The Connector: Spring 2024 Student Newsletter

We are pleased to present you with the Spring 2024 edition of the College of Communication and Information student newsletter: The Connector. This Spring semester, we found our students exemplifying roles of leadership, overcoming challenges, and gaining knowledge. We are honored to represent these students through the 32nd edition of The Connector. We hope you enjoy reflecting on the accomplishments of the students in our college as much as we did.

Jana Polsky, Katie Fites, Olivia O’Hay, and Nola Ulik

Table of Contents

College Happenings

CCI News and Events

School of Communication

School of Communication Science and Disorders

School of Information Ways to get

2

6 12 22 24 29

CCI students presented at the Undergraduate Research Symposium!

CCI Students traveled to Atlanta for a networking trip.

CCI raised over $48,000 for the College in FSU’s Great Give.

CCI recognized our 2024 Distinguished Alumni.

welcomed students back to campus with free donuts in UCD.

CCI students joined the ITS Seminole Showcase to present the work they did in tech and innovation within FSU.

Students participated in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk, led by SCSD student

Students networked at the CCI Career Fair.

Carley Stubbs.

CCI

C

Students participated in receiving a free headshot at our event.

CCI Digital Media Services worked with FSU PD on a special project for the unit.

Dr. Selena Snowden led a team of SCSD undergraduate students on the 8th Help Guatemala Hear Service Trip.

SCSD students enjoyed some delicious banana pudding from Shawn

Students, faculty, and alumni celebrated FSU's achievements and contributions during FSU Day at the Capitol.

CCI hosted Club Day where students met and interacted with organizations to get involved.

Goes Bananas.

CCI honorees recognized at Seminole 100 ceremony.

Congrats to CCI Alumnus Eli Perl on the new baby girl!

Students enjoyed the Speed Networking event hosted by FSU Black Alumni and FSU Hispanic/LatiNoles Alumni Network.

SCSD students participated in Special Olympics Florida 2024 Summer Games with Dr. Selena Snowden.

Students enjoyed an alumni networking event at Momo’s with some delicious pizza!

CCIHosted ResearchDayfor Students,Faculty, andStaff

On April 5, the College of Communication and Information Research and Creative Activities Committee hosted its third annual CCI Research and Creative Activities Day for faculty, staff, and doctoral students. The theme this year was “Partnerships & Innovation.” CCI Alumnus and former Assistant Director of the Office of Research Development. Doctoral students presented their research during Doctoral Lightning Rounds for the chance to win travel funding and participated in roundtable discussions. The College thanks those who participated in Research Day this year and looks forward to hosting it again next year.

Conference

On March 5, 2024, CCI hosted its 11th Annual Women in Leadership Conference. The conference brought in local female leaders to host an audience of students, faculty, alumni, and the local community with a goal to inspire, learn, and engage. There were 47 female leaders who spoke in panels covering a variety of topics, as well as over 275 attendees who joined in efforts of gaining knowledge and connections from the event. This event brought the community together, leaving many walking out with advice obtained, connections made, and smiles on their faces. The conference is all about women leaders sharing their experiences to provide inspiration to others, personally and professionally.

SchoolofCommunicationHosted InauguralResearchConference, BoostsPeerEngagement

SCOM hosted its inaugural research conference, with the theme of “Inclusive Excellence;” scholars came together to share their perspectives on inclusivity and delve deeply into the concept. With an emphasis on diversity and understanding, the conference aimed to share perspectives on inclusivity and generate meaningful conversation. Attendees participated on a panel about Inclusive Excellence, oral presentations, a poster session and a social mixer.

CCILeadershipBoardHosteditsAnnualSpringMeeting

On March 22, the CCI Leadership Board held its spring meeting at the Florida State University Alumni Center. The Board meets on campus bi-annually to receive updates on the Dean’s and College’s priorities, development updates, and discuss how the Board can align with and support those priorities to prepare for upcoming plans for the College. The spring meeting focused on hearing Dean Michelle Kazmer’s insights and priorities for the College, as well as defining roles and responsibilities of the Board committees. The Board also announced new officers, received a development update and discussed fundraising. The leadership board meets again next fall.

CCIStudentsTraveledtoTampato NetworkwithMajorCompanies

In late February, students from the College traveled to Tampa, Florida, to meet with three major companies: Reliaquest, Citibank, and Raymond James. They also attended Synapse Summit to connect with Florida innovators. During these networking trips, students met recruiters and experienced each company’s culture. Students also connected with CCI alumni at the companies and at social gatherings organized by Associate Dean Ebe Randeree. At Synapse Summit, students learned about the IT industry in Tampa, engaged with speakers, and attended a career fair.

NineCCIStudentsInductedIntoTorchbearer100

This year, nine CCI students were inducted into FSU’s Torchbearer 100. Torchbearer 100 recognizes the most outstanding students who have made a significant impact on student life at FSU due to their service and leadership. CCI students who were inducted this year: Cali Berenis, Bella Bozied, Maya Calderon, Ellie Helgeson, Allison Janvier, Catherine Marshall, Allison Matula, Mia Nicholson, and Leah Solomon.

On April 12, CCI hosted its annual Honors and Awards Ceremony and celebration to recognize outstanding faculty and students that excel in leadership and academia, along with dedication to bettering the College. CCI would like to extend a huge congratulations to all of the award winners!

FallandSpringAlumnaeInductedintoFSUGarnet&Gold ScholarSociety

CCI is proud to have a number of students inducted into Florida State University’s Garnet & Gold Scholar Society. This past fall, two alumnae were inducted. The two members are School of Information alumna Catalina Smith (ICT ’23) and School of Communications alumna Shaina Francis (MCS ’23). The Garnet & Gold Scholar Society recognizes undergraduate students who excel in the areas of international experience, internship, leadership, research and service. In the Spring, there were 13 inductees. Congratulations to Nikki Cohen, Christina Conenna, Aiven Davis, Rory Durante, Caroline Giddens, Emily Hale, Bianca Hamm, Anna Handley, Emma Hill, Allison Matula, Lauren Piotrowski, Elizabeth Schutte, and Kayla Tran.

CCICelebrated27HonorsMedallionRecipients

Florida State University honored 27 CCI Spring 2024 graduates with an Honors Medallion, recognizing their outstanding academic achievements and exceptional skills in their respective fields. Florida State’s Honors Program strives to support students in realizing their potential and fostering a drive to positively impact the world, as symbolized by the Honors Medallion. Congratulations to all the recipients!

Speech-LanguagePathologyGraduate ProgramRoseinRankings

The speech-language pathology graduate program in the School of Communication Science and Disorders ranked No. 14 among all public and private institutions and No. 10 among publics according to U.S. News & World Report. “The school’s position as the top-ranked speech-language pathology program in Florida, and its rank of No. 14 nationwide, are well deserved,” said Dr. Michelle Kazmer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “They reflect the rigorous curriculum, exceptional teaching, excellent clinical services, impactful translational research and high levels of federal funding undertaken by the faculty and staff at the school ”

3CCIStudentsRecognizedbytheStudentFoundationin21Under21Awards

Three CCI students received the FSU Student Foundation’s (FSU SF) 21 Under 21 Award! The award recognizes students who have displayed outstanding leadership and dedication to philanthropy early in their collegiate careers Recipients included iSchool students Bella Bozied and Catherine Marshall and SCOM student Rain Bellamy. Bella served as President of Her Campus FSU and was recognized for her excellent work as Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Director of Philanthropy. Catherine Marshall was recognized for her work with Relay for Life. She previously served as the organization’s Director of Finance securing over 11 sponsorships for the American Cancer Society, and then served as the Executive Director Rain Bellamy was recognized for her work as the President of the service-based Kappa Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

11 CCI students traveled to Orlando to serve as judges for the Florida Technology Student Association’s (TSA) State Competition. TSA is a national organization that promotes technological literacy, leadership, and problem-solving for over 250,000 middle and high school students. At the State Competition, students participate in a variety of problem-solving, creative, and STEM competitions either individually or in teams CCI has been involved with TSA for over 15 years since Associate Dean Ebe Randeree joined the TSA Board in 2008 He now serves as the College Liaison for Florida TSA and works to engage CCI students with the organization.

Bella Bozied

Catherine Marshall Rain Bellamy

CCIPresentedatKCHC

In early April, Visiting Faculty Obianuju Aliche and Professor Mia Lustria of the iSchool and SCOM doctoral candidate Pooja Ichplani, each presented their research at the 2024 Kentucky Conference on Health Communication (KCHC). KCHC is a biennial conference held in Lexington, Kentucky, that offers a platform for health communication scholars, practitioners, and students with diverse research ideas to present research findings and ideas “I was happy that my Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) students got to experience the rigor of conference submissions with this presentation,” said Ichplani.

TheSpeakersBureauAddedThreeNewSpeakers

Three CCI alumni were added to the Speakers Bureau: Herneshia Dukes (B S ‘08), Alexa Nikiforou (B S ‘13), and Ryan McCormick (B S ‘00) The Speakers Bureau is a collection of alumni and industry professionals that are available to professors and student groups for presentations, class discussions, and other speaking opportunities. The speakers offer their real-world experience and advice to students to help them build professional connections Each speaker, either an alumni or friend of the College, offers a variety of speaking topics ranging from early career development and strategic thinking to specific career subjects.

CCIStudentsEngagedKidswithTechat FSUPCTechExpo

In early March, seven CCI students traveled to FSU Panama City to volunteer at the second annual ASCENT Technology Expo. The Expo welcomed all ages to the campus to hear from guest speakers and participate in STEM-related activities including rocket building, Minecraft scavenger hunts, and eSports The expo was designed to engage K-12 students in STEM topics and show them STEM careers and college options The CCI students focused on showcasing the Information Technology (IT) and Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) degree programs.They presented at four tables, each on a different topic: Design and 3D Printing, Working with Arduinos, Old Technology, and Women in STEM

Alexa Nikiforou Herneshia Dukes

Ryan McCormick

SCOMAlumnaPublishedPoetryBook

SCOM alumna Jocelyn Simmons (B A , ‘17) recently published her first poetry book “Next Round On Me” which features poems about love, lust, and loss. The book centers around the topic of the heart--love in its many phases, from first date jitters to heartbreak and even touching true unconditional love. Simmons told CCI that the book reminded her of ”the person that you always see sitting alone at the bar, but when you finally talk to them they end up telling you all of their adventures, advice, and regrets filled with free life lessons. As the conversation continues, you realize you don’t want it to end, so you order another round of drinks and keep it going. ’Next Round On Me.’”

InauguralMCCAPConferenceDelved intoMedia,Communication,andCulture StudiesintheAsia-PacificRegion

The inaugural Media, Communication and Cultural Studies: AsiaPacific (MCCAP) Conference at FSU revolved around the theme of “The Phenomenon of Hallyu (the Korean wave of pop culture) and its Impact on the Global Industry.” The conference brought together a global community of communication, media, and cultural scholars, researchers, educators, practitioners, and enthusiasts It aimed to explore and analyze the intricate intersections of communication, media, technology, and cultural practices within the Asia-Pacific region.

Blake DeVine, a morning reporter for KXAN-TV (NBC station) recently received an Emmy for his outstanding coverage of the 2023 Winter Storm in Austin, TX. The wall-to-wall coverage of the storm lasted for about a week, where DeVine and his team drove around iced-out areas featuring first responders. “I knew when I went to Florida State that I wanted to be involved in journalism. I just didn’t know if it was print, writing for a newspaper, or if it was TV.” He gained experience in print writing for the FSView, which he got involved with early on in his college career. There, he developed the critical writing skills that he uses today.

SCOM alumnus Gregg McBride (B.S. ‘86) has two films, “Would You Kill For Me? The Mary Bailey Story” and “The Christmas Ringer”, coming out later this year. “Would You Kill For Me? The Mary Bailey Story” was released on October 28 on Lifetime. This film follows three women–a grandmother, mother, and daughter as they get their revenge on the same abusive man. “The Christmas Ringer” will be available on BET+ on November 30. This holiday musical follows a woman as she goes home for the holidays after her career has been derailed. She then ends up directing her family’s church choir with hopes of winning a Christmas Choir Competition.

SchoolofCommunicationStudent KatieFitesHosted2024FSL LinedanceEvent

On Wednesday, April 3, SCOM student Katie Fites cohosted the largest Greek-run philanthropic event at Florida State University: Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) Linedance. This is an annual dance competition between 17 sororities and led by five campus fraternities. Leading up to the show, Fites and her co-host spent time preparing their scripts and attending preliminary events where they were able to introduce themselves and begin drawing attention to the competition prior to getting on stage.

Two CCI students were elected to be representatives for the College on the Student Government Association (SGA). The new CCI representatives are Kayla Tran and Brooke Kubiak. Their new positions include weekly senate chamber meetings in which senators propose, approve, or deny the transfer or allocation of funding packages for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and agencies.

Kayla Tran

Brooke Kubiak

SCOMStudentsCreatedPSAsforFSUCenterforHealthAdvocacyandWellness

SCOM students spent the semester creating a marketing plan and a public service announcement for the FSU Center of Health Advocacy and Wellness (CHAW) as part of their Social Marketing course. CHAW encourages students to make healthy lifestyle decisions that facilitate academic success and lead to life-long health and wellness while providing programs and resources to aid students throughout that process. The course, taught by SCOM doctoral student Sun Young Park, centers around the different steps for creating a marketing plan targeted specifically toward social issues.The students work with real clients and conduct hands-on research. They spent the semester curating their marketing plans and preparing their presentations for CHAW.

SCOMAlumnaNamedDirectorofOperationsfor BaseballfortheNavalAcademy

SCOM alumna Courtney Caswell (B.S. ‘19) was named Director of Operations for Baseball for the Naval Academy Athletic Association. After she graduated from FSU, Caswell took on the role of Alumni Relations and Fundraising Assistant at FSU, where she handled communication with former players and assisted Seminole Boosters with program needs and donor relations. This experience helped her prepare for her current role, where she focuses on supporting the team through scheduling, travel, accommodations, recruiting, and program development.

School of Communication alumna Melinda Woolbright Coleau (B.S. ‘01) has worked her way to the role of planning manager at NBC in Washington, D.C. Coleau’s trajectory into media was motivated by her education at Florida State University, where she studied radio broadcasting, scriptwriting and the transition from audio to visual storytelling. “FSU’s School of Communication was the foundation of my career. It gave me my first taste of real-world journalism, from radio broadcasts to crafting scripts that speak to the audience,” Coleau said.

RecentSCOMAlumnaBriannaWindersFound

SuccessinPharmaceuticalAdvertising

SCOM student Brianna Winders graduated last Spring with a B.S. in Advertising and now works as an Associate Project Manager at DDB Health in New York City. In this role, Brianna facilitates collaboration and ensures that projects are completed on time and within scope for clients. “Working in pharmaceutical advertising was also never on my radar, but it is extremely rewarding to see how the work our agency produces has positive impacts on the quality of life of real-world patients.”

UndergraduateSCOMStudentPresented ResearchatInternationalConference

Alyssa Croft, an undergraduate student in the School of Communication, recently presented research that she undertook with Dr. Patrick Merle, Associate Professor and School Director, and Dr. Nicole Lee, Associate Professor at Arizona State University, at the International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC). Under Merle’s guidance, she investigated how brands use misleading scientific claims to create greater “hype” for their products.

SCOM alumnus Paul Weaver (B.S. ’87) completed the coursework to receive a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. This certificate recognizes and substantiates a commitment to fundraising leadership. Weaver was motivated to better understand why people donate and how to help others receive the benefits that he has enjoyed by donating to worthwhile causes.

SCOMPh.D.StudentWon2024

OutstandingTeachingAssistantAward

Sunny Park, a doctoral student in the School of Communication, was the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. Park served as a teaching assistant in Introduction to Public Relations and was the lead instructor in Social Marketing. “Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful to me,” Park said. “It’s a mark of distinction that sets me apart in a competitive academic market, potentially leading to more opportunities, and positions of influence within academic circles.”

SCOM alumna Kate Hamill (B.S. ‘18) received the 2023 Insight Global President’s Award for its health division, the highest divisional award given out annually by Insight Global. Hamill was chosen because she helped execute one of the largest staffing projects of the year at Insight Global, a company that has over 70 office locations.

SchoolofCommunicationStudentsPresentedatthe MooreAgency

Earlier this semester, the School of Communication’s class Advanced Writing and Branding: Taylor’s Version, visited the Moore Agency to present to a panel of professional judges. The class, COM 3930, serves as this semester’s Special Topics in Communication course and explores branding and storytelling through the lens of Taylor Swift’s career. Students were given the prompt “What should Taylor Swift’s plan post-Eras Tour be?” and were tasked with creating a pitch deck on their solutions. They later presented these to a panel of professional judges at the Moore Agency, a local PR agency with strong ties to FSU and the College of Communication and Information.

SCOMAlumnaKateHamillNamed President’sAwardWinner

SCOMAlumnusJulianHillsBecameSpeechwriteratGeorgiaTech

SCOM alumnus Julian Hills (B.A. ‘98) joined the Institute Communications staff at Georgia Tech as a writer for the president and executive administration staff. “I was an English major who wanted to get his degree in Creative Writing, but my father basically told me that writing would be obsolete during my career,” said Hills. That decision would not only launch his fifteen-year career as a television news producer, but also lay the foundation for what came next.

SCOM alumnus Ahli Moore (B.S. 93, M.S. ’95) recently organized this year’s “Speed Networking with Alumni,” an annual event hosted by FSU’s Black Alumni Network that presented students with networking advice and mentorship from an array of alumni. Moore brought this event to fruition with the help of leading project manager Saisha Delevoe.

SCOMAlumnusAlainOlguin LaunchedCareeratTelevisaUnivision

Alain Olguin (M.S. ‘23) now works full-time as a multimedia producer at TelevisaUnivision in Miami. Working in the operations side of the company, Olguin oversees the NY Lottery Spanish broadcasts on the New York Univision 41 (WXTV) channel. Additionally, he assists in creating content and graphics for all of Univision’s US markets.

DoubleCCIAlumnaNaomiMolina LandedNewRoleatFSU

Naomi Molina (B.A. ‘11, M.A. ’12) was appointed associate director of alumni and student engagement for the College of Social Work (CSW). In this position, Molina works as a staff member of the FSU Alumni Association with the College of Social Work as her department.

Media Communication Studies student Nair Perez-Torres, along with colleagues from the FSU Center for Leadership & Service, delivered a presentation, “Making Space: Advancing Possible Futures for Female Leaders,” at the Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education that took place in Auburn, Alabama, from April 15-17, 2024.

SchoolofCommunicationAlumnusAdamWalls AwardedanEmmy

SCOM alumnus Adam Walls (B.S. ’05) received a Children’s & Family Emmy Award for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, his first award as a makeup artist. In 2021, Walls began production on this project working alongside a team of 30 different makeup and hair artists. His primary focus was providing makeup for one of the holiday special’s characters, Kraglin, who had a prosthetic “fin” attached to his head, requiring Walls and fellow makeup artist Samantha Ward over an hour to assemble each day of filming.

CCIAlumnaNikkiMéndezHelpedCreatetheFirstEverEdibleMascotforthePopTartsBowl

The Pop Tarts Bowl featured the first-ever edible mascot, created by the Kellanova team at Weber Shandwick, including CCI alumna, Nikki Méndez (B.S. ‘20). As an Art Director, Méndez works with a team to develop brand activations, present them to internal account personnel, and later take them to clients. Méndez summarized her role: “I’m part of a team where I lead the visual direction for our ideas and campaigns.”

SCOM alumna Sarah Morris (B.S. ’22, M.S. ’23) had the opportunity to host FSU’s Ad Club on their annual New York networking trip after being a member of the Ad Club herself during her collegiate years. Sarah currently works as a Junior Account Manager at Gradient in New York City. As a host, Morris informed students about her role and responsibilities at Gradient. Sarah said “As a Junior Account Manager, I am responsible for supporting the senior account management team in managing client accounts and executing successful experiential marketing campaigns.”

Florida State’s chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) visited The Moore Agency for their semesterly local agency visit, where they were hosted by Nanette Schimpf (B.S. ‘87), a SCOM alumna and Vice President at The Moore Agency. She described the day-today operations of the agency and also shared insights about her experience and the most important tools for young professionals in the field.

SCOMAlumnaandEntrepreneurEstablishedStudy AbroadScholarship

A new scholarship is available to School of Communication students participating in Florida State’s Communication and Media in Florence study abroad program. SCOM alumna and entrepreneur Victoria Carlton (B.S. ‘18, M.S. ’19), established a scholarship through her business, Carlton Creative Company, to help cover the costs associated with studying abroad for students who participate in the program.

CCIAlumnusBrianDooley RecognizedinSeminole100

The Seminole 100 is an annual list that recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by Florida State University alumni. Brian Dooley (B.A. ‘05), founder of Independence Digital, is one of the recipients of the Seminole 100 award. Dooley said, “A lot of my time is spent as a marketing consultant and fractional chief marketing officer. The practices we work with are relatively large businesses, but it may not make sense for them to have a full-time marketer on staff.”

School of Communication alumnus Dave Fiore (B.S. ‘86), founder and CEO of Fiore Communications, had his company recognized among the Florida State University Alumni Association’s Seminole 100. It is the company’s fourth time on the Seminole 100 list. In 2001, Fiore took the leap and opened Fiore Communications, where his skills would be put to the test. Congratulations to Fiore for getting to where he is today.

RecentSCOMAlumnaKyleeMukebaFound

SuccessinCelebrityMarketing

Kylee Mukeba (B.S. ‘23), a recent SCOM graduate, now works as an account coordinator at entertainment marketing agency Starpower in New York City. “My role involves finding creative ways to integrate our clients in pop culture through partnerships, events and campaigns with influencers, celebrities and brand collaborations.”

SCOMAlumnaRecognizedasCircleofGold HonoreebytheFSUAlumniAssociation

Maura Hayes (B.S. ‘82) was recognized by the FSU Alumni Association as one of the newest members of the Circle of Gold. The Circle of Gold recognizes worthy individuals who, through their service and achievements, personify the University’s tradition of excellence. “The tradition of excellence at FSU is so phenomenal, and I’m so proud to be an alumna and to be honored by FSU for giving back,” Hayes said.

SCOMAlumnaeTaughtTaylorSwiftThemedWritingCourse

In Spring 2024, two School of Communication alumnae, Susannah Wesley-Ahlschwede and Terrie Ard, taught “Advanced Writing and Branding: Taylor’s Version,” a writing course centered around Taylor Swift’s branding and success. The alumnae shared a combined 40 years of experience in the communication industry, which allowed them to apply their professional knowledge to the course and delve deeper into the phenomenon of Swift’s success.

SCSDAlumnaDr.KeiseyFumeroPublishedDissertation

Dr. Keisey Fumero (M.S. ‘19, Ph.D. ’22), an SCSD alumna, published her dissertation, titled “Supportive Language Strategies for Preschool Dual Language Learners: Associations with Early Language Outcomes” in the Early Childhood Research Quarterly journal on December 23, 2023, with Drs. Carla Wood and Beth Phillips as co-authors. “My dissertation focused on examining what is currently going on in preschools when it concerns supporting language development for dual language learners (DLLs),” said Fumero. Fumero is eager to play a part in the ever-changing field of education research.

SCSDDoctoralCandidatesGotResearchPublishedintheAmerican JournalofSpeech-LanguagePathology

School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) doctoral candidates Miguel Garcia-Salas and Michelle Torres-Chavarro had their research, “Morphological Complexity in Writing: Implications for Writing Quality and Patterns of Change,” accepted for publication in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Their study was co-authored by Drs. Carla Wood (SCSD) and Chris Schatschneider (FSU Psychology).

SCSDGraduateStudentWonMaster’sinFourCompetition

On April 3, 2024, SCSD graduate student Korrin Sheahan won first place in FSU’s fifth annual Master’s in Four competition. Master’s in Four is a research communication competition where six graduate students presented their research in under four minutes to effectively convey complex research topics in an appropriate language for an intelligent yet non-specialist audience. Sheahan’s presentation, “Person Centered Planning During Transition for a Young Adult Using AAC,” focused on developing strategies, techniques, and goals to assist a young adult who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with the transition out of a traditional education setting.

Michelle Torres-Chavarro

Miguel Garcia-Salas

IncomingSCSDDoctoralStudentAngelicaBernabe AwardedwithLegacyFellowship

Incoming SCSD doctoral student Angelica Bernabe has been awarded the Legacy Fellowship from Florida State University with the support of her mentor, Dr. Christopher Constantino. The Legacy Fellowship is a multiyear award for newly admitted doctoral or MFA students. It is guaranteed for five consecutive academic years for Ph.D. students. In her last year of Psychology in Peru, Angelica collaborated with a therapist to establish a stuttering center, Centro Especializado en Tartamudez (Specialized Center for Stuttering.)

SCSDAlumnaDenishaCampbell AwardedResearchScholarship

SCSD doctoral student Denisha Campbell received the 2024 Plural Research Scholarship Award on behalf of Plural Publishing and the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Science and Disorders. The Scholarship is granted to a student by Angie Singh, President and CEO of Plural Publishing, Inc., in honor of her late husband’s legacy. Campbell received notice that she was awarded this honor through a heartfelt letter from Singh thanking her for her dedication and hard work.

Two SCSD students, Faith Collins and Ellie Helgeson, presented their research at the 2024 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) in February. FURC is one of the largest multidisciplinary research conferences in the country. Collins presented “Measuring morphological complexity in teachers’ instructional dialogues.” Helgeson presented “A Qualitative Exploration of Early Interventionists’ Beliefs and Practices with Families from Marginalized Backgrounds.” Both students recommend getting involved in research and organizations.

Ellie Helgeson

Faith Collins

ChallengerLearningCenter CelebratedTwentiethAnniversary

Executive director for the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee Alan Hanstein (B.S. ‘02) pioneered new updates as the Challenger Learning Center (CLC) celebrated its 20th anniversary. The CLC is the K-12 outreach facility of the Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering. Its mission is to provide students and their families with high-quality educational experiences through the use of its IMAX® Theater, Planetarium, Space Mission Simulator, and demonstrational activities.

CCIAlumnaKallayahHenderson ReleasedNewPoetryBook

Last year, CCI alumna Kallayah Henderson (B.S. ’20) published her first book, Nature Inspires, under her pen name Lee Sunshine. Henderson shared that she’s been writing poetry since she was eight years old and began writing the poems that eventually became Nature Inspires soon after college.

“Pairing my art with my writing has been a goal of mine and going into this year I will be doing a lot of illustration work as a result of this experience,” Henderson said.

iSchool alumna Diana Haneski (MLIS ’98) was honored with the “I Love My Librarian” award for going above and beyond as a librarian at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The American Library Association honors 10 librarians each year who make a difference within their library community. Following the tragic event at Stoneman Douglas on February 14, 2018, Haneski has been working to bring peace and mindfulness back within the school.

iSchoolAlumnaStartedNewRoleatUSF

iSchool alumna Dr. Amelia Anderson (MLIS ‘08, Ph.D. ’16) began a new role as an Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida (USF) in their School of Information. Anderson told CCI that when she began her doctoral studies at FSU she always knew that her dream job was at USF. “When a position opened last year that fit my experience, I knew that I had to apply,” said Anderson. “I’m gious program and institution.”

iSchool doctoral candidate Brittany Baum has been selected to receive the FSU Graduate School’s Spring 2024 Dissertation Research Grant amounting to $1,000. Baum’s dissertation is titled “Public Youth Services Librarians’ Perceptions Towards and Experiences in Promoting Teens’ Positive Mental Health: A Mixed Methods Approach.” Her research seeks to explore the perceptions and experiences of public youth service librarians toward promoting teens’ positive mental health in the library.

CCIAlumnaStartedNewRoleatDisney

Chelsea Eagle (B.S. ‘13), an ICT alumna, was promoted to Director of Public Relations at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Eagle described this new role as “truly the dream job.” The position involves leading the team responsible for earned media coverage, whether Disney is opening a new attraction or debuting new offerings. Eagle and her team launch innovative approaches to communicate this news with everyone. They also creatively strategize ways to keep the conversation of the Disney brand ongoing.

iSchoolAlumnaLinneaEberhart

AcceptedNewPosition

iSchool alumna Linnea Eberhart (MSI ’24) has accepted a new position starting this summer as one of the 2024 Librarians-in-Residence with the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Eberhart will be working in the Public Services Division of the Law Library to provide legal research, reference, instruction, and outreach services. iSchoolAlumnaTaRhonda

Alumna TaRhonda Harvey (B.S. ’02) served on the Steering Committee and worked as the Event Brand Designer for the Girls Chat 2.0 Conference. The Girls Chat Conference encourages young girls to build confidence in respect to advocating for themselves and other young women. The conference welcomed over 120 middle and high school girls this year.

iSchoolAlumnaRicciYuhicoRecognizedintheNewYorkTimes

iSchool alumna Ricci Yuhico (MLIS ’12) made the New York Times list of “Six New Yorkers Who Made the City a Better, Cooler, Fairer Place in 2023.” She was recognized as the “Librarian for Teenagers.” Six activists who have contributed to the city were recognized in the story. It aims to highlight New Yorkers, though you may not know them, who have come at some of the city’s biggest challenges from unexpected angles.

Alan Harkness (MLIS ‘90) was named Georgia’s Public Library Director of the Year on December 5, 2023. Harkness is the current director at Chattahoochee Valley Libraries in Columbus, Georgia. Leading Chattahoochee Valley Libraries to eliminate fines for overdue materials was a predominant reason why he received the award. He has also helped other library directors execute the same goal. iSchoolAlumnusAlanHarknessNamed

CCIAlumnaSavannahKeysBecameFlightInstructor

Savannah Keys (B.S. ’17) recently became a certified flight instructor, and will spend the next few years sharing her love for flying. Her connections to the aviation industry--her step-dad being a pilot and both her mom and aunt being flight attendants--led to her desire to at least try aviation which quickly became her passion.

iSchool is proud to announce the appointment of Stephen Gorham, Chief Operating Officer at OPSWAT, to its iAdvocacy Board. Gorham has led large enterprise IT operations teams in various capacities, serving as the Vice President of Cyber Security & Infrastructure Capabilities for CompuCom, Vice President of Services for Extensys, Inc., and Vice President of Technology/CIO of Hillsborough Community College. He currently holds a CISSP and CySA+ certification and is a former CISO.

FSUMLISAlumnusJoshBolickCocreatedOpenAccessBookScholarly CommunicationLibrarianshipand OpenKnowledge

The open access book Scholarly Communication Librarianship and Open Knowledge co-created by alumnus Josh Bolick (MLIS ‘13) was published by the Association of College and Research Libraries. After graduating, Bolick worked as a scholarly communication assistant at FSU Libraries before joining University of Kansas Libraries where he currently works as Head of the David Shulenburger Office of Scholarly Communication & Copyright.

CCIAlumnaKhelseaRantanen LandedNewPosition

iSchool alumna Khelsea Rantanen (MLIS ’15) has landed a new position as Head of Reference and Information Services at the Bay County Public Library in Panama City, Florida. In this new role, Rantanen is responsible for providing direction and support to collection development librarians who are responsible for adult collections spanning fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and audiovisual materials for seven branches in three counties.

iSchoolAlumnaElectedFSUFacultySenatePresident

CCI congratulates alumna Bridgett Birmingham (M.S. ‘04) on her election as FSU’s Faculty Senate President. Birmingham has been a part of the FSU faculty since 2004 and has served as a faculty senator since 2012. She has also served on the University’s Enrollment Management Committee for ten years, the Strategic Planning Committee since 2015, the Honors Program Policy Committee for five years, and the Faculty Senate Steering Committee since 2014. Birmingham also serves as on the Florida State University Board of Trustees.

Student Leadership Council

The CCI Student Leadership Council (SLC) meets monthly with the Dean of CCI to discuss student affairs and what is going on within the College from a student's perspective, as well as hosting events around the College, promoting student involvement, and gaining professional experience!

Betsy.Crawford@cci.fsu.edu

Betsy.Crawford@cci.fsu.edu

Recent CCI graduate?

Stay connected!

Sign up for the end-of-semester alumni newsletter, Connection. Fill out the Alumni Keep in Touch form by following the steps after scanning the QR code to the right. If you're looking to join CCI for a master's or doctoral degree, please reach out to Betsy Crawford at Betsy.Crawford@cci.fsu.edu for more information.

Want to find more ways to get involved with CCI?

Visit our Get Involved website to see all of the 22 student organizations in CCI!