.

Russell, who graduated in 2008, has found a niche in digital media and marketing.

She currently serves as vice president of marketing at Education Dynamics, an educational marketing firm.

As a college student, Russell was interested in marketing and public relations, but she chose to pursue a broader communication major. She believes this choice gave her a solid foundation in corporate communications, marketing, media and her most recent focus area, artificial intelligence (AI).

“When I began my career in the late 2000s, AI wasn’t even a blip on my radar, but I already had an interest in the technical aspects of marketing and advertising,” Russell said.

“After establishing my career at an advertising agency that specialized in performance marketing, I became drawn to the emphasis on analysis, optimization and direct results, which are the foundations of AI and marketing.”

In her role, Russell will continue to explore ways to leverage AI for predictive analytics, data segmentation and analysis, as well as forecast trends and behaviors. [Read more…] about MSU alumna Sarah Russell navigates new technology in her marketing role

Dean Shawn Wahl inducted into CSCA Hall of Fame

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Dr. Shawn T. Wahl, Founding Dean of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) at Missouri State University, has been inducted into the Central States Communication Association (CSCA) Hall of Fame.

Wahl was recognized for his distinguished accomplishments in leadership, scholarship and education at an awards ceremony April 5, held during the 2024 CSCA Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“I am most proud of the accomplishments in the former College of Arts and Letters and now RCASH, including fundraising and construction projects,” Wahl said. “I believe I was ultimately selected for my work in higher education leadership, in addition to serving a four-year term as president with CSCA.”

According to the CSCA website, the Hall of Fame distinction is awarded “to those who have contributed to the discipline of communication through meritorious scholarship, teaching/mentoring, participation at conventions and service to the association.”

Nominees must also be current CSCA members and have joined the association in 1999 or before.

Honored for dedicated service to CSCA and communication field

Wahl has been involved with CSCA for over two decades, making the organization his primary regional communication association.

He won an election covering 13 states and served as CSCA’s 2nd Vice-President (2014-2015), 1st Vice-President (2015-2016), President (2016-2017) and Immediate Past President (2017-2018). Wahl has also been secretary, vice-chair, and chair of the CSCA Communication Education Division (2009-2011).

In thanking the Executive Committee for the Hall of Fame honor, Wahl acknowledged that the CSCA “has shaped some of the best years in my career.”

Wahl was nominated by a long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Chad McBride, professor of communication at Creighton University.

“The Hall of Fame award is incredibly special to me because of the person who nominated me for this award, Dr. Chad McBride,” Wahl said.

“Chad is someone who is a hero to me,” Wahl continued. “He’s been living with ALS for a number of years, and so this particular moment is something that will always remind me of Chad.”

Wahl has also devoted time and energy in service to the National Communication Association (NCA), where he was vice chair, chair, and immediate past chair of the organization’s Instructional Development Division (2012-2014).

During that tenure, Wahl also served as a member of the NCA’s Professional Awards Committee: Samuel L. Becker Distinguished Service Award/Robert J. Kibler Memorial Award (2014) and as a faculty participant in NCA’s Learning Outcomes in Communication Project (2014). [Read more…] about Dean Shawn Wahl inducted into CSCA Hall of Fame

Debate Bears qualify for 2024 national competition

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Four students representing two Missouri State debate teams, MoState GR and MoState NW, will compete in the National Debate Tournament (NDT) April 5-8, 2024.

Emory University in Atlanta, GA will host the 78th annual tournament, according to the organization’s website.

Sixth consecutive “double qualification” for Debate Bears

For six consecutive years, MSU’s debate program has sent two teams to the national tournament, according to Dr. Eric Morris, professor of communication and director of forensics.

“Six years is the longest ‘double qualification’ streak in program history, and particularly impressive since none of these four debaters is a previous qualifier,” Morris said.

This year’s debate topic is nuclear weapons, Morris said. Each year, the NDT committee selects one topic and develops a detailed process paper for debaters to follow for the following competition year. This year’s process paper is 650 pages.

Both Debate Bears teams are arguing the position of “No First Use” affirmatives for this topic.

Debater James Granger stays focused

Sophomore wildlife conservation and management major James Granger felt more relief than surprise when he learned his debate team had qualified for national competition, largely because of the intense preparation.

“I might compare it to the way it feels getting back a test you studied hard for,” Granger said. “There was some doubt lingering in the back of my mind about whether we’d make it. When we did, in fact, make it, it was somewhat of a relief—but also solidified the fact that we’d need to gear up to prepare.”

Preparing for nationals includes building up the team’s argument repertoire, Granger said.

“We’re working hard to build up the repertoire of arguments we have in our files,” he explained. “We’re not as big as a lot of the heavy hitting squads we compete against, so we’re honing in on the debates and arguments we know we can win, plus a few more unconventional tricks.”

“The most challenging part of prep is the less tangible parts,” Granger added. “It’s easy to count cards and articles and be able to say that you have the tools at your disposal to win. It’s another thing entirely to have the skills necessary to deploy those tools in the right way round-to-round.”

Granger has been involved in debate since his freshman year in high school.

“Even though I never really had much background or interest in public speaking, it kind of became my ‘thing’” Granger said. “All my teachers knew I was deeply involved in it, [and] I was team captain my senior year.” [Read more…] about Debate Bears qualify for 2024 national competition

The Springfield Way accepting applications for summer 2024

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The Springfield Way internship program is accepting applications for the summer 2024 session.

Application deadline is March 29.

Now in its second year, The Springfield Way was created by Missouri State faculty and Springfield area nonprofit organizations.

The program offers paid internships to students who want to augment their educational experience with community-engaged learning.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Springfield Way internship, students must be enrolled in an academic program (graduate or undergraduate) offered by the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Selected interns will be compensated at $15/hour for the 100-hour internship. They will also receive an additional $250 to partially offset the tuition cost of the internship course.

Springfield Way 2024 partners

The Springfield Way is partnering with the following organizations for the 2024 summer session.

  • Community Partnership of the Ozarks
  • Drew Lewis Foundation
  • Eden Village
  • empower: abilities
  • The Kitchen, Inc.
  • Home Team

More information

Those interested in learning more about internships, eligibility, requirements and other details can attend one of the remaining information sessions in Siceluff Hall, Room 124:

  • Thursday, March 21, 4-5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 26, 2-3 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 27, 3-4 p.m.

Zoom attendees can contact Dr. Alan Tinkler for the link.

Learn more about The Springfield Way

Larson named to Emmy Foundation Board of Governors

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The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Mid-America has selected Dr. Deborah Larson, professor and interim head of the Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film (CMJF), to serve on its Board of Governors.

Larson will serve a two-year term. She will work on the Education Committee in addition to her regular board member duties.

According to its website, the NATAS Mid-America chapter was chartered in 1962 and represents television markets in Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Louisiana.

[Read more…] about Larson named to Emmy Foundation Board of Governors