Spring 2026 36 th Edition
THE CONNECTOR
Student Newsletter
a letter from the editors
We are pleased to present the Spring 2026 edition of The Connector, the College of Communication and Information’s student newsletter. This semester, we highlight the achievements of our students across the FSU Health initiative and beyond, whether excelling as researchers and community advocates or making meaningful contributions on campus and in their communities. We are proud to showcase their accomplishments and hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as we enjoyed sharing them.
Chloe Schwipper Isabelle Krukoski Mya Bray Nicole Frossard-Reis. Olivia Bovinette Nicole Rodriguez
Table of Contents College Happenings & Events
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College of Communication and Information News 5 School of Communication
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School of Information
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School of Communication Science and Disorders 17 Ways to get Involved with CCI
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COLLEGE HAPPENINGS & EVENTS
The Dean’s Spring 2026 Welcome Back Event with Donuts
The 2026 President’s Ice Cream Social
Audiology students at the 2026 SCSD Research Rounds Mini-Conference
CCI students present at the 2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium
CCI hosts the 2026 Headshot Event
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COLLEGE HAPPENINGS & EVENTS
CCI Staff and Faculty Appreciation Day 2026
Distinguished Alumni and Dean’s Laureates Luncheon 2026
Student and Alumni Mixer Spring 2026
Students present at ITS RISE 2026
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COLLEGE HAPPENINGS & EVENTS
The Arrowhead Advertising team at Honors and Awards 2026
Building Resilient Communities Forum 2026
Spring Commencement 2026
CCI Students Recognized at Leadership Awards Night
FSU and FAMU Students Collaborate in Interprofessional Education Event
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COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION NEWS Students Represent FSU’s NRHH at 2025 Regional Leadership Conference Three College of Communication and Information (CCI) students represented the University’s National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) chapter at the 2025 Regional Leadership Conference, an annual event hosted by the South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls. The conference took place in Greensboro, North Carolina, from Nov. 21 through Nov. 23, and brought student leaders together from across the South Atlantic region for a weekend of leadership development and networking. The Florida State University (FSU) delegation included Tanushree Dhage (IT) NRHH vice president of leadership and service; Damien King (ICT), NRHH president; and LeKayla Griffin (MCS), who attended as a general member delegate. Students participated in sessions on leadership development, effective communication, and organizational growth.
FSU School of Information Secures Elite Top 10 Spot in 2026 National Rankings FSU’s School of Information (iSchool) continues to secure its reputation as a national and international leader in digital education, as the school earns national recognition for its online graduate programs in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings. Leading the charge for CCI, the online Master’s program in Information Technology secured the No. 8 spot overall in the United States. When measured against other public institutions, the program climbed even higher, ranking No. 5 in the nation.
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COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION NEWS CCI Students Present at the 26th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium On April 1, students showcased months of work and research at the 26th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. CCI students Saheli Brennan and Da’Mya Bray (pictured right), presented their work, making points on how research can be based on more than STEM, as one can learn about history, english or any subject they are passionate about. Together, their projects showcased the diverse ways CCI students use research to better understand people, communities, and the world around them.
CCI Undergraduates Present Research at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference CCI students Jad Dargam (pictured left) and AngelAmon presented their research at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference in Jacksonville. Their topics ranged from the digital ethics of the Metaverse to the representation of Black-Canadian hip-hop artists. Both researchers credited their mentors who helped make their research possible. Jad and Angel’s goal is simple: to step outside the “academic bubble” to see how their work impacts the real world.
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COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION NEWS 2026 FSU Seminole 100 CCI Honorees Seminole 100 is an annual celebration that honors the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by Florida State alumni. On Feb. 21, five CCI alumni were recognized at this year’s celebration. These individuals have made significant contributions within their careers and continue to lead successful businesses.
CCI Students, Faculty, and Organization Recognized at 2026 Leadership Awards FSU held its 2026 Leadership Awards Night on April 7, recognizing students, faculty, and organizations demonstrating exceptional leadership through service, achievement, and campus involvement. Hosted by the Office of Student Organizations and Involvement, the event honored several members of the College of Communication & Information (CCI) across multiple categories. Award recipients included Akansha Kharkwal, Alyson Mizanin, Mylah Tate, Snailey Dol, Yasamin Khosh, and Ebrahim Randeree, along with STARS Alliance at FSU as Organization of the Year.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION FPRA Capital Chapter Travels to New York City for Networking Trip The Florida Public Relations Association Capital Chapter hosted its networking trip in New York City, where 15 students visited multiple agencies and connected with professionals already in practice. These agencies include Madison Square Garden, Mbooth, MULTIPLY, J Public Relations, Paramount, Edelman, and FleishmanHillard. While on the trip, students were able to meet with alumni Katharina Muehlbauer from Mbooth, Savannah Gribbin from MULTIPLY, and Shannon McLellen.
Digital Media Production Advanced Feature Students Highlight Day at the Capitol Students in CCI’s Advanced Feature course recently took their skills outside of the classroom and to the Florida Capitol, producing a short video feature on FSU’s Day at the Capitol on January 21. The course, taught by Digital Media Services Director Jim Garbarino on the production side, and University Communications Editor Tim Fordyce on the reporting side, allows students to pitch story ideas, collaborate, film on location, and edit features under deadlines.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION School of Communication Launches Inaugural Advisory Council SCOM launched its inaugural advisory council, made up of alumni and industry leaders helping shape the future of the school. The council will guide curriculum, industry trends, emerging technologies, and student opportunities, building connections between the classroom and professional practice.
School of Communication Professor Leads FSU Speech and Debate Team to Win State, National, and International Championships SCOM professor Avery Henry led the FSU Speech and Debate Team to an exceptional season, earning championships and top finishes at the state, national, and international levels. The team's success included multiple individual honors, sweepstakes titles, and an international championship, showcasing FSU’s excellence in competitive speech and debate.
School of Communication Professors and PhD Student Research Graduate Readiness in Public Relations SCOM professors Dr. Richard Waters and Dr. Elizabeth Ray, and PhD student, Eldaneka Rolle (pictured right), conducted research exploring how graduate programs in public relations can better prepare students for success in the professional public relations industry. Their study, “Shaping Future Professionals”, Industry Perspectives on Graduate Internships” was published in the Journal of Public Relations Education.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION SCOM Alumna Jessie Watson Receives MAC Award Celebrating the FSU Credit Union’s Rebrand to Champions First Credit Union
SCOM Alumnus Plays Significant Role in iGem Gold Medal Wins
SCOM alumna Jessie Watson has been awarded the Marketing Association of Credit Unions (MAC) Award, recognizing her role in the successful rebranding of FSU Credit Union to Champions First Credit Union. Watson, who serves as AVP of Marketing and Member Experience, helped lead a multi-year brand transformation designed to better reflect the credit union’s expanded membership and mission of “people helping people.” The award honors excellence in marketing strategy, creativity, and impact within the credit union industry.
SCOM Alumnus Aidan Marengo served as the Visual Arts Lead for the FSU international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGem) team, which won a gold medal for the second year in a row at the iGEM Grand Jamboree, held from Oct. 28-31, 2025 at the Paris Convention Centre. The iGEM Grand Jamboree is an international synthetic biology competition and conference where student teams present innovative research projects addressing real-world challenges through genetic engineering.He created a twominute promotional video and a 15-minute video presentation that told the story of their research, which was on microplastics, with a focus on genetically engineering E. coli to prevent its absorption in the small intestine.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION School of Communication Arrowhead Advertising Team Earns “Best Research” at AAF District 4 Competition SCOM’s Arrowhead Advertising Team earned the “Best Research” award at the American Advertising Federation District 4 Competition for its campaign, “Embrace the Play”, for the National Football League. Recognized for the district’s highestscoring Plans Book, the team’s success highlighted exceptional research, strategic planning, and collaboration. The team also credited CCI coursework for helping prepare them for the competition.
CCI Dean Michelle Kazmer Hosts the 2026 Distinguished Alumni & Dean’s Laureates Luncheon CCI celebrated the 2026 Distinguished Alumni and Dean’s Laureates luncheon. The event honored alumni and friends of the college including: Distinguished Alumni Dr. Dania Bilal, Dr. Cindy McGovern, Dr. Mary Gorham-Rowan, and Dean’s Laureates Pablo Correa, Kaki Pope, Natalie Woods, and the late Kimberly Amos-Tata.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION Digital Media Production Graduates Set to Film Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Research Recent Digital Media Production graduates Destiny Lewis (pictured right) and Aidan Marengo will join researchers from the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab to produce a documentary film on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and its lasting effects on shark, ray, and bony fish populations. The team will travel with scientists in the Gulf of America to document their expedition and research findings in real time. Lewis, who graduated in December 2025, brings multimedia journalism experience, while Marengo applies his filmmaking background to this unique marine science setting. Together, they aim to highlight environmental impact and scientific discovery.
SCOM Alumna Lindsay Lovins Named Among Tallahassee’s Future 5 Honorees SCOM alumna Lindsay Lovins was recently named one of Tallahassee’s Future 5 Honorees, which recognizes emerging leaders making a meaningful impact in the community. A 2015 graduate in Media and Communication Studies, Lovins earned this honor for her work as Director of Operations at NewBridge Living, a family-run organization providing affordable, supportive housing for individuals recovering from substance abuse, experiencing homelessness, or rebuilding after incarceration. She has helped expand access to stable housing in Tallahassee.
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SCHOOL OF INFORMATION iSchool Student and Faculty Member Research Opioid Crisis and Internalized Stigma iSchool Professor Margaret Sullivan and graduate student Jonah Hancock (pictured right) researched how society understands the opioid crisis through their study of internalized stigma. The study explored the stigma cycle that prevents individuals from accessing vital health information. Hancock was motivated after losing friends to addiction, aiming to produce research that ensures fewer people will be affected by addiction. Their journal article focuses on the devastating impact of internalized stigma among users in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.
iSchool Alumna Lenese Colson Named Department Head at Valdosta State iSchool alumna Dr. Lenese M. Colson has been named the Head of the Department of Library and Information Studies at Valdosta State University (VSU). Colson previously served as interim department head and is still an associate professor at VSU. A graduate of FSU, Colson credits her time at the University as a large part of her professional development.
Cybersecurity Conference Provides Students with Industry Insights iSchool students gained firsthand exposure to emerging cybersecurity challenges and industry trends during the CyberBay 2026 Conference in Tampa. The conference brought together industry leaders from government, academia, and the private sector to explore cybersecurity, with artificial intelligence (AI) taking center stage. These students gained aN understanding of current industry threats and what skills are needed to address them.
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SCHOOL OF INFORMATION iSchool Doctoral Students and Faculty Team Explore AI Use in Healthcare at KCHC On April 2–4, iSchool doctoral student Yuanying Pang represented her research team at the Kentucky Conference on Health Communication (KCHC), where their poster, “Understanding How People Use Generative AI for Health: Insights from Reddit Posts,” was recognized as a Top Six poster and received Honorable Mention. Working alongside fellow doctoral students Lovinta Atrinawati and Ruoyu Li under the guidance of Drs. Mia Lustria and Zhe He, the team analyzed Reddit discussions to better understand how people use generative AI for health information. Their findings highlighted the benefits and challenges of AI-driven health communication, including accessibility, personalized support, trustworthiness, and misinformation concerns.
iSchool Doctoral Students and Faculty Highlight AI Research at 2026 SAIS Conference Four researchers from the iSchool represented FSU at the Southern Association for Information Systems (SAIS) 2026 Annual Conference, presenting research on generative AI, privacy, human-computer interaction, and machine learning. Dr. Subhasree Sengupta and doctoral students Yue Liu, Ghazal Hussain (pictured right), and Odirile Moja shared four papers examining responsible AI use and emerging technologies. The team’s work highlighted FSU’s growing impact in information systems research, while a paper from the iSchool’s Machine Learning Lab earned the conference’s Best Themed Paper Award for its findings on synthetic data and computer vision training.
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SCHOOL OF INFORMATION iSchool Doctoral Student Presents Research on Deepfake Misinformation in Edinburgh iSchool doctoral student Yue Liu presented her research on deepfakes and digital literacy at the iConference 2026, an international gathering of information science scholars. The conference, hosted by Edinburgh Napier University, held a virtual program from March 23-26 and an in-person session in Edinburgh, Scotland, from March 29-April 2. Her research explores how information priming supports cognition and behavior amid AI-generated deepfakes and misinformation.
Innovation Hub Researchers Present at Visual Resources Association Annual Conference Innovation Hub iSchool researcher Craig Moore and Anne’s College PhD student Jackson Anderson presented on virtual reality at the Visual Resources Association Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, in October. The presentation, “Lessons Learned from Developing A VR Lab at Florida State University,” focused on research from the Gail Rubini New Media Design Lab over the past three years.
iSchool PhD Student Shares Research at LISA Conference in Chile Rajesh Das, an iSchool PhD student, attended the 10th Library & Information Services in Astronomy (LISA) conference in Santiago, Chile. This conference held several international scientific meetings for librarians, data specialists, and astronomers to discuss how to retrieve, preserve, and access different astronomical information.
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SCHOOL OF INFORMATION iSchool Paper Accepted to AMCIS 2025 iSchool doctoral students Rasleen Kaur and Ghazal Manzoor Hussain (pictured left), along with Dr. Shuyuan Mary Ho, had their paper accepted to the 2025 Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS). The paper, “Leveraging Business-IT Alignment: Effective Design and Challenges of the IT Business Partner Role,” focuses on how organizations can design an IT business partner role and how to navigate that role in times of crisis.
iSchool Alumnus Launches Orphiq, a New AI Business for the Music Industry iSchool alumnus Juan Camilo Sanchez, along with cofounders, recently launched Orphiq, an AI productivity platform for music artists. “Music artists today have to be their own content creators, marketing managers, labels, and publishers. I told myself there had to be a better way for them to build sustainable careers,” said Sanchez, whose goals also include helping artists avoid burnout.
Reverse Mentoring: CCI Student Leaders Shape the Future of AI in Florida Schools The Florida IB League of Schools (FLIBS) had students teach faculty about the implications of AI as a learning tool. The full-day event was spearheaded by Michele Lackovic, an AI expert, teacher for 25+ years, and leading educator and curriculum designer. Student leaders from the FSU ThinkAI Association sat side-byside with over 130 veteran educators to bridge the gap between classroom theory and digital reality.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCE & DISORDERS SCSD Students, Faculty, and Alumni Present at 2026 SCSD Research Rounds MiniConference The School of Communication Science and Disorders (SCSD) and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) hosted the 2026 SCSD Research Rounds Mini-Conference on March 27. Students and faculty showcased poster projects and research that aim to improve the lives of those with communication disorders.
SCSD Faculty and Students Present Research at Centennial ASHA Convention SCSD’s Drs. Shannon Hall-Mills (pictured right) and Mollie Romano presented their research at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention on Nov. 20-23, 2025. The event celebrated the association’s centennial birthday and served as a platform for sharing findings on literacy, language disorders, and clinical implementation.
SCSD’s Impact on Deaf Communities SCSD’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL Educational Outreach Program empowers families of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children through accessible American Sign Language instruction, community engagement, and family support. By fostering early language access and meaningful communication, the program strengthens connections, promotes inclusion, and supports lifelong developmental success.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCE AND DISORDERS FSU Audiology Program Bring Record Number of Students on Guatemala Service Trip
SCSD Students Awarded Irene Phillips Backus Scholarship Endowment Attend Nationwide Conferences
A record number of students from FSU traveled to Guatemala from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7 during the “Help Guatemala Hear” service trip, the largest team in the trip’s history. The group included 14 undergraduate students, three graduate students, and one undergraduate student in communication sciences and disorders from Valdosta State University. Students also completed more than 250 hours of training to prepare for the clinical work they would face abroad.
Multiple SCSD students received funding from the Irene Phillips Backus Scholarship to fund their research endeavors at an array of national conferences this past year. From Washington, D.C. to San Diego, the endowment helped bridge the gap between these scholars’ academic findings and professional practice. Two students, SCSD PhD student Alexis Moser and SCSD master’s student Fran Baehman, attended the 2025 Annual Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Washington, D.C. Moser’s presentation focused on a holistic approach to assessing children with speech sound disorders. Baehman’s presentation was titled “The BabyTok Project 3.0: A Preventive, Social-media Based Intervention for Caregivers of Young Infants.”
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCE AND DISORDERS FSU and FAMU Partner to Advance Interprofessional Education for FirstYear Graduate Students
SCSD Scholars to Publish Study on AI Use Among CSD Students SCSD doctoral scholar Holden Allen and undergraduate scholar Hannah Figueras are helping drive the conversation around AI in the field of Communication Science and Disorders (CSD) through newly published research on how students perceive and use. Allen and Figueras co-authored the manuscript “Opening Pandora’s Box: Perceptions and Usage of AI by Undergraduate and Graduate CSD Students,” which was recently accepted for publication in Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal that features a variety of article types and covers many CSD subject areas. The article reports findings from a nationwide survey of 224 CSD students and explores both the promise and uncertainty surrounding AI’s growing role in academic and clinical preparation. The project was under the mentorship of Dr. Michelle Therrien and SCSD Director Dr. Carla Wood.
Hosted by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), first-year graduate students in the Tallahassee residential program took part in an interprofessional education (IPE) event. The program stems from a six-year partnership between SCSD and FAMU’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Faciliatating and organizing the event was clinical faculty instructor and speech-language pathologist Ellen Nimmons, clinical instructor and speechlanguage pathologist Becky Greenhill, clinical audiologist and professor Catherine Johnson, and Kimberly Johnson.
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SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCE AND DISORDERS SCSD Doctoral Student Examines How Children Demonstrate Morphological Knowledge in Writing SCSD doctoral student Ashley Ippolito had her manuscript, “Children’s written morphology skills demonstrated in third grade narrative responses,” published in Reading and Writing Quarterly: Overcoming Learning Difficulties, a peer-reviewed journal focused on literacy education from preschool through 12th grade. The journal publishes research aimed at improving reading and writing instruction for students who experience learning difficulties and are considered at risk. Its scope includes the causes, prevention, evaluation, and remediation of literacy challenges in both general and special education settings.
SCSD Student Shares Passion for SpeechLanguage Pathology in Hometown of Sint. Maarten In Sint Maarten, where access to speech-language pathology is a rarity, Yuvane Arjune is working to change the status quo. As a student in SCSD’s program, she is leveraging her education in Florida to meet the critical needs of her hometown, with a professional vision firmly set on returning home to transform the island’s healthcare landscape. “My drive to become a speech-language pathologist is rooted in my desire to serve the people of Sint Maarten and to bring greater awareness to the field,” Arjune said. “I want them to know that this field exists, that it is meaningful, and that they, too, can pursue it.”
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WAYS TO GET INVOLVED WITH CCI Connect with us on socials!
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 in the College from a student's perspective. The SLC hosts events with the College, promotes student involvement, and helps students gain professional experience!
To learn more and get involved, contact: Betsy Crawford Betsy.Crawford@cci.fsu.edu
Graduated from CCI? Stay connected!
@FSU_CCI @CCIFSU @FSU_CCI @FSUCCI FSU College of Communication & Information
@FSUCCI
Learn how to get involved by following Get Involved FSU on Instagram
Sign up for the end-of-semester alumni newsletter, Connection. Fill out the Alumni Keep in Touch form by scanning the QR code to the right and follow the steps. 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 get more involved with CCI?
Visit our Get Involved website to see all 22 CCI student organizations!
Scan the QR code and visit the page to learn about current FSU and CCI events, updates, and experiences
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