Compendium (2021)

COMPENDIUM CSUDH COMMUNICATIONS ALUMNI PUBLICATION

Vol. 5 Issue 1 August 2021

From Disruption to Silver Linings

Table of Contents A Message from Dr. Burkey about this Issue

From a Toro to a Trojan in Grad School

First-Generation Graduate Looks to Make Difference

The challenges of creating a publication in a Pandemic

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A profile about alum Destiny Torres (Class of 2020)

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A profile about alum Chayan Garcia (Class of 2019)

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Former Bulletin Editorin-Chief Makes a Splash

New Latinx Concentration in Journalism Program

Journalism Grad Hits the Books

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A profile about alum Jordan Darling (Class of 2020)

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New Journalism concentration focuses on Spanish news media

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A profile about alum Giovanni Padilla (Class of 2017)

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COM Grad Hits All the Right Notes

The new broadcast space will offer department production facilities

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A profile on COM alum Kat Romo (Class of 2019)

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The Year of Distance Learning

New Professor Brings Broadcasting Experience

Examining the challenges of remote education

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Dr. Fernando Severino joins Journalism Program

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COM Grad Heads Back to the Classroom

AD/PR Professor Brings International Perspective

A profile on COM alum Kalie Calder-Meyer (Class of 2018)

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Dr. Miriam Hernández adds to the AD/PR program

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Graduation Returns!

Picture highlights from the first ceremonies since 2019

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COMPENDIUM CONTRIBUTORS Editor

Dr. Brant Burkey, Associate Professor, Dept. of Communications

Writers

Katherine Clements Taylor HelmesJ

Design

Christopher Martinez

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COM Department Gets New Production Lab

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LETTER FROM Welcome Back Doctor Burkey

to Compendium!

2020-2021

Katherine Clements

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Taylor Helmes

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Christopher Martinez

Last year was unprecedented, when for the first time ever the entire California State University (CSU) system of 23 campuses shifted almost completely to remote and virtual learning for the entire academic year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite these historic challenges, the CSUDH Communications Department rose to the occasion by continuing to deliver its quality programming and education in alternative formats, migrating content online and developing innovative ways to keep students engaged through Zoom, Blackboard, or other digital platforms. To their credit, students also adapted to their remote learning experience while still thriving in their coursework.

In this socially-distanced environment, the compilation of the annual COM alumni publication, Compendium, became an equally challenging endeavor with nobody on campus. Typically compiled by a number of Journalism majors each Spring, this year the task of creating Compendium fell to three graduating Journalism seniors: Katherine Clements, Taylor Helmes, and Christopher Martinez.

Despite the obstacles presented by a socially-distanced environment, these three Journalism majors took on the challenge. In addition to completing their senior projects, working on the Bulletin newspaper, finishing their internships, and graduating, they all stepped up to work on putting this magazine together. Katherine and Taylor wrote the articles, while Chris designed the layout of the magazine and its visual elements. Their work here covers numerous alumni and faculty profiles, as well as several in-depth topics, such as the department’s new broadcasting facility, the new Latinx Journalism Concentration, and the difficulties of remote learning. Combined, their work deserves your attention, our praise and recognition, and hopefully this publication will continue to inform and maintain a connection with our community of alumni, whether in good times or bad.

So, please enjoy and stay in touch!

- Dr. Brant Burkey

By Katherine Clements

“I have a few friends that were in the Communications departments at other schools, and I feel like I received the most hands-on experience out of everyone.

Each class I took was geared towards making me a better journalist,” said 25-year-old CSUDH alumni Jordan Darling. Darling graduated in the Spring of 2020 with a B.A. in Communications with a concentration on Journalism.

Post-graduation, she has taken full advantage of her skills as she is now the editor for a boating and fishing newspaper based in Southern California called, Log.

“I applied for work until I got a full-time job; I have been writing sporadic freelance for a cryptocurrency company, mostly project, and industry news updates, but since January (2021), I have been working at the Log,” said Darling. “I got a phone call for a preliminary interview, and three days later, I had a job.”

Darling’s new job is entirely online. Although it is an environment she is familiar with, journalists are trained to be in the field. However, COVID-19 has altered that field.

“I miss being in a newsroom, but I also set my schedule, which is nice, and I can work from anywhere.”

What happens after graduation is never a foreseeable future. Still, Darling’s accomplishments with journalism have kept her in the industry since graduating. “It is everything that I did when I was working on the Bulletin, including a lot of the admin work, so it was pretty much everything I expected it to be,” said Darling.

But it hasn’t all been work since she graduated, “I caught up on sleep, started running again, went back to judo, albeit socially-distanced judo, which is weird, and I am getting ready to teach a women’s self-defense class in the fall. I’ve spent a lot of time with family, friends, and my significant other. We’ve done a bit of limited traveling.”

It’s a fact that finding a major and sticking with it is typically not easy for students right after graduation.

“It took me a while to get there,” said Darling. “I changed my major about six times.” Darling’s mother was a significant influence in her decision to pursue journalism. “My mom is a creative writer and an avid reader. She instilled the love of writ- 4

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JORDAN DARLING

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ing and reading in me. I love storytelling and writing a good story, so journalism felt natural when I chose it as a major.”

Memories of CSUDH range in various experiences for Darling. Whether it be the time she broke her chair in Dr. Burkey’s magazine class during production night or more loaded moments that solidified her experiences.

“Being part of a team and creating bonds with people professionally and socially was amazing,” said Darling. “I would say a favorite memory is the night Beers told the paper that we won awards at the California College Media Association awards (CCMA’s). It was the first time the Bulletin had entered something like that, and I was having such a crap day that I cried when he told me.”

It was that capstone for Darling that was her defining moment as a journalist. “To hear that the Bulletin won and that I personally won was so fulfilling as a journalist,” said Darling. “I cannot express how the validation of ‘I am good at this, I am good enough, I have been a good Editor-in-Chief,’ affected me.”

Lectures, homework, and projects are all lessons that taught Darling practical skills for becoming a journalist and all that that title entails, but personal lessons were learned too.

“I stretched my wings as a leader and learned it was something I excelled at. I branched out, I spoke up in class, I spoke up for myself, and I wasn’t embarrassed to be the loud kid and to be passionate about a subject,” said Darling. “I disagreed with professors, but I wasn’t shot down. I had someone to listen to me.”

As a student, one of the most frequently asked questions is ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ or ‘what is your dream job?’ Darling found herself right where she needs to be.

“As a kid, I wanted two things, to help people and to be adventurous. I am actually in the best field for that,” explained Darling. “I am a fly on the wall where decisions are made; I am privy to these amazing projects, both environmental and legislative.”

There is no end in sight for Darling. The determination that CSUDH and the Communications Department helped her further develop is laying the groundwork for her future path.

“Ideally, within the next five years, I will take over the magazine publication that my publishing company runs, and I would also like to start an internship program to give back a bit,” said Darling.

CSUDH future journalists will all benefit from the advice of Darling, “Apply for jobs early and don’t stop applying. I spent so much time refining my resumé, cover letter, and online portfolio. Have someone look it over; four eyes are better than two. And don’t stop writing, even if it’s hard, keep writing. Get everything out of your classes that you can. Ask questions, listen to critiques, and network as much as you can.”

Darling’s training from the Communications Department, her professors, and her peers has given life to what journalism is for her today. “Journalism is more than just print on paper or a computer screen,” she said. “We [journalists] take the big picture, and we humanize it. We follow incredible stories that would normally go under the radar, and we share them with the world. As a journalist, you should be excited about what you’re doing because it is necessary and incredible. It isn’t just major investigative pieces. It’s everything from feature pieces on 5 art to an op-ed on legislation. That is exciting, be excited; it’s an amazing field.”

Destiny Torres

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By Taylor Helmes

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Destiny Torres, who graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, is continuing her education and has accepted admission into the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism this fall. Along with USC, she was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley and Arizona State University. But before she joins the Trojans, Torres often looks back at her time as a Toro at California State University, Dominguez Hills, the lessons she learned, the relationships she created, and her many positive memories.

From finding friends at the student-run newspaper, the Bulletin, to mentors and professors that truly invested in her education and cared about her success, it’s hard for Torres to recall a negative memory. She talks highly of her professors and mentors, noting Professor Joel Beers, Dr. Ryan Bowles Eagle, Dr. Brant Burkey, and Dr. Ana de la Serna.

Professors like these helped her build a foundation and confidence in her writing.

“I had those professors and I had those mentors that kind of tried to instill it in me already that [post-graduation] was going to be really, really hard.

And I had to work really, really hard. Not just as a young, post-grad student, but also as a woman, also, as a woman of color,” Torres said. “It was very evident that a lot of things were going to be a lot tougher and having those really honest conversations with professors like them, it helped me to not give up.”

As she rounded out her time at CSUDH, Torres was awarded the Outstanding Senior in Journalism award in 2020, in addition to first place from the California College Media Association for Best Arts & Entertainment story about Dr. Alexandro D. Hernández, and how he brought corrido, a Spanish-language ballad, and other historical and cultural importance to CSUDH’s new Chicano/a Studies department and his class.

Post-graduation, Torres freelanced for publications like Beacon Media News, Pasadena Independent, and was a staff writer for Pinnacle Magazine, an online blog for adolescence. There she focused on writing editorials about politics with a sprinkle of literature reviews and recommendations. Although, she admits freelance writing isn’t something she imagined she would do, and certainly not forever.

“The pay is not bad,” Torres said. “The thing is, [with] freelance you have to know your worth, 7 and you have to be very confident in your work.”

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But after a few months of freelancing and a seemingly endless job search as a full-time writer, Torres began to revisit the idea of going to graduate school. She reflected on her reasons to apply for graduate school, posing hypothetical questions to herself and envisioning what pursuing another degree would entail.

“There were a lot of things that made me super unsure when I was graduating from Dominguez Hills that I was like, ‘Okay, what does grad school really mean to me? And what will I really benefit from, and if there’s even a doubt in your mind that you are not going to enjoy it, or you’re not going to get a lot out of it, then I would recommend that you don’t put yourself through that for no reason,” Torres said.

After her self-reflection, Torres began applying for graduate school in fall 2020, somewhat late in the season, she says. Nonetheless, she submitted the applications and waited for an acceptance or rejection letter.

“UC Berkeley was at the top for sure. The only thing that freaked me out a little bit was it was a two-year program. And the other ones were oneyear programs,” Torres said. “USC’s [program] is 11 months, so it’s not even a full year.”

Torres ultimately chose USC to continue her education and expand her writing and reporting.

The deciding factor came down to the cost of tuition and living, how much financial aid she would receive, and how long their Master’s programs are.

Ultimately, USC’s Annenberg Media Center was the cherry on top for Torres.

“I never thought that I would be here in this position, that I could be part of that news team that was in that media center. It’s just super cool and surreal and exciting. So I couldn’t say no to USC for that reason.”

As Torres looks back at her time spent here, it brings a smile to her face because this university holds a special place in her heart, she says.

“I am who I am because of CSUDH. I’m a very different person [now] compared to the person I was freshman year,” she said.

Just as Torres grows and makes a name for herself as a journalist, she is equally excited to see the campus and Journalism Program continue to grow.

“I’m excited to see a LatinX center coming to campus,” Torres said. “I’m excited to see those new beautiful buildings being built. I’m excited to see the Bulletin grow.”

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Journalism Program Adds New Latinx Concentration

By Taylor Helmes

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A hot topic in newsrooms and work environments lately has been equality, diversity and inclusion. Prominent newspapers like the Los Angeles Times have been criticized by readers and writers alike for their lack of diversity in the newsroom and noting how the newsroom does not reflect the demographics in its area.

At California State University, Dominguez Hills, where over 60 percent of students identify as Latino/a/x, Communications Assistant Professor Dr. Ana de la Serna is proposing a new Latinx Concentration for students who are pursuing their Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

This proposal has been in the works since 2018 and Dr. de la Serna hopes to see it in action by 2022. Joining her on this endeavor is the Spanish Department and Chicano/a Studies Department that will teach intermediate Spanish language courses and the history and culture of Latin America and its different identities and representations in the U.S., respectively. The Chicano/a Studies and Spanish Departments will partner with the Communications Department and faculty in the Journalism 9 program.

The only other university in the California State University system, which is the nation’s largest public university system, is California State University, Northridge, which offers a Minor in Spanish-Language Journalism. Their curriculum consists of specialized Journalism, Chicano/a Studies courses, Spanish language classes, and courses in Central American Studies.

“I’ve talked about it in a lot of places, like in classes and in meetings, and everybody’s really excited about it,” Dr. de la Serna said.

Excitement and anticipation surrounds this project, not only from Dr. de la Serna but also from the Department’s Journalism Advisory Board. This board is made up of praciting journalists who evaluate and give recommendations on the program. In fact, they were who recommended that the history of Latin America be included in the curriculum.

The concentration will have students take two Intermediate Spanish courses and one grammar and comprehension course. Although knowing Spanish is not a requirement, Dr. de la Serna’s advice is for students to take an Introductory Spanish course to dip their toes in the water and, if they’re

complicated, but for a reason. These things need to be very meticulous and thought through.”

CSUDH has the location, student demographic, and soon the faculty to teach a journalism program specializing in Spanish reporting. Bringing recognition and a voice to those who aren’t English-language speakers, Dr. Cheever felt it was important for the department to offer the same opportunity for Spanish journalism students.

“We have a lot of Spanish-language media in L.A. and I think a lot of the talent is not coming from our area, and certainly not from the Cal State,” Dr. Cheever said. “So, this is a way to train our Spanish-speaking students, or LatinX students, to be able to thrive in Spanish-language media, which they previously really haven’t been able to do much of.”

After the College of Arts and Humanities confirms the concentration, it is sent to the university to review, then lastly approved by a curriculum committee at the CSU Chancellor’s office. Once confirmed by the Chancellor’s office, CSUDH will be the second university in the CSU system to offer such a program for students.

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feeling confident, to enroll in the Intermediate Spanish courses.

“Speaking with the people in the Spanish Department, we agreed that it wouldn’t be in the best interest of somebody who has absolutely no Spanish experience to come in because you can’t do reporting in Spanish,” Dr. de la Serna said.

From this concentration, Dr. de la Serna expects students will be proficient in news writing in Spanish, including the cultural significance of Latin America, along with learning how to write and report in a fair and balanced way.

Proposing and implementing a new program can already be a time-consuming process, but COVID-19 has made this process take longer than usual. Dr. Nancy Cheever, Journalism Program Coordinator and former Communications Department Chair, says that the longest aspect is conceptualizing the program and its new curriculum.

“The curriculum process, developing new curriculum especially, can be very time-consuming because we want to ensure that all the learning outcomes are met, that we know exactly what it is that we want students to learn,” Dr. Cheever said. “It’s

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Chayan Garcia

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By Katherine Clements

Chayan Garcia graduated from CSUDH in Spring of 2019 with a B.A. in Film, Television, and Media. She is the first person on both sides of her family to graduate from a four-year university and high school.

“I spent my first few years after high school working and traveling,” said Garcia. “I studied abroad for a year and really invested in life and cultural experiences before finishing my Communications degree.”

Garcia found it essential to do life in that order. “I believe curiosity and education are the two most valuable resources when used simultaneously to experience true personal growth.”

So Garcia then joined the Communications Department during a “transition year.”

“They were launching communications media studies as a new degree, and I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant,” explained Garcia. “[The Communications Department] benefited my overall structure of communicating in a workplace.”

Garcia learned lessons at CSUDH that go beyond the courses that make up a Media Studies degree. “A key lesson I learned from being at CSUDH is that it’s okay to be wrong because you don’t need to be the smartest person in the room.

You should surround yourself with experienced people and make sure to make room for yourself,” Garcia explained.

In an age of aggressive media consumerism, Garcia takes comfort in the fact that the values that were instilled in the courses she took at CSUDH can be used in the field for good.

“My goal as a Media Studies major isn’t necessarily to be on a set for 15 hours. It’s being able to pick up a camera confidently, record a podcast and navigate modern technology’s growth while being culturally aware of my surroundings,” said Garcia. “I love that students are being taught that media doesn’t have to be an evil tool. It’s entirely capable of being a platform that is used for whatever we invest into it.”

Giovanni Padilla

By Katherine Clements

Giovanni Padilla graduated from CSUDH in Spring of 2017 with a B.A. in Communications with a Journalism concentration. His experience in the Communications Department was one that he loved. “Before I transferred to CSUDH, I was at CSULA for a few quarters, but the faculty wasn’t great,” said Padilla.

“The quality of professors I encountered in the Communications Department [at CSUDH] was excellent. I built good relationships with Dr. Eagle, Dr. Burkey, and Professor Beers. They all went above and beyond and made my time memorable.”

Padilla is also a musician and has been in bands since he was 16 years old. His most recent band was called People Flavor. They released some singles under Dangerbird Records but have halted their work since COVID-19. After graduation, Padilla also pursued journalism jobs.

“I was able to secure an internship as a music blogger,” said Padilla.

Padilla is an excellent example of where journalism can take a graduate and how that skill can be applied to job fields that aren’t always recognized.

“I interviewed bands and wrote album reviews,” said Padilla. “Unfortunately, that internship didn’t last long as the creator of the website decided to call it off.”

After graduation, finding a job is a hardship that most graduates are familiar with, and Padilla’s case was no different.

“It was a struggle to find internships or jobs that I was also interested in,” said Padilla. After attempting an internship in Public Relations and learning quickly how much that style was not for him, Padilla made his next move.

“Due to the lack of opportunities and dwindling general personal interest, I decided to go back to school and get my master’s in Library Science to become a librarian.”

Padilla has worked for the County of Los Angeles Public Library since 2012. An idea that he had stored in the back of his head has now become his current educational pursuit.

Padilla will graduate with his master’s from San Jose State University in the Spring of 2022.

Department Secures

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The Communications Department has acquired a new broadcasting space that will allow its majors new opportunities to work and create media in a professional-caliber production studio. The new broadcasting studio is projected to be in working order by late Fall of 2021 and is being made possible through funding from the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts & Humanities.

The Communications Department hasn’t had a dedicated broadcasting space since 1980, which was then a TV studio that was ultimately given away to the Digital Media Arts Department by the dean at that time. In recent years, the three programs that make up the Communications Department, Advertising and Public Relations, Journalism, and Film, Television and Media Studies, have been working and learning in the Field House, a computer lab located on the CSUDH campus.

CSUDH introduced the Broadcast Journalism course to the Journalism Program only a couple of years ago. Still, with the announcement of the new broadcasting space, the program advisors have raised their expectations of what will now be possible.

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The workroom will provide COM majors the opportunity to learn a range of skills required to succeed in future broadcasting careers by producing television and radio broadcasting programming in a hands-on communal environment, living-learning classroom and recording studio.

Not only will the workspace allow COM students to explore more about producing media content in a professional studio environment, it will also give the Journalism Program, in particular, a broadcasting space for bringing back Bulletin TV, a YouTube channel that is the broadcast version of the student-run Bulletin Newspaper.

The studio room will also be home to workshops that will educate students on operating lighting, cameras, microphones and will give them the chance to learn what it’s like to run a television studio. The space will also be used for courses such as Broadcast Journalism, where students will learn how to be a journalist in a broadcasting environment made for television.

It will also be used for lab time for COM 110/111, the Introduction to Digital Media Pro-

New Broadcast Space

By Katherine Clements

Paul, Minn. He has also worked on an international documentary project about the fall of the former Soviet Union.

“The broadcasting space will bring tremendous experience,” says Dr. Severino. “I will use it in my courses to teach about editing and make it relatable to my field experiences.”

The broadcasting space is enhancing expectations and experience throughout the Communications Department’s programs and has been a wish list contribution that was long sought after.

By working together, the Communications faculty and students will soon have the means to write, create and manage high-quality programming and content to strengthen the already strong curriculum and learning outcomes that the Communications Department offers to its students.

“It will prepare the students for what it’s like to be in the newsroom,” added Dr. Severino, “and it will teach them how to speak appropriately in front of a camera,” something he says is not easily done via remote learning or in a underqualified setting.

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duction course, and a place to create podcasts and audio recordings using isolation cubicles. Since the space will be used as a production studio for the Communications Department, faculty will be able to meet with students or for small groups of students to collaborate and create a variety of media content.

The broadcasting studio is in Room 3600, located on the third floor of the University Library, the same floor as The Bulletin newsroom. It will have a green screen, a news desk, and space for lighting and cameras, making it a functioning news studio on a smaller scale. It is taking over what was formally the Promoting Excellence in Graduate Studies (PEGS) office.

Dr. Fernando Severino, a new Journalism professor at CSUDH, will be the Bulletin advisor as of Fall 2021 and has the most experience in broadcast journalism within the Communications Department. Dr. Severino is well-versed in journalism.

He worked for five years as the International News editor at CNN Chile, the Chilean version of the 245hour news network, as well as the Marketing Communications Specialist for the 3M headquarters in St.

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The Challenges of Remote Learning

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By Katherine Clements

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What was first thought to only last a few weeks has now gone well past its first anniversary. The impromptu trial with distance learning has transformed comfortable bedrooms into classrooms for over a year now, as students have yet to set foot back on campus.

For many graduating seniors from California State University, Dominguez Hills, meeting their class peers and professors will happen for the first time at their modified graduation ceremony. The burden of a global pandemic has left the CSUDH campus vacated for three semesters now, which for some students can be three-quarters of their university adventure.

For those who will continue to the fall semester, the verdict of in-person synchronous class meetings is still unknown.

The Communications Department at CSUDH is just that, a bureau for communicating, and last Spring 2020, all sectors under the department had to transition to communicating across technological platforms.

Students from all backgrounds have had to undoubtedly struggle with the gaps in technology, at-home distractions, and the overall arduous transition away from the deep-rooted understanding of the educational system.

But it wasn’t just students affected by the new changes, professors also had to recreate the way the educated as they adapted to unfamiliar terrain.

Dr. Fernando Severino is an Assistant

Professor at CSUDH for the Communications Department. He has a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota and Fall of 2021 will be his third-semester teaching for CSUDH. Severino has a different situation than other professors. He has been teaching virtually from Minnesota, unable to move to Southern California until the Summer of 2021 because of COVID-19.

Remote learning has been “as difficult for the faculty as it has the students,” explained Dr. Severino. But he has made adjustments for his students throughout the semester to help aid them through the difficulties.

“I try to make the classes as engaging and appealing as I can for students, so they don’t get bored,” said Dr. Severino. “I take news quizzes with the class at the start of each session. They are quizzes on recent events, and it gets everyone engaged or at least to use the chatbox.”

Breakout rooms during Zoom meetings are another tool utilized by Dr. Severino to “encourage them to have discussions amongst themselves without as much pressure. It’s difficult for some students to learn in this environment.”

Dr. Severino has made other adjustments in favor of his students, as well.

“I stopped making attendance mandatory. I understand that people have things going on in their lives, and I record the classes so they can

Okula. “But professors were extremely understanding and extended grace throughout the entire semester while still holding us to standards that would benefit us and our learning.”

Dr. Ana de la Serna is an Assistant Professor for Advertising and Public Relations and Journalism at CSUDH. Like most professors at the start of remote learning, Dr. de la Serna had taught online courses before, but was just as new to it as the students were when it came to 100 percent online courses. Dr. de la Serna had to take her leadership role and adapt to uncharted territory as students directed every concern and worry to her.

“I understand that students feel unhappy with online learning,” said Dr. de la Serna. “I see it at home when my son is doing online classes and gets very frustrated. However, as much as we wish we had time to transition and prepare, the situation did not allow us to do that.”

It was just as challenging to handle the sudden change for Dr. de la Serna as it has been for students, but she changed her techniques to accommodate the situation and benefit her students as much as possible in such a bizarre time.

“The most important change I made was to reimagine myself as an instructor,” said de la Serna. “Although I had taught online courses before, the situation we are in is completely different. We didn’t choose to go online because it was more convenient; we went online because

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go back and review when they have the time.

“I don’t make students have their cameras on because I know that isn’t how everyone works. I only encourage them to turn them on now and then throughout the class.”

By week 4, students are notorious for turning their cameras off completely, making it difficult for Dr. Severino to feel the classroom’s engagement. Still, he says, “we are not creating something new. We have to create a new way to be creative.”

In a time filled with stress and uncertainty, Dr. Severino has spared no grace when it comes to his students.

Anne Okula is a 28-year-old transfer student at CSUDH. She received her AA degree in Liberal Arts from Cypress Community College and transferred to CSUDH to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations.

Spring of 2020 was the first semester that Okula attended CSUDH. It began much like any other semester. That was until a month and a half into her first university campus experience, Okula was relocated to an online learning environment that she thankfully was well equipped for.

“I have all the equipment that virtual learning requires, and I quickly learned that I was, in fact, lucky because I witnessed a handful of my fellow classmates struggling without,” said

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there was no choice. Therefore, I went back to the essence of my profession. What do I want students to gain from my course? Practices that worked before were no longer effective. During the Summer of 2020, I took it upon myself to learn as much as I could about online teaching.

I completed several courses, but I also observed what people find engaging when they go online.

I looked at everything, from Coursera and YouTube to Twitter and TikTok.”

Much like Okula is Akshaya Sridharan, a 25-year-old senior at CSUDH, also studying Advertising and Public Relations.

“I felt really lost and very stressed due to my inability to stay organized,” said Sridharan.

“I had to completely change the way I handled my assignments, prepared for tests, kept up with homework, and reached out to fellow students, but I’m grateful I was able to adjust and figure things out. It took me all semester, but at least I was prepared for Fall 2020.”

The negative feelings that COVID-19 has harbored for students are not unnoticed by professors. “I have tried to keep in mind that the situation is difficult for everyone and that we are all trying to do our best during an uncertain time,” said Dr. de la Serna.

“I have worked with students individually so that they can be successful in my courses,” she explained. “To me, a student is successful if they have learned, not so much of they get a certain grade.”

Within virtual learning, Okula has found an important learning lesson. “Remote learning has taught me good and bad things about myself,” Okula said. “I learned that I am 100 percent not an auditory learner, and I’ve learned a lot about my lack in self-confidence when it comes to completing school assignments.”

Another lesson is that anxiety is a common denominator among students and the virtual learning environment.

“It came from the anxiety of not having quick and direct feedback but rather having to wait days or weeks for teacher input,” said Okula. “To that end, wondering if I have done something correctly can keep me from spending too much time and stress on work that should otherwise be fun and exciting.”

But remote learning is not entirely made up of headaches, hindrances, and hassles.

“Remote learning has taught me how to manage my schedule, stay self-motivated, use my time wisely, and network on social media more than before,” said Sridharan. “I really appreciate it; although, I miss learning in-person and having that concrete connection.”

The CSUDH Communications Department is a composition of skilled professors, passing along their expertise to students who hope to be the world’s great communicators one day. But some skills need to be learned with an exact method, a function that has proven

Dr. de la Serna continues to adopt new strategies to connect with her students via a virtual format and alleviate the stressors as much as possible. “Some things I am doing believe in an active, collaborative, and experiential learning. Therefore, I apply the fundamentals of these methods to my online learning courses,” Dr. de la Serna explained.

“I try to keep a close eye on students who might miss deadlines and reach out if they are not doing well in class; respond to emails as soon as I can. I try to include different types of assignments so that people who learn in different ways can access the content, and I think of the things that I found most helpful from my professors and avoid things I didn’t know from as a student.”

The temporary transition to virtual learning has played a significant role in slowing the spread of coronavirus. The teamwork amongst the CSUDH faculty, staff and administration, and the moxie and cooperation on behalf of the students, during the last year of remote learning has unquestionably shown everyone’s dedication to CSUDH and the Communications Department.

The pandemic has given Communications students a lot to talk about. It has provided a year of news-worthy content and practice for CSUDH students to report, write, and create media for their future careers, no matter what environment they’re in.

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problematic on a virtual platform. The Communications Department prepares students to be strong public speakers, which can be easily lost in translation when speaking to a computer screen alone in your bedroom.

The same goes for students on the receiving end of the presentations. It is confusing to listen to a black square speak to you through a Zoom meeting and not analyze the speaker’s body language to learn from mistakes. Experiences beyond your comfort zone are valuable lessons taught in a Communications course, but the limitations and rationalizations induced by remote learning will only impede those skills.

The adjustment to remote learning has varied for both students when asked if their semesters following the introduction to virtual learning in Spring 2020 had gotten any easier.

“It definitely has. I think students and professors both had to take a lot of time and consideration into changing their educational methods in order to adapt to the new situation we’re all in,” said Sridharan. “I, myself, had to change quite a bit to stay successful and continue learning.”

“No, this semester has been much harder,” Okula said. “Maybe it’s because I returned to work full-time after a year of being quarantined, or because the excitement of the University experience has dwindled, but I’m mentally and physically tired.”

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By Katherine Clements

Kalie Calder-Meyer

Three years ago, Kalie Calder-Meyer graduated from CSUDH with a B.A. in Communications with a Media Studies concentration and the Communications Department will always be very special to her.

“My experience at CSUDH can only be summarized as the early days of SNL,” said Calder-Meyer. “We were young and adventurous, and we had the run of the Communications Department. It felt as if the professors encouraged us to explore our passion. There are only warm feelings when looking back.”

Calder-Meyer’s internship at Focus Features was extended into the summer after graduation in the post-production department. After almost a year at Focus, Calder-Meyer reassessed the game plan she had for her future and took a step back to start a family. Calder-Meyer is now a new mother to a baby girl, but that brief intermission has not halted her educational career.

“I understood how important my professors were to my success, which is why I am currently enrolled in a teaching credential program,” said Calder-Meyer.

Calder-Meyer is currently pursuing her Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials with plans to become a third-grade teacher, a goal different from her dream job: a writer for Saturday Night Live.

“CSUDH taught me to be confident in myself, to know that it is okay to ask for help and to cherish your time,” said Calder-Meyer.

For current Communications students, Calder-Meyer has words of advice, “I know they want to graduate and get going with their careers, but you will miss this time. Your colleagues and professors are a support system, and you can use them when you are looking for a job. Ask your counselors for advice and go get your resume looked at in the resource department on campus.”

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Kat Romo

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By Katherine Clements

In Spring of 2019, Kat Romo was one of the Romo. “However, since the pandemic, my passion last graduating classes to earn a degree in Media for music, radio, and live broadcasting was re-igStudies (before the program changed to Film, Telenited when I got the opportunity to return to 101.5 vision, and Media), as well as one of the last gradu- KOCI FM in Costa Mesa, California.” ating classes to walk at their commencement before Romo became involved with KOCI FM in COVID-19 modified the CSU system. When asked 2013 when they first began volunteering for the to reflect on their experience within the Communi- station. “I used to ‘man’ the radio station booth cations department, Romo’s first acknowledgment whenever the free and local Summer Concert series was the hard work of Academic Advisor Penny began around town,” said Romo. “Later that year, White. the station manager, Brent Kahlen, gave me the

“Penny White is a superhero,” said Romo. opportunity to air my own program.”

“She made my two years at CSUDH smooth despite As of May 2020, Romo then re-birthed their the department going through structural changes.” eccentric music show, Blue Kat Radio, which airs

In addition to Penny White, Romo recoglive every Friday between six and nine p.m. The nized the outstanding honesty from their professors radio show can be heard on the OC dial, online at and how they spoke about the highs and lows of www.kociradio.com, or on the TuneIn App. the industry and the importance they applied to

“The show is my stress-relieving outlet, my successful teaching. “All of my Communications learning tool and opportunity to connect with the professors emphasized the importance of building a community through music and life in general,” said portfolio of work during school rather than waiting Romo. in media after graduation,” said Romo. “I still appre- COVID-19 undoubtedly presented the live ciate that.” entertainment industry with trials and tribula That portfolio Romo created in their fitions. Although the wrap of Romo’s career with the nal semester, along with the lessons they earned Segerstrom theatre was heartbreaking for them, through the Communications Department, took they hold much gratitude for their employment them to faraway places after graduation. Romo with KOCI. moved to Texas, where they pursued their search

“I am happy knowing that I am in a field I for a career with a non-profit media company, am passionate about,” said Romo. whether television or radio.

In the end, the Communications Depart But their plans didn’t unfold as intended. ment proved successful for Romo and lured them to

“Unfortunately, things did not go as their passion. planned, and I had to move back to Southern Cal “The entire Communications faculty deeply ifornia after a few months, which was a blessing in cared about each student,” said Romo. “For examdisguise,” said Romo. ple, I cannot remember when a professor couldn’t

After moving back to SoCal, Romo was im- stay a few minutes after class to answer questions or mediately hired as a Guest Services Representative provide feedback.” for Live Nation, a temporary position. Once that

That effort and dedication that the Comwas completed, Romo was employed at one of their munications Department gave to Romo and every dream job companies, The Segerstrom Center for student is why Romo remained in their desired field The Arts, a non-profit and high-capacity performdespite the obstacles they were faced with. ing arts center in Orange County. After working

“You must be in it with a passion,” said there for only half a year, the COVID-19 pandemic Romo. “There are rewards to reap to make a differcanceled that opportunity. ence in the community through media.”

“I am no longer working at Segerstrom,” said 22

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New Journalism Faculty Brings Broadcasting Experience

By Taylor Helmes

program, Severino and his wife welcomed their second child.

As a graduate student and parent, Severino came to understand the importance of time with family and can relate to students who are facing the many different challenges of virtual learning and how the environment is not the easiest to be in because he too was a student until recently.

“I try to be very empathetic to students and in this virtual environment during the pandemic,” Dr. Severino said. “I was a grad student, and I know it’s hard. It’s just very difficult.”

After defending his dissertation about immigration news coverage in Latin America, with an emphasis on their representation in media, Dr. Severino prepared for his new job as an Assistant Professor at CSUDH. His first year teaching has been virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but thankfully he was able to visit campus in-person once before the campus closed, as part of the process of hiring new staff or faculty.

“It was an amazing experience, I got to know the campus, then some students. I haven’t felt that disconnected, and the faculty of the department have been supportive,” Dr. Severino said. “What I miss the most is, of course, having the relationship with the students in a way that is different from the virtual environment, especially in our field like journalism.”

Dr. Severino has been teaching from his home-office in Minnesota, but plans on moving to Southern California this summer with his family in anticipation, and excitement, of returning to campus in the future to advise the Bulletin and teach in the Journalism program.

“I’m really excited to look into working with students doing projects that are helping the community or this idea of local communities that are near campus are important for campus life,” Dr. Severino said. “I think it’s really important for any campus to have a vibrant and really, kind of aggressive newspaper. I think it’s vital and is critical for any campus to have that and I think the Bulletin is that, so I’m really honored and privileged to be the adviser of it and I think moving into maybe finding other ways where we can leverage that in terms of multimedia or emulating TV.” 24 COMPENDIUM

One of the latest faculty members in the Communications Department to join the Journalism program is Dr. Fernando Severino. In 2020, he went from defending his dissertation on August 4, to being hired and joining the California State University, Dominguez Hills family on August 17. He brings expertise on Latin America, real-life lessons, and experiences from his time at CNN Chile, and hopes to bring creativity and broadcasting back to the student-run Bulletin newspaper.

Dr. Severino began his journalism journey in Chile where he studied for his Bachelor of Arts in Social Information, Professional degree in Journalism. During his undergraduate schooling, politics, and U.S. politics in particular, caught his attention. For his final year at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, he worked on a documentary project covering the fall of the Soviet Union when one of Severino’s professors had a post-graduation job proposal for him.

His professor was joining CNN Chile’s first 24-hour news program that focused on Latin America and she wanted Severino to join her in some capacity. He was eventually hired as a news editor for the international branch of CNN. For three years, Severino’s role was to research, develop, write and edit stories, and sometimes he would be an anchor for a news broadcast. He still joins the show on the occasion.

His work at CNN Chile led him to the decision of moving over 5,000 miles to attend Columbia University in New York City to expand his knowledge of U.S. policies and public affairs.

In 2012, Severino received his master’s in International and Public Affairs, but when his wife got accepted into Minnesota’s School of Public Health the pair decided to move another 1,300 miles northwest, with their 9-month old daughter.

He dabbled in corporate communications at 3M as an International Marketing Specialist for a few years until he decided to enroll for the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities to pursue his doctorate. In 2016, Severino dove headfirst into working towards a Ph.D. in Mass Communication and Media Studies, while expanding on his knowledge of International Affairs and Political Communication. His second year into the

Dr. Hernández Brings International Perspective to AD/PR Program

By Taylor Helmes

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Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Dr. Miriam Hernández received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations and master’s in Political Analysis from Tecnológico de Monterrey, but she believes that the world and different cultures can enrich someone’s education outside of the classroom.

Dr. Hernández earned her doctorate degree in Communications from City University of Hong Kong, followed by a postdoctoral research

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fellowship at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, where she worked on research for a dissertation about immigration coverage in United States media from 1980 to 2010.

Her research analyzed minority voices, when and where immigrants and their families are interviewed, and the amount of coverage such individuals got in the U.S. This led her to research gender issues, gen-

mind and body.

“The things I want my students to remember most are not related to any of this. It’s just the skill of knowing that certain things are hard but that they are worth working for, that success,” Dr. Hernández said. “It’s really a matter of working hard, but that it shouldn’t be stressful, you should be able to feel happy and proud of the work that you do.”

Dr. Hernández sheds light on mental health awareness and amplifies those voices that cannot be heard or are ignored. This is another reason why she chose to teach and continue learning at Dominguez Hills.

“I think we are such a diverse campus and we are such a unique program, not just in journalism, but advertising and public relations,” Dr. Hernández said. “Students here come, even if you don’t identify as a person of color, you are learning how to work with all these groups, that is important. So, I think we have the potential to be the new pool of professionals that bring these diverse voices into the job market.”

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der-based violence and survivors, and how journalists can comprehensively report news surrounding these topics.

“What we have found is, yes, when they cover news about Latin America, they do give a lot of space to voices that you wouldn’t traditionally hear, a lot of indigenous interviews, a lot of people who are doing strikes,” Dr. Hernández said. “They are covering their own domestic issues.”

Programs offered by the Communications Department like Journalism, Film, Television and Film, and Advertising and Public Relations piqued Dr. Hernández’s interest. But what drew her in was the diversity on campus and variety of voices, and the consistency of that commitment to diversity in college mission statements.

“I want to be in a place where my research is not contested, not something weird, but it’s something appreciated, invaluable,” Dr. Hernández said. “It’s a place where you can find your voice.”

During her studies in Hong Kong, Dr. Hernández discussed minorities and what they can look like in different countries. When she asked her Chinese students what groups were minorities in China, they would not understand what she meant. Different international points of view and the role traveling played in her studies taught her to be more confident and less hesitant to new things or discuss possibly uncomfortable subjects.

Two years ago, Dr. Hernández moved to California, her first time stepping onto U.S. soil.

Her worldly view and experiences bring a unique perspective to CSUDH. She gives credit to her advisers and instructors across Asia for believing in her, their encouragement, her higher education experience and what she’s learned over the years about mental health and bettering your overall

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Graduation 2021

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Photos by Destiny Torres (C/O 2020) and Taylor Helmes (C/O 2021)

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The 2021 Graduation was also unprecedented this year. After the graduation ceremony was canceled last year in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year it resumed as a socially-distanced occasion with certain public health precautions, including masking, social distancing, and limited guests for graduating seniors. Also, rather than walking up on stage, graduates stood in their seats and were acknowledged from there when their names were called. There were also graduation ceremonies held for both the 2020 graduates as well as those who were walking in 2021. For this year’s graduating seniors and those who graduated last year with no ceremony, the ability to have an in-person graduation at all was a move toward normalcy, them accomplishing their academic goals, and getting one step closer to the “real world.”

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES 1000 East Victoria Street • Carson, CA 90747 (310) 243-3313 / (310) 243-3683 • Fax (310) 516-3779 ©2017 All Rights Reserved