MSCM Spring 2023 Newsletter

INSIDE

FROM THE CHAIR

Calvin Hall outlines our mission. Page 2

CONFERENCES GALORE

Students hit the conference trail. Page 3

PR ADVISORY BOARD

Industry professionals to advise department.

Page 6

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

NCCU grad, now university social media manager.

Page 8

WHO IS CRUZ?

Gabriel Cruz added to Media Studies concentration.

Page 9

WINNING AWARDS

Honoring Mass Communication students and their accomlishments. Page 10

DR. MAC HONORED

Duke U. internship now named after McKissick-Melton. Page 12

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Page 13

ALUMNI UPDATES

Page 18

NOMMO!

“Nommo” derives from the African oral tradition, referring to the magical power of the word to create ideas that improve life.

WELCOME TO THE NCCU

MASS COMMUNICATION

SPRING 2023 NEWSLETTER

FACTS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF MASS

Majors (as of Fall 2022): 211 Faculty: 23

Full-Time Faculty: 11

Part-Time Faculty: 12

Faculty with Doctoral Degrees: 11

COMMUNICATION

Faculty with MFA Degrees: 1

Faculty with a degree from NCCU: 5

Faculty with a degree from an HBCU: 9

Faculty with over 3 decades at NCCU: 3

Lambda Pi Eta Society new inductees:13

SPRING 2023

“And every story, no matter how small, has the power to enlighten, to inspire, to transform.

A nd in doing so, every story creates new stories. Stories that matter.

Welcome to this year’s newsletter.”

— Calvin Hall, Chair

“The Power of Spoken Word”

Students and PRSSA faculty adviser, Tianduo Zhang, during a visit from G&S Communications, a public relations firm. Members of the firm gave a presentation about their Omnichannel approach to resolving client challenges.

FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR

connect our students to professional practice opportunities.”

we offer engaged student learning via our co-curricular and research experiences and how we connect our students to professional practice opportunities.

As the donor. Or simply as a friend of Mass Communication. No matter how you come into possession of this newsletter, you are part of our story.

Stories that matter. That’s what this newsletter is about.

It’s about the stories from the department — our students, our faculty, our staff — and how we pursue our mission to prepare our majors to prepare for working and studying in the field of Mass Communication.

It’s about the ways in which

It is about what we value as a department and hope to instill in of each our graduates: a comprehensive understanding of the ethical demands, the practical applications, and the theoretical underpinnings of the field.

It’s also about the stories that reflect the awesome responsibilities and boundless opportunities that are part of being a media professional.

This newsletter is also about you, in whichever role you encounter this document.

You may encounter it as the reader. As the curious alumnus.

If you contributed an update about your life changes, your challenges, your successes, it is part of the grand story of our department.

It’s the story where we have come from, where we are going — and what we’re capable of doing when we get there.

And every story, no matter how small, has the power to enlighten, to inspire, to transform.

And in doing so, every story creates new stories. Stories that matter.

Welcome to this year’s newsletter.

“It’s about the ways in which we offer engaged student learning via our co-curricular and research experiences and how we

— Calvin Hall

Calvin Hall took over the reins as department chair in 2014.

On the road At conferences students network, learn & grow

The event brought together historians, democracy experts, election officials, and journalists from across the country to discuss issues and ideas related to threats to American democracy, the history that shaped this moment, and the journalism profession’s central concepts of fact, objectivity, fairness, and balance as they relate to investigating the institutions and individuals central to American democracy.

Story by Oluwatosin Aregbesola

One goal of the Department of Mass Communication is to prepare students for careers and study in mass communication by offering engaged learning, student media, research experiences, and connections to professional practice opportunities.

This academic year, the department provided several opportunities for students to meet these goals through professional conferences and other networking opportunities.

Journalism & Democracy Conference

The Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University is the first-of-its-kind academic center committed to strengthening historically informed, pro-democracy journalism.

Four students, Jordyn Martin, Evona Dancey, Micah Speed and Nada Merghani, along with department chair Calvin Hall, were invited to attend the official launch of the Center on November 15, 2022.

As part of the launch, the Center held its first Democracy Summit.

“Having attended the Democracy and Journalism Communication Conference, I learned how big a role the media play in determining what society considers news. The way media covers certain topics can drastically affect the way its audience views it. I had an amazing time at the conference and loved being able to network with other HBCU students interested in journalism,” said senior Jordyn Martin.

National Communication Association Senior Jasmine Olawole was selected to represent NCCU as a fellow in the HBCU Ph.D. Communication Pipeline Program. This yearlong training program is designed to prepare HBCU students to obtain a Ph.D. in communication and explore

See ON THE ROAD pg. 4

Public relations concentration students at the PRSSA Conference in Grapevine, Texas. From left to right: Tiffany Holmes, Nya McCray, Ashton Drake, Caroline Carter, Justice Isom, and Travin Duncan.

ON THE ROAD cont’d from page 3

careers in academia. The program, now in its inaugural year, is sponsored by the National Communication Association.

The organization’s convention took place from November 17-20, 2022, in New Orleans and is the largest communication association dedicated to the study and practice of communication.

NCA, which attracts some 5,000 attendees annually, hosts programs and other meetings that provide professional development opportunities for communication scholars.

In addition to meeting monthly with 10 HBCU students from across the country, NCA funded two expense paid trips – one to its national convention in New Orleans in the fall and the other to the University of Cincinnati in the spring.

“The National Communication Association convention was extremely resourceful and beneficial to my communication career” said Olawole, a broadcast media concentration.

“While I attended the conference with a group of HBCU students, we participated in different workshops and networked with professionals in the industry.

We also attended a graduate school fair where I met several graduate students and recruiters. Meeting them I realized how vast the communication discipline is and it inspired me to pursue Business Communication at the master’s level. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to be

exposed to this program.”

Mass Communication professor and Interim Associate Dean for the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, Shauntae White, is a faculty mentor in the program and served as Olawole’s mentor this year.

“This program is so critically important to the development of future scholars and academicians both at PWIs, where students can matriculate through their entire college career and never see an African American professor and at HBCUs where sparse numbers of African American faculty job candidates are alarming. Representation matters,” White said.

PRSSA Conference

The Public Relations Society of America empowers its members to succeed at every stage of their careers through a wide breadth of professional development programs, networking events, and leadership opportunities. Six NCCU students

See ON THE ROAD pg. 5

Jasmine Olawole alongside mentor and Interim Associate Dean for College of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, Shauntae White, at The National Communication Association Convention.

Students at the Center for Journalism & Democaracy at Howard University, November 15, 2022.

attended the November 13–15, 2022, conference, at Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. The goal of the PRSSA conference is to increase students’ exposure to the field of public relations.

“ICON 2022 taught me a lot about myself, and gave me confidence that this is the line of work I want to commit to. Meeting so many amazing PR professionals just made me excited for the future,” said Nya McCray, a student with a public relations concentration.

“Having the opportunity to attend the PRSSA Icon Conference was an awesome experience,” said Caroline Carter, a senior in the public relations concentration.

“First, I connected and networked with students and professionals to understand the things they do in their organizations and how they’re reflected in their practices and support of their PRSSA chapter.

Second, I gained a sense of belonging with the people and learned so much more about being a member in this organization which directly aligns with my professional development in the industry.”

ON THE ROAD cont’d from page 4

Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communication HBCU Open House

Four graduating seniors – Caroline Carter, Travin Duncan, Imani Pippen and Micah Speed -- attended the Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communication Open House in New York in March.

With a goal of building a pipeline of African American students obtaining master’s degrees in the program, the trip was co-sponsored by the Department and the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Office of the Dean.

“My time at Syracuse was amazing,” said Durham native Travin Duncan, a public relations concentration.

“The campus staff and students were so personable and full of knowledge that you genuinely don’t come across on a daily basis.

“The level of expertise their faculty possesses would leave anyone in awe and the programs they offer made me ask other graduate programs what they can offer to compete. The transparency, family attitude and intellectual

aptitude of the community made it a trip to remember.”

From the relationship Syracuse is establishing with HBCUs, NCCU has had several students apply

to the master’s program. Thus far, two have been accepted. Nada Merghani, a journalism concentration and editor- in-chief of the “Campus Echo”, was accepted into the Magazine, News and Digital Journalism master’s program and was awarded a fullride scholarship through the Graduate Newspaper Fellowship for Minorities. Imani Pippen was accepted to The Newhouse Digital Marketing & Advertising program and was awarded a scholarship that pays for half of her tuition.

Imani Pippen landed a scholarship at the Newshouse Digital Marketing and Advertising program at Syracuse University.

Nada Merghani, Campus Echo editor-in-chief, accepted a full- ride scholarship for the Magazine, News and Digital Journalism program at Syracuse University.

PR Advisory Board

Panel created to assist our PR concentration

By Imara Harrell

The Department of Mass Communication now has a Public Relations Advisory Board to assist with the development, growth and assessment of the Public Relations concentration.

It’s primary target will be to set our students up for success in the industry by building a team of professional advisers from across the country to bring their expertise into the program.

The board is headed up by Aerial Ellis, the department’s Wells Fargo Endowed Chair. She is assisted by Tianduo Zhang, an assistant professor who teaches a number of public relation courses.

The board includes leaders and experts in public relations, marketing, digital media, advertising, and branding. They will be able to enhance the program by helping attract additional resources.

The board members are:

• Maya Brown, executive director of marketing and communication at Fisk University. Brown is an NCCU alumna.

• Courtney Crowder, managing director at APCO Worldwide.

• Del Galloway, senior vice president of communication at Wells Fargo

•Nicholas Love, vice president of global marketing at Hotwire Global Communication

See PR BOARD pg. 7

NCCU Public Relations Advisory Council members with department faculty. (L to R) Pamela Meek, Dr. Debra Miller,Joseph Dawson, Pamela Purifoy, Adam Novak, Dr. Tianduo Zhang, Ariel Germain, Del Galloway, Nyree Wright, Dr. Calvin Hall, and Dr. Aerial Ellis.

• Adam Novak, vice president at PAN Communication

• Nyree Wright, senior vice president of public relations at TV One Networks

• Joseph Dawson, director of strategic communication at Freddie Mac

• Ariel Germain, director of communication and marketing for NCCU Division of Student Affairs

• Dr. Debra Miller, the director of communication for Cone Health

• Tristan Brew, client success strategist at Newswire/Issuer Direct

• Jessica Griffen, associate brand marketing manager at Walgreens

PR

BOARD

cont’d from page 6

• Ayana Hernandez, interim associate vice chancellor for strategic communication at Elizabeth City State University

• Pamela Meek, global head of communication at SAS

The goal of this new advisory board is to invite professionals in the PR field from all over the country to bring their expertise into the program and learn what benefits NCCU.

“The PR Advisory Board provides valuable industry insights, resource and network to NCCU,” Tianduo Zhang said. This will support our student career success and help grow NCCU’s young

program.

The advisory board, already making headway, has received visits from different PR agencies like PAN Communications, G&S Communications, Hotwire Global, MikeWorldWide, PRSA Foundation members, and FleishmanHillard for students to interact and connect with professionals outside the classroom.

Including internships by PAN Communications and G&S Communications open to NCCU students. Having this board in place will help the public relations concentration and the Department of Mass Communication grow.

A NEW FILM CONCENTRATION

Video and story by Imani Pippen

The Department of Mass Communication is implementing yet another concentration this Fall 2023. The Film Concentration will be an option for students hoping to produce films and documentaries.

It’s the brainchild of Michael Pearce, assistant professor, and members of the curriculum committee. Pearce has a MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and currently teaches screenwriting, multimedia production, and film in the department.

“It’s been kind of something that I’ve heard every semester is people

asking: ‘Why aren’t there more film classes?’” said Pearce. “So we knew it would be something that would excite people if we did it.”

The new concentration has been in the works for a couple of years, but its execution took longer than expected. In addition to mass communication core courses, students in the concentration will be taking Screenwriting, Introduction to Film Criticism, Video Production, Documentary, and Independent Film Production. They will build a skill set that includes producing, directing, editing, cinematography, production design, and sound – all with empha-

One student film produced under the mentorship of Pearce, “Missed Call” won best short film in several competitions, including the Cary Zombiepalooza Film Festival in 2018. His students have another production, titled “Later,” currently in post production.

Pearce said he hopes the film concentration will mold students into alumni that will be prepared for a variety of opportunities to work in the film industry.

See a two minute video about the concentration at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=l0ktlcOiFTY

sis on storytelling.

O’Neal returns to the nest

Alumnus now University’s Social Media Manager

Story by Clarence Morse

Alumnus Truitt O’Neal has returned to the University to become the Social Media Manager in the Office of Communications and Marketing.

Faculty remember the 2001 NCCU graduate fondly.

“Truitt is a welcomed treasure returning to the nest,” said Minnie Forte-Brown, one of O’Neal’s former instructors.

“He brings a love for his alma mater and a wealth of genius and experience in mass communication. We are ready to SOAR even higher with Truitt.”

His work here entails overseeing social media accounts, developing social media strategies, and marketing goals and objectives.

“I love this position,” said O’Neal. “Not a day goes by when I don’t use my experience as a former instructor and communicator.”

As an English major at NCCU O’Neal played a critical role in the development and conceptualization of AudioNet, the University’s student-run closed circuit radio station.

O’Neal brings a variety of experiences to his position.

For 13 years he was an on-air radio announcer with Radio 1. He

brought that experience to NCCU to teach broadcast announcing in the Department of Mass Communication for four years.

He has been an instructor at the Hillside High School affiliated New Tech High School training students in digital technology.

He then worked with Durham Public Schools as their digital communications specialist.

Then he became the corporate engagement coordinator for PBS at WUNC-TV.

O’Neal was always a high achiever. He grew up in Washington, D.C, where he attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School.

After graduating, he set his eyes on N.C. Central University to earn his college degree. At NCCU, he was a heralded trumpet player, participating in the jazz and marching bands.

This, after having little to no experience playing at his high school which didn’t have a marching band program.

With the jazz band he traveled twice to Europe to perform and compete. He jokes that it’s difficult walking and playing at the same time – like “driving a stick.”

But soon he was one of the few non-music majors ever to become a pep band director.

O’Neal says that across all his variety of jobs, he has had one single quote in the back of his head: “Leave it better than you found it.”

Some of his favorite things to do in Durham include people-watching, karaoke, and finding new Indian food.

NCCU graduate, Truitt O’Neal now serves as NCCU’s social media manager

“Leave it better than you found it.”

— Truitt O’Neal

Welcoming Gabriel Cruz Cruz will specialize in media studies

Story by Jesse C. White

In July, 2022, Gabriel Cruz found his new home at N.C. Central University as an assistant professor of media studies. After learning about North Carolina Central University and being intrigued by the HBCU experience, Cruz knew joining the Department of Mass Communication was the right decision.

“At the start of my career, I did not set out to work at an HBCU specifically, but when I saw the job opening and began to dig deeper into NCCU, and the Department of Mass Communication in particular, I knew that this was a place where I could contribute in a meaningful way and help students,” Cruz said.

A North Carolina native of Siler City, Cruz earned his Associate of Arts degree from Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, North Carolina. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. He later earned a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Along with impressive teaching and research experience, in 2020, Cruz received the Top Paper award from the National Communication Association’s Critical Cultural Division for his written contribution entitled “Whiteness, Masculinity, and Amorality in Netflix’s The Punisher,”

co-authored with friend and colleague, Linsay Cramer, an associate professor in Communication, Media, & Culture at Coastal Carolina University.

After graduating as a first-generation college undergraduate from a working-class Mexican American family, Cruz was uncertain of his post-graduation career goals. However, he found he enjoyed teaching while in graduate school and wanted to teach those with a similar upbringing.

“Preparing for the academic job market, I knew I wanted to work at a university or college where my primary responsibility would be teach-

ing, as opposed to research,” he said.

“I graduated in 2018, and that year I started working at High Point University and then left to work at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2020. Those four years of teaching reaffirmed what I had already suspected: I wanted to work with people who, like myself, came from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Dr. Calvin Hall, chair and associate professor of The Department of Mass Communication, said he is proud to have Cruz join, and admires his skill set.

“What makes Dr. Cruz an outstanding addition to our department is the same thing that was impressive about him during the interview process – his ability to articulate and demonstrate how his research informs his teaching,” Hall said.

Hall also says Cruz brings his experiences as a Chicano and Southerner to an HBCU setting, providing more diverse perspectives.

Manuhe Abebe, a junior Mass Communication major at NC Central says Cruz is very engaging in his classes, gives real world perspectives on different concepts, and is able to relate to the students.

Carlton Wilson, Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and

See CRUZ pg. 19

Gabriel Cruz Assistant Professor of Media Studies

For the win Students honored for their achievements

Story by Rebecca Smith

Every year, the N.C Central Department of Mass Communication recognizes outstanding students for their achievements.

The four concentrations, Broadcast Media, Journalism, Media Studies, and Public Relations, all give an Award of Excellence to a receiv-

ing senior during the annual Honors Convocation.

“The Scholarships and Awards committee meets to determine which seniors have the highest GPAs in each concentration. We receive a list from the registrar’s office after the 10-day census and make our determination based on the information provided,” said Lolethia Underdue,

the chair of the Scholarship and Awards Committee.

“Winning an award from my department meant a lot to me,” said senior public relations student, Caroline Carter.

“Since transferring I made sure to hit the ground running and elect

See FOR THE WIN pg. 11

Mass Communication award recipients with department chair, Dr. Calvin Hall, at the 2023 Honors Convocation.

FOR THE WIN cont’d from page 10

myself for any and all opportunities. I did this most importantly to gain the exposure and experience of any and all aspects of mass communications. So it is so awesome that my efforts are recognized by others and have been awarded.”

Recently, the department has added three new awards recognizing student work within their respective concentrations. Award of Excellence Top Overall Mass Communication GPA, Award of Excellence Radio Broadcasting, and Award of Excellence Television Production will also be announced and presented to chosen students.

“This year we added the additional awards because we wanted to recognize students that were particularly active in our co-curricular activities, so we reached out to WNCU and the TV Studio to see if there were students that deserved recognition,” said Underdue.

Along with the additional awards, Lambda Pi Eta Honors Society and the Campus Echo also chose deserving students to recognize.

The Campus Echo Outstanding Journalist Award recipient will receive an additional award of $250 by Indy Week founder Steve Schewel and his wife Lao Rubert. This award is chosen by Campus Echo adviser Bruce dePyssler.

“Receiving this award was such a joy for me because I have developed such a deep love and respect for the echo from the moment I wrote

my first story,” said award recipient and broadcast media student, Nada Merghani.

Award Recipients

•Award of Excellence, Broadcast Media Concentration – Rebecca Smith

•Award of Excellence, Journalism

Concentration – Micah Speed

•Award of Excellence, Media Studies

Concentration – Oluwatosin Aregbesola

•Award of Excellence, Public Relations Concentration – Caroline Carter

•Award of Excellence, Top Overall Mass Communication GPA – Travin Duncan

•Award of Excellence, Radio Broadcasting – Ciearra Harris

Award of Excellence, Television

Production – Imara Harrell

Campus Echo Outstanding Journalist Award – Nada Merghani

College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities Award Recipients

The following students with the highest GPAs in senior, junior, and sophomore classes were recognized at the April 24 awards gala sponsored by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, held on April 24, 2023, at 6 p.m.

• Victoria Cooper-Thompson, SR, Broadcast Media

• Jesse White, SR, Public Relations

• Rhonda Garland, SR, Public Rela-

tions

• Imara Harrell, JR, Public Relations

•Bryan Brim, JR, Broadcast Media

• Corinthia Morris, JR, Public Relations

• A’brianna Dones, JR, Media Studies

• Jasmyn Harper, SO, Broadcast Media

• Tori Wilson, SO, Public Relations

• Aalyissa Cooley, SO, Broadcast Media

BEA Festival of Media Arts

Two students won awards in the 2023 BEA Festival of Media Arts. The awards were announced on Feb. 15, and the students were recognized at the 2023 BEA Convention on April 16.

Student Audio Competition – Specialty Program Category

Awards of Excellence:

• Your Moment; Corinthia Morris, North Carolina Central University

• Dreaming; Josiah Russell, North Carolina Central University Campus Echo received two awards from the North Carolina College Media Association at its convention on February 25:

• Best of Show – Online

• Third Place, News Writing – Nada Merghani

Duke internship named to honor Dr. Mac

Story by Caroline Carter

For years, Duke University and N.C. Central University have partnered to create internship opportunities for NCCU students.

Last year, the Duke Internship program was renamed the Dr. Charmaine McKissick-Melton Fellowship after McKissick-Melton, also known as Dr. Mac, following her retirement in the Spring of 2022.

One of Dr. Mac’s responsibilities as a faculty member was to serve as Intern Coordinator for the Department of Mass Communication.

The Fellowship provides summer internships to mass communication students. This establishes a talent pipeline into communication departments throughout Duke University and enables students to produce work – print, video, and multimedia – in a variety of Duke departments and programs.

The Duke University internship has paid the NCCU Mass Communication students almost $300,000 since its inception in 2007. In all, 188 NCCU mass communication students have interned in the program.

Students describe Dr. Mac as “passionate,” “insightful,” and “the real deal.” She has passed down her role to Brett Chambers, who initiated the 2023 Cohort of Dr. Charmaine McKissick-Melton Fellows.

“As a whole, this has been an extremely successful process since its inception … I had one goal in mind,” said Dr. Mac, “that everyone would have an opportunity no matter your classification or GPA.”

“I was extremely surprised and honored that they named the Duke internship after me. It brought tears to my eyes.”

Chelsea Taft, a 2021 graduate and alumni of the internship, says, “Those moments in Dr. Mac’s office were so meaningful. I recall thinking, ‘Dr. Mac has so much soul and passion -we are so blessed to be able to learn from her.’”

This year’s cohort was competitive since Duke sponsors raised their work-for-hire pay for NCCU students to $17 per hour. Also new is the addition of two stipends of $1,750 in June and July to assist with living and transportation expenses. The Dr. Mac Fellowship begins each May and runs for 20 hours per week for ten weeks.

There are 14 placement areas for 14 students including organizations like Nasher Museum of Art, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Magazine, and University Commu-

See DR. MAC pg. 20

Mass Communication students after finishing their speed interviews with Dr. Mac, NCCU department chair, Calvin Hall, Karl Bates of Duke University Communications, and Brett Chambers.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”

Nelson Mandela

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

— Aristotle

“There are no secrets to success.

Daniel Hooley, Adjunct

Zevandah

Barnes has been teaching with the Department of Mass Communication at NCCU since 2014. This is his 10th year teaching at the university, and he looks forward to ten more years with faculty and students.

Prof. Hooley has seen encouraging signs since the Covid “lockdown” that students were moving past the stress and uncertainty that understandably reflected in attendance and engagement. His updated methods and class exercises respond to these changes, and feedback has been positive! He says he has really enjoyed 2023 so far.

Zevandah Barnes, Adjunct

It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

— General Colin Powell

Felecia Casey-Hicks has been the NCCU TV Studio Manager/Emerging Media Specialist since 2007. She will soon be providing student workshops for a Mellon Foundation Grant, obtained by Rachelle Gold, examines the legacies of prominent NCCU women.

Brett Chambers

curated & moderated a panel for the Radio Television Digital News Directors of the Carolinas, “Getting Your First Job.” He programmed the Dr. Mac Fellowship BootCamp. In all, 16 students were placed. He is a founding chairman of the Entrepreneur’s Task Force, for the NABJ and he conducts two Media Entrepreneurship Academies with Cafe Media. He is a co-director of LEAD@Fuqua. And he was an invited panelist on WUNC-TV’s, Black Issues Forum.

Forte-Brown is the Engagement Officer for NC10, a collaboration of the 10 North Carolina HBCUs. NC has the most HBCU’s in the nation. As we celebrate that fact, we also need to leverage the economic impact and academic genius exhibited by the state’s HBCUs.

dePyssler has now advised the Campus Echo for 23 years. Over those years his students have garnered 281 state, regional, and national awards. This year the Campus Echo was named Best of Show Online by the NC College Media Association.

Brett Chambers, Lecturer

Minnie Forte-Brown, Adjunct

Bruce dePyssler, Assoc. Prof.

Felicia Casey-Hicks, Station Mgr.

Thomas Letts, Adjunct

Tom Letts is finishing his tenth year as an NCCU adjunct instructor teaching journalism courses. In addition to his teaching responsibilities he often pitches in at the Campus Echo to help students fine tune their reporting and writing.

Charles Grant, Adjunct

Dr. Grant accompanied his Honors Introduction to Public Speaking class on a field trip to Hill Library at NC State University. The Library offers an immersive experience into a re-enactment of a little-known speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at White Rock Baptist Church in Durham. Dr. King gave that speech in 1960 to support the Greensboro sit-ins. The vMLK Project is a virtual re-enactment since there are no recordings of the speech.

Aerial Ellis, Wells Fargo Endowed Chair

Aerial Ellis completed a two-year term as President of The PRSA Foundation. Under her leadership, the Foundation awarded over $120,000.00 in scholarships and grants to public relations and communications students, launched the Mission North “The Future Is... Fellowship,” the organization’s largest-ever individual scholarship at $20,000.00, and kicked off its HBCU-HSI Public Relations Tour with MikeWorldWide visiting campuses to meet Black and Brown public relations students and share information about scholarships and job opportunities.

Erin Berry-McCrea, Adjunct

Dr. Erin Berry-McCrea is a Principal Consultant for The Raben Group, a Public Policy Firm in Washington, DC. The firm supports non-profit and corporate client needs in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ). Additionally, Dr. Berry-McCrea’s work and research will be featured in a new text titled “Voices of the Field: DEIA Champions in Higher Education” soon to be released by IAP.

Tianduo Zhang, Ass’t. Prof.

Dr. Zhang is currently serving as Co-PI in Office of Minority grant Bull City Strong and NIH grant NC CEAL. She has raised $2,500 funds for PRSSA and presented her research at ICA and RCMI conferences.

Viki Suggs-Jones, Adjunct

Viki SuggsJones earned a ACUE certificate in the summer of 2022, promoting Active Learning - Micro-credential course.

Dr. Paulin serves as the North Carolina representative of the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Communications

Working Group. She is an investigator on four federally-funded grants focused on health disparities for Durham County and the State of North Carolina. She has two forthcoming book chapters on Spanish-language media and the pandemic. But her favorite activity is teaching and learning from her students in Mass Communication Theory & Research and Mass Media & Society.

This year Prof. Pearce completed production on his documentary entitled RHD: HIDDEN DIAGNOSIS. The film was produced in collaboration with Dr. Jamila Minga of Duke University and explores the impact of right hemisphere brain damage (RHD) on stroke survivors and their loved ones. The film is currently in contention in over forty film festivals nationwide.

Lisa Paulin, Assoc. Prof.

Michael Pearce, Ass’t. Prof.

Lolethia Underdue, Lecturer

DL served as a judge for the Broadcast Educators Association Festival of Media Arts Competition. She judged faculty entries from all over in the country in the Documentary category.

Shauntae White, Professor

Celebrating her 16th year at NCCU, Dr. White was appointed Interim Associate Dean for the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities this year. She also serves as a Faculty Fellow in the Office of Faculty Professional Development as well as the Coordinator for Women’s & Gender Studies.

FACULTY FUN FACTS

• Erin Berry- McCrea: Dr. Berry-McCrea has taken up a new hobby: Skydiving :)

• Vickie Suggs-Jones: “I am not a big fan of chocolate at all...”

• Lolethia Underdue: DL is celebrating her 19th year at NCCU in October! She started as the General Manager of AudioNet in 2004 and joined the faculty full time during the Fall 2006 semester.

• Minnie Forte-Brown: Prof. Brown has two great grandchilden, Justin Michael and Jade Annece Johnson. They’re twins!

• Chavis Carter: “This Spring ‘23 semester marks my 4th academic year here at NCCU. I’m graduating!”

• Bruce dePyssler: dePyssler will soon be a dad to three young children: Memzo, Alpha and Kadi. He and his wife, Kadiatu, are adopting his deceased sister-in-law’s three young children from Sierra Leone.

• Tom Letts: As a teenager, Tom spent a couple of weeks each summer working on his uncle and aunt’s chicken farm south of Merced, California.

• Zevandah Barnes: Prof. Barnes is a graduate of the Department of Mass Communication.

Alesha Holland

2017 ~ Residence Life Coordinator

Alesha is now working towards a doctorate from Clark Atlanta University. She is now defending her dissertation and will graduate in Fall 2023. She aspires to come back to her alma mater and serve the institution that poured so much into her.

Reginald ‘RJay’ Simon

2014 ~ 7th Grade ELA Educator

Reginald Simon is a current MSA Student at N.C. State University. In August he’ll begin his Administrative Internship working towards becoming a school administrator.

Tomeika Bowden

2000 ~ Cheif External Affairs Officer

Tomeika is the president of the NCCU Alumni Association, supporting NCCU students and graduates.

Corliss Pauling

2011 ~ Digital Strategy Manager for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern N.C.

As the digital strategy manager for The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Corliss is responsible for building strategy and messages through digital outreach to tackle root causes of hunger.

Alexis Harp

2022 ~ NPHC Advisor (Greek Student Engagement & Development)

Alexis has almost completed her first year of working towards a Masters of Education.

Rainah Davis

2001 ~ Director of Field Building, The Moriah Group (Forward Promise Initiative)

Rainah was recently hired as the Director of Field Building for Forward Promise, an Initiative of the Moriah Group. These organizations work to dismantle the complex inequities rooted in white supremacy that deeply impact young people and their communities. Learn more at: themoriahgroup. com and forwardpromise.org.

Brytanni Bowden

2020 ~ Project Management

Brytanni works as a Project Manager for a

ALUMNI UPDATES

celebrity director in Atlanta, Georgia. She helps brands and businesses put on events and campaigns.

Vickie Suggs-Jones, Ph.D.

1990 ~ Adjunct Faculty, NCCU Mass Communication Department, Author and Documentarian

In addition to returning to her alma mater to teach, Dr. Suggs-Jones recently launched Doc Mommy Diva LLC and released her book, “Unscripted: Narratives from Women at Life’s 50-Yard Line.” She currently completed work on her debut documentary scheduled for release in late 2023.

Chanel Jones

2016~ Photographer & Owner of Chanel Productions

Chanel’s company has paved its way into the wedding industry, providing photography and video services for newly engaged couples. She has also branched into corporate photography and video, with upcoming publishing in the Heart of NC wedding magazine.

LaMont Chaney II

2019 ~ Assistant Editor (TV)After graduating, LaMont has since found his way into the film industry, gathering over 30 episodic TV show credits and now becoming an Assistant editor for the TV show, “The Challenge”. He has wrote and directed several short narrative and documentary films, three in which have gone on to win awards at film festivals. He currently helps to produce a feature Documentary titled ‘No Country for Old People’. Lastly, he plans to finish his very own feature film and TV script this year to be shopped around the studio circuit.

Marika Daniel

2022 ~ ENG News Editor

Marika Daniel is getting experience in her major as a news editor at WRAL. Marika has been accepted into North Carolina Central’s Graduate School and will be pursuing a Masters in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing.

Cameron ‘Cam’ Clifton

2015 ~Residential Life Coordinator

Cam recently accepted a position at California State University, Dominguez Hills, teaching young minds in the LA area.

Seylon Edmundson

2022 ~ Production Coordinator

Seylon was recently hired by CYLNDR production company following her internship over the summer. Since then, she has been on the production team responsible for ACCN Basketball and Football, Pulte Homes’, and Popeyes’ social ads.

Genesis Doubledee

2011 ~ Graphic Designer

Genesis recently became the newest Graphic Designer at SoFi.

Lyric Harris

2019 ~ Recruitment Coordinator and Operations Administrator

Harris is currently the Human Resources Director at Clinton College in Rock Hill, SC. She wants students to know it’s okay to be yourself and take advantage of all opportunities while it’s in front of you. She also wants to remind students that the 4 years you have at NCCU are vital in your personal and professional development. She says, “do the work now, create healthy habits, practice discipline, and cultivate your skill set now! It will pay off!”

Matthew Collins II

2020 ~ Financial Management Analyst

Collins has some simple advice to all mass communication students: “Listen to Dr. White.”

Ariel Germain

2017 ~ Marketing and Communications Director for Student Affairs

Ariel V. Germain currently serves NCCU as the director of marketing and communication for the Division of Student Affairs. In this role, Germain supports the Division’s 21 departments, handles signature division events, and serves as the marketing and communications chair for the Ultimate

Homecoming Experience. She works as an administrative volunteer for StrongHER Together’s VillageHERs program, a non-profit organization in Durham, N.C., whose mission is to teach girls to use their collective power in the fight for equity. She also volunteers as a resume editor with StepUp Durham, a non-profit that provides free employment training services to Durham job seekers. Lastly, Germain is a Lincoln Community Health Center Foundation board member and serves on the marketing and communications committee.

Deontae Williams

2018 ~ Serial Investor Williams created his company during the pandemic and hasn’t been back corporate. He made a net profit of $250k last year with none spent on advertising!

Shae Hillary

2013 ~ Privacy Subject Matter Expert

Shae Hillary has been voted Most Valuable by her consulting firm in 2022. Most recently, she has been promoted to a Subject Matter Expert and nominated for “Making an Impact” award. In 2021, earned her Masters of Business Administration from University of Maryland. Hillary has been putting her business degree to use through her hookah concierge business “2Girls and a Hookah” where she has secured contracts with local bars/lounges in the DMV area.

Tameka Nichole Stephenson

2007 ~ Program Director for Atlanta’s #1 Station, 105.5 FM/AM 1430 THE KING

Tameka Nichole Stephenson aka Tameka Nichole aka Mahogoni Brown on air at AudioNet Campus Access Radio. En-

The Department of Mass Communication would like to acknowledge the following alumni who volunteered to review senior e-portfolios in Spring 2023.

•Maya Bell

•Brittany Cowan

•Ariel Germain

•Alexis Harp

•Gabrielle Jones

•Jennifer Mendoza-Chicas

•Tia Mitchell

•PAN Communications

•Tish Taylor

•Marissa Thomas

•Kelvin Walker

•Aramis Watkins

Although not individually recognized here, we also would like to thank our alumni who reviewed portfolios for spring 2022 and December 2022.

CRUZ cont’d from page 9

Humanities said he is also impressed with Cruz and his accomplishments.

“Dr. Cruz is an energetic and creative teacher-scholar who is an effective teacher as well as a productive

scholar,” Wilson said.

Cruz said he wants to provide more ways to help students flourish and is optimistic about the department’s future.

He also wants elements, such as the Campus Echo and the student organizations in the department, to grow and become more robust.

tertaining musically with songs come the 60s to today where programs, hosts, does executive sales and engineering for Atlanta’s #1 Station, 105.5 FM THE KING. With excellence in Hospitality, Customer Support and Care working for Marriott International as a Navigator & Ambassador from 2004 to now, Stephenson has become a Professional Greeter in Atlanta to some of your favorite artist, actors, and athletes as she’s works production for Divorce Court, Steve Harvey On Watch, Super Bowl, All Star Weekend, Art Basal, Revolt Summit, Black Music Honors, The Stellar Awards and the Jazz Music Awards. She is also a Licensed Esthetician. SPRING

DR. MAC cont’d from page 12 nications.

“Regardless of where you are assigned, you can explore and reach out to people who do the things you think you want to do and find out more about it,” said Karl Bates of Duke University Communications.

“We want this to be a real dedicated and hands-on educational experience,” said Bates. “That is why we require the dedication and devotion of the sponsor.”

Throughout the ten weeks, students will have the opportunity to sharpen their skills through interviewing, writing, recording, and editing items. The goal is to have each intern’s work published internally and externally. Students will also attend in-person ‘lunch and learn sessions,’ consisting of experts in social media, photography and videography, and career development.

This year, Duke hired 15 out of 26 NCCU students. Often students who are especially successful with their internships are able to return for a second one.

“It gave me a taste of what it will be like in the [journalism] field,” said Nya McCray, a junior with a concentration in public relations.

“I got to do flyers to promote class enrollment, took photography lessons with my phone, and learned a little about web design.”

In 2020 at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, there were 18 matches made, but the program was shut down due to the worldwide

lockdown. The next summer, Bates and Dr. Mac brought the internship back to life by interning 18 students for a hybrid internship experience with their Duke department sponsors.

“I did the internship for two years and have seen how its evolved,” said Rebecca Smith, a senior broadcast media student. “The first year was during COVID, which was such a different experience for everyone.”

According to Smith she gained valuable professional experience by working twice with the internship program.

She participated in the Dr. Mac Fellowship during the summer of 2021 with Duke Learning Innovation and her second year in the summer of 2022 with University Communications.

“No one really knew how to do an internship online or transfer everything they do in person to an online program,” said Smith. “So now that it is back in person, seeing how they work back towards doing everything in person will show a different side of things.”

The Dr. Mac Fellowship requires students who aim to apply to attend a bootcamp to prepare them for their interviews and the experience.

This includes workshops to prepare their resume and for an interview with potential internship interests. In January, students are onboarded and can choose their top three placement interests.

“This is an internship boot camp designed to get all interns ready, so they can be ready for whatever internship they are doing,” said Chambers. This year’s boot camp incorporated the Career Center and Department of Mass Communication faculty workshops.

By March, NCCU students are ready to engage in the speed interviewing process with the sponsors at Duke University and are selected based on both the students and the sponsors first, second, and third choice.

“We heard of speed dating, so we came up with speed interviewing,” said Dr. Mac. “It turned out to be a really cool process.”

The 16-year-old partnership with the Mass Communications Department developed out of a close 12 year working relationship between Keith Lawrence, Director of Media Relations at Duke University and Dr. Mac.

“I am excited to enter the professional world after graduation with the fellowship,” said Miah Floyd Ferguson, a senior public relations student. “Having met Dr. Mac and now being associated with a program named after her makes this opportunity much more rewarding.”

“I was extremely surprised and honored ... it brought tears to my eyes.”

— Dr. Mac

We need your support!

Photos of December 2022

Graduates

by Brett Chambers

Let’s help them get there, and beyond.

How to Support Mass Communication

Your gift to the department of Mass Communication allows us to continue to provide a quality education for our students in the following ways:

•Fostering student success by allowing us the funds to support student attendance at conferences and workshops.

•Supporting the recognition of our students by providing scholarship opportunities.

•Encouraging the professional development of our faculty as we seek to learn new skills that will enable us to strengthen our teaching.

•Ensuring that the department can supply students with the most current equipment to practice their skills while they learn.

Partner with us as we work to empower our students to tell “Stories

that matter from perspectives that matter.”

Donate online at https://www.nccu. edu/institutional-advancement/giving-online

To make sure that the donation goes to the department:

•Indicate Amount

•Under “I want to support,” select Mass Communication Fund

•Add donor and payment information as requested

If you would like to consider other giving opportunities such as establishing a scholarship, naming opportunities, or planned giving for the Department of Mass Communication, please contact Ryan Clark in the NCCU Office of Institutional Advancement at (919) 530-7097 or rclark34@nccu.edu.

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Mass Communication is to prepare students for careers and study in mass communication.

The department offers engaged learning, student media, research experiences, and connections to professional practice opportunities.

The department values the comprehensive preparation of graduates with an understanding of the ethical, practical, and theoretical foundations in the field and an understanding of and appreciation for cultural diversity.

NOMMO

Spring 2023

ADVISER

Shauntae Brown White, Ph.D.

EDITOR

Rebecca Smith

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

Rebecca Smith & Bruce dePyssler, Ph.D.

DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Calvin L. Hall, Ph.D.

The Nommo is published by the N.C. Central University Department of Mass Communication for the alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the department. Please direct questions and comments about Nommo to the Department of Mass Communication at masscomm@nccu.edu or 1801 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC 27707.

SPRING

Faculty members Brett Chambers, Gabriel Cruz, and Michael Pearce at the Spring Open House