LYNX 2023

FROM PUBLIC SPEAKING

TO LEADERSHIP

Communication majors develop skills for success in multigenerational workforce

Pages 6-7

Table of Contents

New faculty join department, page 5

Forensics is back at GCSU, pages 12-13

Unique lodging available in Milledgeville, pages 18-19

Career Center provides services to alumni, page 22

CONTRIBUTORS

Hayden Flinn

Jenna Hanley

Paul O’Neill

Ty Peavy

FACULTY ADVISOR

Professor Christina Smith

LYNX is published annually by the Department of Communication.

Email story ideas, corrections and personal/professional milestone tips to Professor Christina Smith at christina.smith1@gcsu.edu or call 478-445-8267.

Content and opinions expressed are those of the contributors and do not represent the official positions of Georgia College & State University or the Dept. of Communication.

CONTACT US

LYNX

c/o Dr. Christina Smith

Box #32

Department of Communication

Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, GA 31061

ON THE COVER

Jennifer Martin, co-executive producer, and Jaylon Brooks, anchor, work on the set of GC360, Georgia College & State University’s student-run weekly newscast. Photo by current MSCM student Emily Smith.

FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you for reading our alumni magazine. This magazine is really for you – the alumni and friends of our department. If you haven’t read the first two issues of our magazine, you’ll find them at: https://issuu.com/gcdepartmentofcommunication/docs/2021_lynx_online (2021) and https://cutt.ly/zP1BY9b (2022).

This magazine wouldn’t be possible but for the vision and hard work of Professor Christina Smith and her enterprise journalism students. If you love the work of this magazine as much as I do, drop her a note or email and let her know (christina.smith1@gcsu.edu).

Since I’ve last written, we’ve had several reasons to celebrate. We’ve had a couple of new babies born to department faculty and three new department professors have joined us: Nathan Bedsole, Colin Whitworth and Molly Wilkins. This spring, we’re searching for new colleagues on the mass communication side of the department in digital production and writing.

We’re also increasing our outreach to area high schools in the hope that new Bobcats will join us. We’ve already had several local high schools visit us. If you know of prospective future Bobcats, let us know.

I happened to be in a session earlier this year led by Professor Harold Mock, who directs the campus leadership programs, and he noted the university is a place where the past and future meet. That’s something I’ve also been thinking about.

The liberal arts lives in the present, learns from the past and prepares for the future, all simultaneously. And we especially feel this tug between the past, present and future within the communication discipline. Some of my thinking has been influenced by Tom Standage, deputy editor of The Economist. He wrote two books that I’ve used in the past: “The Victorian Internet” and “Writing on the Wall: Social Media – The First Two-Thousand Years.” I highly recommend them. Don’t worry – they don’t read like textbooks. Standage’s argument is the telegraph, the scroll and many other “primitive” forms of communication are the basis for social media and other media of today.

In the communication discipline, we’re constantly adapting what we’ve learned from our past and using what we’re observing to help us better prepare for the future. It’s not always easy to do. I thought about writing something about Twitter, but realized it would likely be well out-of-date by the time this LYNX issue is published. No matter what ends up happening with Twitter, the conversations about social media and its role in journalism, interpersonal communication, political communication and other aspects of our discipline will continue.

CORRECTION: The spring 2022 issue of LYNX incorrectly spelled Angelina Cebrián’s name.

We want to help all of our students – past, present and future – by continually thinking about how the study of communication prepares one for a variety of life possibilities. I strongly believe both the past and present are necessary to help us better navigate our futures. It’s for this reason, dear alumni, that we need your help. One of my goals over the next year is to learn more from you – whether it be virtual, in-person or through surveys we’ll be sending on how you’ve applied what you’ve learned to your present as well as what lessons you’ve learned that we can impart to our current and future students. We covet your help, and we thank those of you who’ve shared with our students about the kinds of positions you have as well as how you’ve used what you’ve learned. We’d love to hear from more of you so we know how we can better help the next generation of Bobcats.

Michael Dreher Professor of Rhetoric and Chair, Department of Communication

Happy Birthday, Thunder!

FACULTY & STAFF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION

Adminisitrative Faculty and Staff

Michael Dreher, Ph.D. Chair/Professor

Evelina Galova-lossifov Media Lab Coordinator Advisor to WGUR 95.3

Amanda Williams Advisor, MSCM

Q&A WITH NEW FACULTY

By Hayden Flinn

NATHAN BEDSOLE COLIN WHITWORTH MOLLY WILKINS

1. What brought you to Georgia College & State University?

1. What brought you to Georgia College & State University?

1. What brought you to Georgia College & State University?

Rhetoric Faculty

Janice Pillay Advisor, RHET and MSCM

Vonya Miller Advisor, MSCM

Makhalath Fahiym Advisor, MSCM

Mass Communication Faculty

Bill Burke

Lecturer

Advisor to The Colonnade and Bobcat Multimedia Network

Nah Ray Han, Ph.D. Assistant Professor

Molly Wilkins

Lecturer

Amanda Respess Senior Lecturer

Scott Dillard, Ph.D. Professor RHET Coordinator

Janet Hoffmann, Ph.D. Professor

Nathan Bedsole, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Advisor to Forensics Team

Christina Smith, Ph.D. Associate Professor MSCM Coordinator Internship Coordinator

Chad Whittle, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Advisor to Podcasting Club

Michael Crews, M.F.A. Assistant Professor Advisor to Bobcat Media Productions

Colin Whitworth, Ph.D. Lecturer

Michael Dreher, Ph.D. Professor

Jamie Downing, Ph.D. Associate Professor Advisor to Lambda Pi Eta

Mikkel Christensen, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Advisor to PRSSA

Angela Criscoe, M.F.A. Excecutive Director, School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Mary Jean Land, Ph.D. Emeritus Faculty

Ginger Carter-Miller, Ph.D. Emeritus Faculty

I came to Georgia College to join the faculty in the Department of Communication and to direct the new Forensics (Speech & Debate) team. I love beautiful, historic architecture and the student-focused instruction of our liberal arts campus. Georgia College is a special place, and I consider myself unbelievably fortunate to work here.

2. What are you teaching?

I teach courses in the RHET program in the Department of Communication, including but not limited to public speaking, senior capstone, American public discourse and informative speaking.

3. List a fun fact about you. I have an identical twin brother.

4. If you could teach one class that’s not offered at GCSU, what would it be?

I think an upper-division “philosophy & rhetoric” course would be great fun for our majors, and I think a GC1Y on “the art of argumentation” would be tremendously fun and useful for our incoming students.

5. Favorite college mascot? Thunder. Paws up, baby.

I really love the area and the colleagues. I’m coming (most recently) from teaching at The University of South Florida in Tampa. When I visited Milledgeville, I was really excited that it didn’t take me 20 minutes to get everywhere. I’m originally from a small town in North Alabama, so this is much more my speed!

2. What are you teaching?

I teach a rotation of courses in the rhetoric major/minor that include some of our performance studies courses, small group communication and some of our GC1Y courses.

3. List a fun fact about you. Most of my students probably know this, but I was a marching band kid. I got to go to several national championship games while a student at Alabama, and I marched in two different sections (drumline and alto sax).

4. If you could teach one class that’s not offered at GCSU, what would it be?

Right now, I would really like a class housed in communication and performance where I would work collaboratively with my students to write, direct and stage a full-length performance around a theme

5. Favorite college mascot? Big Al. Roll tide.

I am from the Middle Georgia area, so it was a natural fit to come to GCSU. I was lucky enough that a position opened up, and I went for it.

2. What are you teaching?

I am teaching professional media writing, writing for advertising & PR, PR, PR planning and branding for digital media.

3. List a fun fact about you. I’m a licensed yoga teacher and am exploring ministry work. There’s not a whole lot that others don’t know about me. I’m an open book and have a decent social media following, so I tend to put it all out there.

4. If you could teach one class that’s not offered at GCSU, what would it be?

We teach a theory class here, but I’d love to teach a more specific media theory class.

5. Favorite college mascot?

I should say the Bobcat; however, I will be starting a Ph.D. program at UGA in the Fall so I’ll have to say Georgia’s Uga.

STUDENT MEDIA

Experiential learning outside of the classroom

By Paul O’Neill

What headline will make someone click on this story?

Are we allowed to cover this story?

Who could we interview for this story?

Can we tell this story across platforms?

These are some of the questions asked during The Colonnade’s pitch meetings. During the semester, at 5 p.m. on on most Thursdays, nearly 50 reporters, photographers and editors gather in Terrell 310 of Georgia College & State University’s Terrell Hall and discuss upcoming stories for publication.

The Colonnade is one of several student media organizations housed in Terrell Hall. Under the guidance of the Department of Communication faculty and staff, students engage in experiential learning through student-run media organizations, including a podcasting club, a radio station and a film club. Through these organizations, students learn real-world skills like time management and technology to prepare them for their future careers.

Like most other media organizations, the department has slowly transitioned to contemporary media production practices, including thinking about shared media resources as well as being “digital first.” Today, followers of GCSU’s student media have a one-stop shop for their favorite programming – www.bobcatmultimedia.com.

Bobcat Multimedia

Bobcat Multimedia is a relatively new student organization designed to build more collaboration and unity between GC360, The Colonnade and WGUR 95.3 FM. The organization offers an online, unified forum for communication majors and other media volunteers to showcase their creative and journalistic works.

Lecturer and advisor to The Colonnade and Bobcat Multimedia Bill Burke said despite today’s relatively easy flow in the organization, the birth of Bobcat Multimedia was not an easy task

“In the beginning, (department faculty and staff) met resistance from the students, obviously, because some of them felt we were talking the individuality away from the student organizations, which is not the case, “said Burke, the department’s newly named director of student media.

Burke added, the ultimate goal of student media organizations is to prepare students for their careers.

“With Bobcat Multimedia, we are trying to create a space where students can practice multimedia journalism because that is where the industry is going. If (the student news organizations) were to stay the way they were, then we were not doing justice for students and preparing them for the real world,” said Burke.

Katie Futch, editor-in-chief of The Colonnade and General Manager of Bobcat Multimedia, said the organization is designed to create synergy between media organizations.

“Bobcat Multimedia serves as an umbrella organization. So, basically, all the student media organizations should be working together to cover as many aspects of news in Milledgeville and on Georgia College’s campus as possible,” she said.

WGUR 95.3

This semester, GC’s student-run radio station, WGUR 95.3, will enter its 48th year of radio. Additionally, students also hosted the music festival “Sounds of the South” as well as Couch Concerts.

“Whether (musicians) are from Milledgeville, Athens, Madison or whatever, if they’re willing to come to Milled-

geville, we get them into the basement (for the Couch Concert). We set them up and then we record them. After that, we put (the concert) on YouTube and on-air,” said Eva Galova-lossifov, WGUR advisor.

“Sounds of the South,” held in early March, featured 18 different bands from Georgia performing in Milledgeville’s downtown restaurants. This is the first year since 2012 the festival has been held.

“(The festival) was thrown into the trash, and we decided it was too good to let go. So, we revived it, and we took care of it,” said Galova-Iossifov. “It is part of what we do even though it has its own branding and name; however, nobody except us does anything with it.”

Davis Forney, videographer for WGUR, is thankful for his time with WGUR. Running a student organization isn’t easy, he said, especially when managing everyone’s conflicting schedules. To Davis, the chaos prepares students for the real world.

“Sure, you get some of this training in a classroom but most of it comes from actually being on air or behind the camera. But that’s what jobs like this are for – to teach us and prepare us for the real world,” said Forney.

To listen to WGUR 95.3, visit gcsuradio.com.

The Colonnade

Over the last year, The Colon nade has transitioned to having a stronger online presence to generate a broader audience. The ultimate goal of this transition, said Futch, is to better prepare students for the communication industry’s digital era.

In fall 2022, Colonnade executives opted to halt the newspaper’s print product, which was available on campus and in downtown Milledgeville. Futch said the removal of the print product has allowed staff members

to focus more energy on recruiting more staff and amping up the digital projects.

“We’re definitely growing as an editorial board; we have 15 people this year (on the editorial board). Also, I mean, our first pitch meeting, we had around 35 people there, which is huge,” said Futch.

The transition to digital-first, Futch added, has been a group effort.

“This year, our board has been purposeful in building relationships with each other, which is awesome because when you work with your friends it’s more fun. We hang out outside of work, the board took a trip to Washington D.C. in the fall semester and we’re going to New York City this semester,” she said.

To read more about The Colonnade, visit https://bobcatmultimedia.com/the-colonnade-page/.

Other media

In addition to Bobcat Multimedia, WGUR and The Colonnade, the department also offers students volunteer and practicum credit with the following student organizations:

• GC360, advisor Professor Bill Burke

• The Podcasting Club, advisor Professor Chad Whittle

• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), advisor Professor Mikkel Christensen

• Bobcat Media Productions, advisor Professor Mike Crews

• Lambda Pi Eta Communications Honors Society, advisor Professor Jamie Downing Jaylon Brooks, anchor for GC360, said he plans to use the skills he acquired during his time with the TV news organization.

“If you want to go into videography, movies or news, this is the organization you need to be with. That’s why I’m in it, its practice for what I actually want to do: reporting,” said Brooks. What’s next for GCSU’s student media?

Despite the continuous work to maintain student media, there are constant discussions about the organizations’ futures. Galova-Iossifov, WGUR advisor, said because of COVID-19’s impact on higher education, specifically financial impacts, student media organizations have experienced budget cuts.

She said despite the help the organizations receive from the university, the student media organizations could always use more money to expand services.

If you would like to financially contribute to student media efforts, contact Michael Dreher, department chair, at michael.dreher@gcsu.edu or 478-445-8261.

Photos by Paul O’Neill

QUEST FOR THE PERFECT JOB

By Paul O’Neill

Alanna Gardner is finally content with her communication career – an emotion that hasn’t always been there. Gardner, now a public relations and brand strategist with Carbonate in Atlanta, graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication with a minor in rhetoric. Years as a Bobcat

Gardner, an Atlanta native, began her college career at GCSU in 2011. She said she always knew she had a love for public relations and advertising, and her early interest in PR was inspired by the MTV reality TV show “PoweR Girl,” a series focused on the life of young publicists working in New York City.

During her GCSU years, Gardner was involved in giving campus tours, representing the school as a GC Ambassador and serving as president of her sorority, Kappa Delta.

Gardner said her favorite part about GCSU was being part of the mass communication family, specifically the PR and advertising program. The PR and advertising program was small at the time, Gardner said, which allowed her to share a sense of community with her instructors and classmates.

“You take all your classes with these people; you spend nights with them doing projects. It just felt like you were really a part of something special,” Gardner said. Her favorite classes were in advertising, she said.

“I’m still super close with (Amanda) Respess. Her classes were my favorite. She was an ad nerd like me,”

Gardner said.

Life in the Real World

After graduating in 2015, Gardner said she worked at Green Olive Media in Atlanta as a public relations intern for six months.

Following her internship, Gardner worked for county music star Zac Brown and the Zac Brown Band. Gardner said she learned a lot about the music industry because her job granted her diversity in work from graphic design on tour posters to helping the Zac Brown non-profit organization, Camp Southern Ground.

After about two years with the Zac Brown Band, Gardner moved on to work with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta as a public relations coordinator. Much of her work there, she said, ranged from telling the stories of patients

“I think sometimes people get scared to switch industries, but it’s the same job no matter where you are.”

-Alanna Gardner

GARDNER continued on page 27

Photos submitted

Design by Paul O’Neill

Photos submitted

By Ty Peavy

Georgia College & State University has a storied history of preparing students for on-campus success and beyond. Christopher Adamczyk is a perfect example of this.

Adamczyk, an Atlanta native, graduated from GC in the spring of 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric. He now is an assistant professor in the Department of English at Farmingdale State College in New York. His path to teaching, though, was not always straightforward.

Adamczyk, who earned a master’s degree in speech communication and rhetoric at Texas Tech University and a doctoral degree in communication and rhetoric at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, said he was drawn to rhetoric because he loved speeches, and when he was researching college rhetoric programs, GCSU was the first one he found. He graduated from college right after the economic crash of 2008, so finding a job was extremely difficult; however, he said, he managed to keep persevering and finding jobs despite the challenge.

“There was nothing,” Adamczyk remembered. “My classmates and I always thought we would just finish college and get a job, but there was nothing.”

Eventually, Adamczyk found a job doing demolition work for a couple of weeks before transitioning into working for the Democratic Party of Georgia – helping with fundraising. Fast forward a few years, Adamczyk eventually ended up at Farmingdale State College as a rhetoric professor.

Adamczyk said there is irony in the fact that he is now a professor.

“I never saw myself going back to school after I graduated college,” said Adamczyk, “but I discovered I loved learning and having thought-provoking discussions, so going back to teach was right for me.”

Adamczyk now teaches rhetoric, public speaking, advanced speaking and science fiction at Farmingdale, which is located about an hour away from New York City. He said he has a profound appreciation for

FROM STUDENT TO PROFESSOR

speeches and language, so he was drawn to the art of public speaking.

He said GCSU helped prepare him well for a career in higher education because of the rhetoric program’s culture and faculty.

“Whenever my colleagues and I are trying to decide programs or what to teach here, I always think back to GC,” said Adamczyk. “It was such a wonderful program, and it taught me to communicate well and make my voice heard.”

Adamczyk said he is content at Farmingdale and plans on retiring as a teacher. If he were to change careers, though, he said, it would

be a transition to a government position because it would allow him to remain connected to public speaking and speeches.

His advice to current rhetoric majors is to take advantage of the resources available to them in college because they will likely miss them later on.

“You are never going to have access to those resources again,” he said. “It will be silly little things such as the library’s resources that you never really realized how important they are until you do not have access anymore.”

Rhetoric alumni continues to succeed in the classroom

Source: Shmoop Design by Ty Peavy

FORENSICS RETURNS TO GEORGIA COLLEGE

By Hayden Flinn

Forensics is back at Georgia College & State University.

The Department of Communication program’s new(er) program is considered a co-curricular, meaning it is a competitive speech and debate team.

“Forensics is kind of a misnomer because a lot of people think about science or the TV show ‘Forensic Files,’ but forensics in this context means intercollegiate competitive public speaking,” said Rhetoric Professor Nathan Bedsole, director of GCSU Forensics.

The co-curricular aims to give a student routine practice on a particular speech, which is different than a class, which typically moves at the speed of “present information and then move on to the next module.”

“You get the opportunity to spend months working on a speech,” Bedsole, who joined the department in the fall of 2022, said. “(You get) months doing the research and refining it, delivering it, memorizing it. So, on the one hand, this gives you a product that I think is very impressive. It gives you that sense of accomplishment. On the other hand, I think along the way it betrays a sort of willingness to accept and work with feedback and criticism, that college, I think, sometimes doesn’t necessarily cultivate enough of.

Bedsole said the speech and debate program is competitive, which incentivizes students to improve.

“We have a strong campus and community focus in doing scrimmages, showcases and the embodied art of effect of

oratory,” Bedsole said. “We also travel to other universities in our region to compete against other teams.”

In the fall of 2022, the speech and debate team debuted its inaugural fall event, “The Protagoran.” According to event publicity, the event was named after the “most famous of the older Sophists,” otherwise known as rhetoric and philosophy teachers in ancient Greece. The event allowed numerous students to exhibit their original writing and public speaking works, including oratory, interpretation of prose and student debate.

“Being a part of the forensics team means a great deal to

me,” said McKenzie Weathers-Skinner, an English literature major. “The rhetoric department at Georgia College, specifically Nathan Bedsole, Michael Dreher, Colin Whitworth and Jan Hoffmann have personally invested in my success as a student.”

The modern GCSU forensics team is part of District 6 competition. This spring, members competed in North Carolina, Alabama and Northern Florida.

Unlike GCSU competitive sports teams, the forensics team is not limited to Division II competition, which means it will face multiple Division I schools, Bedsole said.

Bedsole said this year is about building the foundation of a program. He said he had invested countless hours recruiting team members. His pitch to potential members is somewhat simple: a student can make the forensics teamwork, no matter his/her/their skill level and/or schedule.

“We accommodate all sorts of skill levels, levels of commitment and intention,” Bedsole said. “There are members of the team who show up to our meetings on Mondays; they participate and that’s really the beginning and end of it. We welcome (participation) beyond the campus casual team. There are also the speakers who have been working on their speeches for the past months. We’re refining them for competition and that’s a lot of work. We will meet several times throughout the week and there’s the expectation of a lot of work on one’s own,” Bedsole said.

Additionally, he said, “If you have that competitive spirit, and you want to test your stuff and see what you’re made of against other talented students from other schools, we give you that opportunity. But mostly, I think about having the opportunity to get something like a graduate-level education in rhetoric and communication. (Forensics) is much more individualized instruction.”

For Weathers-Skinner, the team experience also extends beyond theories and strategies.

She said, “My peers that practice and compete alongside me, are quickly becoming my closest friends, who I can count on to support me in all of my endeavors. Being part of the forensics team means you have a safe space on campus and a family away from home.”

Jack Durham (middle) reads over his forensics notes.

Nathan Bedsole, forensics advisor and rhetoric professor, welcomes the audience during an event in the fall of 2022.

Sairsha Conner presents a speech in the fall of 2022 in front of the audience.

Photos by Meyers Ezzell

Design by Jamie Downing

Design by Jamie Downing

GLOBAL INSPIRATION DELLIS IS EDUCATION ADVOCATE

By Jenna Hanley

From growing up and attending college in Milledgeville, Georgia, to marriage and resume building in Sydney, Australia, to growth and prosperity in Huntsville, Alabama, Grace Dellis has traveled nontraditional life and career paths.

“They tell you when you graduate college that you can do whatever you want to do, but I never felt like that until now, a decade later. To see myself now as someone who’s confident in her ability to do things and her ability to help other people – it has been really amazing to see myself go through that transformation.”

Dellis took a piece of advice after graduating from Georgia College & State University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric to attend graduate school because she wasn’t sure what life path she wanted to pursue. When graduate school didn’t work out, the next piece of advice she took, she said, changed her life.

“My first job after graduating from GC was at TJ Maxx. I had moved back in with my parents, and a friend of mine randomly told me I should consider moving to Australia. I did some research, received a working holiday visa, flew across the globe and became a live-in nanny. After six weeks of living there, I met this guy; we got married; and I stayed there for nine years.”

When Dellis moved to Australia, she completed a yearlong internship with International Justice Mission; yet, she had no idea what would come next.

“If you had told me when I graduated college that I would have done this job, I would have said there is no way I am capable, qualified or brave enough for that kind of work,” said Dellis earlier this spring via a phone interview. “This job was very intense but rewarding. It was nice for me to be able to learn about the indigenous culture, their history and the way the country operates.”

The Milledgeville native said she worked for Wesley Mission overseeing and reporting on a team of people who were building community groups in areas of Australia where people are at higher risk of suicide.

Dellis said she has always felt called to help and be involved in her community. She was involved in a youth group in high school, which she said played a major part in why she chose to attend GCSU. Her youth group leader was a rhetoric major at GC and recommended she meet with Professor Scott Dillard.

“We talked about different areas of the discipline. He told me rhetoric gives you a great foundation for other disciples and for further academia,” remembered Dellis. “Since I wanted to be in a sector that doesn't require a specific degree, it felt like a good place to start.”

Dellis’ parents didn't pressure her to go to GCSU — despite it being in their backyard. Even though she lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, until age seven, she said, “Milledgeville is what I think of when I think of home and childhood.”

She said she chose GCSU due to her excitement about the rhetoric program and the fact that she was familiar with the campus because her father, Richard Greene, was a music professor at the school at the time.

Dellis is an advocate for education. While working in Australia, she consistently wrote and submitted to small journals, which provided her with industry insight into the gaps in arts and literary publications. This insight was particularly useful when Dellis relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, with her husband, Stephen, and their two boys, Teddy and Louie.

Dellis was quick to point out that Teddy is named after Mark Vail, a rhetoric professor at GCSU while she was a student.

“He passed away from cancer in 2015. Our eldest son’s full name is Theodore Mark, in honor of the impact Dr. Vail had on my life,” said Dellis.

In July 2022, Dellis set out to start a publication about how to use art to cope with religious trauma and deconstruction. She is now running an online arts and literary magazine called “Hyssop + Laurel.” She recently published her first book: “Signs and Wonders: A poetic journey through religious deconstruction.” She is also serving on the board of a spoken word community in Huntsville, a vibrant community of creatives and artists.

Dellis also is currently working on a poetry manuscript, which she said she hopes to publish a collection in the next year. She said her life path continues to evolve and she is considering going back to school to get a Master of Fine Arts degree as well as plans to put her magazine out into the print space.

“I am creating projects that give back to the community I am a part of. I know what it feels like to be chronically misunderstood. So, to build a place where there is safety to express that and appreciation of the creativity that comes from that is powerful,” Dellis said. “I have had a nontraditional journey, but I now have enough professional and life experience to do exactly what I want to do.”

“To see myself now as someone who’s confident in her ability to do things and her ability to help other people – it has been really amazing to see myself go through that transformation.”

- Grace Dellis

Grace Dellis with her family — husband Stephen, son Louie (left) and son Teddy (right).

Dellis and the late Professor Mark Vail at her GCSU grduation ceremony.

Scan the QR code on the left to check out Dellis’ book, “Signs and Wonders: A poetic journey through religious deconstruction.”

Scan the QR code on the right to visit Dellis’ online publication: “Hyssop + Laurel.

Photos submitted

FORMER MSCM LEADER NOW UPS SUPERVISOR

By Hayden Flinn

Steven Walters was a go-getter the day he stepped onto Georgia College & State University’s campus. He made his mind up early on that he was going to make the most of his college experience.

“Routine-wise, I took time to pray and get away from the noise of life,” said Walters. “And I routinely got around eight-plus hours of sleep and never pulled an all-nighter. It was a running friendly joke among my friends that I was a ‘grandpa’ due to my consistent bedtime, but I always felt rested and ready to go.”

Walters graduated in 2019 from GCSU with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. His dedication to schoolwork, the department and leadership did not go unnoticed. Walters was nominated by his faculty for the College of Arts & Sciences 2019 Medallion, which he won in the division of arts and communications. Additionally, he was the recipient of the department’s 2019 Mass Communication Outstanding Major Award.

Walters grew up in Marietta, Georgia. He graduated from Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell,

Georgia. And he chose GCSU because the campus had a “small school feel.”

“The first time I stepped on campus, it felt like home to me,” Walters said. “I had gone to some other bigger schools, but I liked the small school feel. It was small enough where you knew a lot of people and could build a good community, but it was still big enough that not everybody knew everybody. They were also just so many opportunities to get involved in.”

While Walters dabbled across media platforms, his primary concentration was journalism. And from the get-go, Walters was motivated to build a strong resume. During his sophomore year, Walters interned with Perfect Game. Between his junior and senior years, he interned with the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Despite his resume-building off-campus, Walters also added to his resume through his continuous involvement on campus. He served as The Colonnade’s editor-in-chief for two years, during which he helped his staff win at least nine press awards and worked with 40+ staff members each year. He also contributed to

WGUR as a radio show host and to GC360 as a sports anchor and reporter. He was also a member of Lambda Pi Eta, a communication honors society.

Beyond the major, Walters served the broader GCSU campus as a Student Ambassador as a mentee and peer mentor. Additionally, he was active in the Emerging Leaders Program, Honors Program, Georgia Education Mentorship Program, Campus Catholics and GCSU Sports Information. He was also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the leadership honors society.

Walters grew up an avid baseball and Braves fan, and his love for sports drove his motivation to sports communications.

“It was my dream for a while to work in baseball,” Walters said. “Then priorities shifted, and I received an opportunity to go work for UPS.”

up for success.

“There were so many great people and great advisors that I was able to learn a lot,” Walters said. “Also, (I) just had opportunities to grow, opportunities to fail and opportunities to try new things, so it was just an awesome place to be for me.”

“The first time I stepped on campus, it felt like home to me. I had gone to some other bigger schools, but I liked the small school feel. It was small enough where you knew a lot of people and could build a good community, but it was still big enough that not everybody knew everybody. They were also just so many opportunities to get involved in.”

Walters currently works as the shared services communications supervisor for the United Parcel Service (UPS), a Fortune 500 company that specializes in shipping and receiving.

-Steven Walters

“Internal communications encompass a lot of employee engagement,” Walters said. “I write feature stories on our people and some of the great work that they are doing. I write team stories to help educate people about what our teams do. We update memos, do presentation coaching and are a strategic advisor, where if someone needs to get a message out, we work with them to get that message out.”

Walters said he is grateful to GCSU for setting him

Walters recommended current mass communication majors should get involved as much as possible. He added there is no such thing as having too many communication skills.

“I did not anticipate myself going into internal communications, but honestly I have pulled from every experience that I had (at GCSU),” Walters said. “I’ve done design work. I’ve done presentations. In addition to just your everyday writing, I’ve done video work. All these things I’ve been able to do weren’t in my job description. It’s cool to be able to contribute in a way where people weren’t expecting that of you, but because I’ve had the previous experience, I knew what I was doing.”

Thinking back on his time at GCSU, Walters said if he had to do college again, there isn’t much he would change.

“I would just want to have more fun with everything and try more new things,” Walters said. “Also (I would) be more open to other classes that maybe I looked at in the beginning and was unsure if it was for me, but just being like, ‘Hey, I’ll try that,’ like video classes.”

Steven and his wife, Sara, celebrate their daughter Caroline’s baptism.

(L-R) Steven Walters, Michael Campagna, Beth Benson, Arianna Baxter and Sidney Pharr stand in front of Magnolia Hall for a photo after the 2019 Council of Student Ambassadors Spring Banquet.

Photos submitted

THE HIDDEN GEMS OF MILLEDGEVILLE —

Check out these Airbnb spots perfect for a weekend getaway

By Jenna Hanley

Airbnbs are beginning to give hotels a run for their money — even in Milledgeville.

For decades, hotels have been the easiest option for a place to stay while traveling. Yet, hotels can lack character, and they can be rather noisy. And, let’s face it, the complimentary breakfasts are just not that good.

Gaining rapid popularity in 2015, Airbnb often offers guests different experiences while traveling. When staying in an Airbnb, guests are likely to feel more at home. Airbnbs are available all over the globe — even in Milledgeville.

“My mom and I had a tradition while I was still at (Georgia College & State University) where she would come visit me once a semester and we would stay at the Antebellum Inn. It was a bed and breakfast that was sold and turned into my sorority house on campus,” said Christina Rymer, a 2022 GCSU alumnus. “I was so sad that our tradition ended until my mom suggested that we rent a house on Lake Sinclair in 2021, and it was the best thing we ever did.”

From historic mansions to treehouses to lake houses, Milledgeville has an Airbnb to please everyone. Read on to learn more about three different Airbnb options hosted in historic Milledgeville.

The Rockwell House

This house, built in 1838, is Milledgeville’s 19th-century capital and was once home to Georgia’s governor. It sits on 12 acres of land with a fenced-in pond. There are 38 different amenities, including Wi-Fi, a washer, a dryer and designated workspaces. With 14 total rooms — five bedrooms, six beds and five baths, up to 10 guests can stay and enjoy the historic home.

The house is hosted by Ross, a super host, who recently renovated the property. He allows guests to rent out individual rooms in The Rockwell House if they are not traveling with a group. It is located two miles from downtown and the GC campus.

“We had a truly lovely stay! Ross was very accommodating and approachable . . . not that we needed anything in such a beautiful place! This home is being restored with thoughtfulness and we can’t wait to see what happens from here! Highly recommend spending time relaxing in a bit of history,” wrote Sasha in her December 2020 Airbnb review of her stay at The Rockwell House.

The Hideaway in the Trees Treehouse

This five-star tiny home is the perfect weekend vacation. Unfortunately, children under 12 years old are not allowed to stay at this location. However, the treehouse encourages adults to channel their inner child. The treehouse is equipped with large windows, an outdoor gas fireplace, an indoor fireplace and plush robes. The treehouse is guaranteed safe and is also wheelchair accessible.

Guests of this one-bed, one-bath location are hosted by Tracy, a super host. The treehouse can sleep two guests. The host even provides guests with a guidebook of Milledgeville recommendations.

“This place is absolutely beautiful. The concept was unique! I loved the size, decoration, distribution, the furniture, etc. It had everything you need for a short vacation. It’s well-equipped. It’s close to downtown Milledgeville. Loved it. Gorgeous place. Definitely want to go back,” wrote Maria in her May 2022 Airbnb review of her stay at The Hideaway in the Trees Treehouse.

Best ‘Dam’ View on Lake Sinclair

This Milledgeville Airbnb is known for its sunrise and moon views on Lake Sinclair. The home is five minutes from downtown and is located close to Aubrie Lane’s Restaurant, Anchors Marina and The Club at Sinclair.

The home has a large water view, a private backyard with a firepit, kayaks and paddle boards. It includes two bedrooms, three beds and one bathroom, which means it can accommodate up to six guests. The home comes with 63 different amenities such as Wi-Fi, a washer, a dryer and an outdoor dining area. This location is also pet friendly. The location is hosted by Crista, a super host.

Jennifer Chatham, a GCSU parent who stayed in the home during the weekend of Oct. 22, 2022, for Milledgeville’s Deep Roots Festival, said the house is worth renting for the view.

“This is the perfect house on Lake Sinclair. The huge windows are perfect for the amazing lake view. The house was very clean and super cozy,” Chatham said about her stay. “We really enjoyed sitting by the fire pit in the backyard. Plus, it’s only minutes from downtown Milledgeville. We loved it so much we booked it again for our daughter’s graduation in May.”

Best ‘Dam’ View on Lake Sinclair

The Rockwell House

The Hideaway in the Trees Treehouse

Four Georgia College & State University senior journalism students – Jenna Hanley, Hayden Flinn, Paul O’Neill and Ty Peavy – collaborated during the spring semester in the enterprise journalism capstone course to create the 2023 LYNX issue.

By Jenna Hanley

CELEBRATING SENIORS

FALL 2022 & SPRING/SUMMER 2023

Rhetoric

FALL 2022

Julianna Cross

Gavin Jump

Avery Roach

SPRING 2023

Caroline Bowers

Sara Goodelman

Abigail McClendon

William Parker

John Pickett

Ashley Schell

Catherine Tanner*

Grayson True

Mass Communication

What are you most looking forward to after graduation?

I am looking forward to the growth and fresh start that comes with moving out of your college town. I am excited about all the accomplishments and mistakes I will make in the next few years. What is your proudest accomplishment?

I will be the first person in my family to ever graduate from college! Go Bobcats!

What are you most looking forward to after graduation? Getting paid to do work and the things that I want to be doing; living in a cool city and making money.

What would your 10-year-old self think if he met you now?

He would be surprised and probably wouldn’t believe I was him, but that’s not a bad thing.

Julia Alverson

Catherine Daly

Juliana Dixon

Meyers Ezzell

Abbie Frankel

Jack Gaertner

Hannah Adams

Caroline Ard

Grace Barham

John Battle

Katherine Bennett

Sarah Bryan

Margaret Cain

Elizabeth Cameron

Tara Carter

Caroline Chadwick

Jackson Counts

Faith Cox

Elijah Eubanks

Hayden Flinn

FALL 2022

SPRING/SUMMER 2023

Lucy Hughes

Sydney Ibarra

Christopher Jackson

Samantha Joiner

Camille Luxemburger

Chloe Maier

Michael Marcinko

Marissa Marcolina

Haley Marshall

Blake Martin

Riley Matthews

Elizabeth McDaniel

Elizabeth McGinness

Samantha Meeks

Grant Gerberding

Tori Gronczewski

Gabrielle Holub

Isabella Martinez

Lauren Schroeder

Eliza Wykes

Claire Russell

Madeline Russell

Meredith Ryals

Mia Scarborough

Sophie Schieve

Lauren Schroeder

Anjali Shenoy

Lillie Snell

Kylie Sorrow

Canon Sousa

Catherine Tanner*

Olivia Taylor

Reagan Thompson

Rob Trotter

What are you most looking forward to after graduation?

I am looking forward to starting a family, getting settled and seeing what happens. Who is your biggest inspiration? My family.

What are you most looking forward to after graduation?

I am really looking forward to working and furthering my career along while living near Atlanta. What is your favorite memory while at GCSU?

My favorite memory would be getting initiated into my fraternity where I’ve met some friends

I will have for the rest of my life.

Alayna Fogarty

Robert Forney

Katie Futch

Haven George

Addison Haggas

Jenna Hanley

Maimee Henderson

Sydney Hendrix

Reagan Monson

Evan Newton

Cameron O’Bryant

Paul O’Neill

Lauren Obijeski

Connor Patronis

Jordyn Richardson

Lindy Rose

Hakan Vardar

Bridget Vuicich

Christopher Walters

Hannah Wilkerson

Grace Williams

Sophie Zetzsche

* Double Major

PAUL O’NEILL

TY PEAVY

JENNA HANLEY

HAYDEN FLINN

Design by Ty Peavy

Bobcat Alumni Career Milestones

Lauren Whidby currently works as the senior marketing coordinator at Salas O’Brien.

In early 2022, Kathryn joined UK-based Virgin Atlantic Airways as its international communications lead. She oversees external communications for the airline's “rest-of-world markets,” namely the U.S. She is responsible for driving point of sale increase in the U.S, supporting the organization's “VelocityX plan: A return to profitability by 2024.”

Felicia Cummings is currently a PR professor at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. She wrote: “My PR business is growing and looking to move it to Warner Robins as well as add staff. Been teaching media studies and PR courses at Fort Valley State University as a PR professor. I am also working on my doctorate degree in strategic media.”

Jenna Byrd is currently living in Berlin via sponsorship from the U.S. Department of State and the German Bundestag. She wrote, “So far in Germany, I have attended language courses, university, and now I will hold a paying job. I recently met with my Bundestag representative, Dr. Jan-Marco Luczak.”

Moriah Thomas works as the national service project coordinator in the Serve Kentucky Office for the Kentucky State Government, Cabinet for Health and Family Services. She wrote: “I have a heart for system-involved and justice involved youth and believe they are some of the most resilient and compassionate folks in our communities. My education empowered, refined and uplifted me. In the rhetoric program, I was championed by the phenomenal faculty, I found my truest voice!

The voice of a Change Agent!”

Luke Paul recently opened a men’s clothing store in his hometown, Columbus (Georgia), called High Pines Outfitters. He wrote: “We sell everyday lifestyle clothing. You can view our website at highpinesoutfitters.com.”

Daniella Vivas currently works at Ad Tech. She wrote of her career experience: “Upon graduating from GCSU, I made the leap to move to NYC and pursue my career in tech, more specifically Ad Tech. I joined the company in August 2021 where I started as an associate and have since been promoted to manager. Here, I am able to collaborate on the charitable arm of the company, in addition to my normal day-today, where we work with non-profits to create and execute digital campaigns (TrueGiving).”

Kelly Orr currently works for a non-profit ministry, Campus Outreach. She wrote, “I mentor college students, plan events, plan our weekly meetings, facilitate bible studies and run the social media accounts.”

Andrea Smith works in PR/communication. She wrote, “Grateful to my alma mater for jump starting an exciting career in PR/communication where I’ve had the privilege to travel the globe and work in many exciting industries.”

In August 2022, Jessica Ramirez started her current position as international student and scholar advisor at the University of Tampa.

24 LYNX 2023 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION 25

Lauren Whidby BA, Mass Communication 2010 Nicole Krinsky BA, Mass Communication 2016

Felicia Cummings BA, Mass Communication 2001 Moriah Thomas BA, Rhetoric 2014

Benedict Esposito BA, Mass Communication 2015 Andrea Smith BA, Mass Communication 2001

Kelly Orr BA, Mass Communication 2022 Jenna

Emily Blackwood BA, Mass Communication 2019

Byrd BA, Mass Communication 2022

Kathryn Stanley BA, Mass Communication 2014

Luke Paul BA, Mass Communication 2021

Emily Blackwood started working at Tombras as a social media brand manager in July of 2022. She wrote: “I oversee social media initiatives and strategy for clients including Zaxby’s, Pilot Flying J, Smooth Ambler and TX Whiskey. In this short period of time I have learned so much and have worked on brand initiatives, including launching Loaded Fries at Zaxby’s with record-breaking social media posts.”

Nicole Krinsky now works for Enviroscent. She wrote of her career move: “After a few years doing social media and influencer relations in the beauty industry, I made the move to Enviroscent. After starting as a senior campaigns manager, I was promoted to marketing director. I oversee all communication touchpoints including paid media, organic media, PR, influencer, retail/etail communications, email marketing and brand architecture. Along with achievements in my professional life, I also recently bought my second home and got married in October 2022.”

The Department of Communication welcomed dozens of students from Middle Georgia area high schools in November 2022 and April 2023 for the fall and spring Bobcat Comm Fest events. During each event, students attended mock rhetoric, PR & advertising, multimedia journalism, audio and film classes. They also ate lunch at The MAX and went on a guided campus tour. In addition to working with faculty, the high school students interacted with current GCSU students to learn more about campus culture and social life. Department faculty expect to make Bobcat Comm Fest a bi-annual event.

GARDNER continued from page 9

to writing about the new technology available at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Along the way, Gardner said she’s gained valuable skills such as writing and storytelling. She’s also learned that some skills are transferable – no matter the career and career location.

“I think sometimes people get scared to switch industries, but it’s the same job no matter where you are. You’re finding stories and telling them and trying to find what people are going to care about and making it interesting. If you have those skills then you can succeed anywhere,” Gardner said.

In March of 2021, Gardner began what she thought was her dream job – senior account executive at Edelmen, a global public relations firm located in Atlanta. She worked public relations for numerous clients, including Kroger, Disney and Chobani.

Gardner said she worked her entire career for that job. However, she said she quickly realized that maybe she was meant to do something else.

“It wasn’t for me. It’s hard to feel like you’re giving up something you wanted so badly but ultimately, it’s your life and career, so you have to do what you feel like you’re going to be happy doing for eight hours a day,” Gardner said. What’s Next?

Currently, Gardner, who recently married her wife, works as a PR and brand strategist for Carbonate, a branding agency in Atlanta that specializes in restaurants and hospitality. At Carbonate, Gardner said, she gets to use more of her creativity.

Gardner acknowledged that since graduating from GCSU, her priorities have evolved from needing a job that is appealing to other people and keeps her busy all the time

to needing a job with good healthcare and time off. Gardner added, though, the job has to be meaningful.

Gardner’s advice for current undergraduate students is to take advantage of GCSU’s network. Equally important, she said, is to gain skills such as quality writing, which she said are uber important for communications jobs. She said with those skills a person will be able to start a job right away and write without errors.

Photos by Nah Ray Han and Christina Smith