RSI Update | Summer 2026

News from from the the News Raymond Simon Simon Raymond Institute at at Institute Utica University Utica University

December Summer 2023 2026

Kimberly Hill Ridley ’94 honored as 2026 RSI Outstanding Alumna Utica University Public Relations/Journalism alumna Kimberly Hill Ridley ‘94 was honored as RSI’s 2026 Outstanding Alumna at the institute’s annual awards ceremony on April 11.

For more than 25 years, Ridley has been at the forefront of advancing opportunities and improving quality of life for people with disabilities across New York State. She serves as New York’s first Chief Disability Officer, a role created by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022 to ensure disability issues are represented at the highest levels of state government. In this position, Ridley advises the governor and executive staff on policies, programs, and budget priorities that affect countless New Yorkers.

service, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of others. Her work has opened doors, broken down barriers, and strengthened opportunities for people with disabilities, according to RSI Executive Director Mary Christopher.

Her influence also extends beyond the state level. As a member of the National Council on Disability, Ridley helps shape disability policy nationwide, provid- “We are proud to recognize Kim not only ing recommendations to the President, for her professional achievements, but Congress, and federal agencies on issues also for the lasting impact she continues impacting people with disabilities. to make through her advocacy, vision, and service,” Christopher said. “She has The Raymond Simon Institute said Ridley used her education, expertise, experiembodies what it means to be an out- ences and leadership to make a real difstanding alumna. Throughout her career, ference in people’s lives. Kim represents she has combined leadership, public the values we hope to inspire in all of our

graduates, and we are honored to celebrate her achievements.”

When Ridley was 16 years old, a spinal cord injury changed the course of her life. She didn’t realize what could have been only a personal challenge became the catalyst for a lifelong commitment to advocacy and public policy.

During her remarks at the April awards ceremony, Ridley said it was an honor to receive an award in the name of Professor Emeritus Raymond Simon as he set the standard for excellence in communication, education and public service.

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CONTENTS

RSI News

COVER - PAGE 4

Faculty Updates

PAGE 4 - 6

Program News

PAGE 7, 17-22

“Professor Simon stood for something even more important - the belief that clear, ethical and strategic communication has the power to inform, persuade and create real positive change in the world,” Ridley said. “That belief has guided me through my own journey.”

She also acknowledged retired Utica University Professors Kim Landon and Cecilia Friend, along with Joseph Zappala, for their wisdom and the foundation they laid.

between state agencies, foster collaboration, and expand access to services that allow people with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.

Before joining the governor’s administration, Ridley spent nearly 25 years leading the New York State Assembly’s Task Force and Committee on People with Disabilities. From legislative affairs and public policy to crisis communications and public engagement, she played a key role in shaping disability initiatives throughout the state.

Ridley also serves as New York State’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator and chairs the Most Integrated Services Coordinating Council (MISCC). Through these leadership roles, she has worked to break down barriers

A native of New York’s Mohawk Valley, Ridley graduated from Utica University in 1994 with a degree in Public Relations and Journalism. She now lives in Latham with her husband, Michael, and their children, Michaela and Alex.

2 | RSI Update

RSI NEWS

Raymond Simon Institute Recognizes Outstanding Students

The Raymond Simon Institute recognized top public relations, journalism, communication and digital media marketing students at Utica University in April. The annual brunch event awards nearly $20,000 in scholarships and cash awards to students each year.

scholarships possible,” Christopher said.

“It’s wonderful to honor our top students and recognize them in front of their families and friends.”

RSI Executive Director Mary Christopher said generous alumni and faculty donations directly support the institute’s awards and scholarships.

She added that only a small number of academic programs at Utica University offer student awards of comparable size.

The brunch awards program dates back to 1998.

Before that date, Professor Raymond Simon held a small dinner event for students. Today, faculty carry on Simon’s tradition of student recognition and provide personalized comments for each student award winner that often contains an interesting story.

“We are so thankful for a supportive alumni and faculty network to help make these awards and

The awards program also recognizes an outstanding alumnus, chosen by a subcommittee

of the Raymond Simon Institute. This year, the RSI recognized Kimberly Hill Ridley, ‘94, New York State’s Chief Disability Officer. (See related story) Scholarships are endowed, which means the funds generate a reliable funding source year after year. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need and other criteria. RSI awards, however, may need to be replenished with new funds once the money is awarded. If you are interested in contributing to the RSI or a specific award, please contact Christopher at mcchrist@utica.edu.

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RSI NEWS

2026 RSI AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS RSI Tangerine Excellence Award Grace Christopher Fred and Corinne Grates/RSI Achievement Award Neruda Perdomo Eleanor and Matty Sokolow/ RSI Writing Award Sam Weiselberg • Sarah Bochan • Nick Phillips • Ally Pedersen Tammy and Rob Flaherty Scholarship Allison Doyna Broadcasting/RSI Award Jack Rathburn John Behrens/RSI Phoenix Award Nicole Mayerchak John Behrens/RSI Print Journalism Scholarship Megan Wright Rubin R. Teitelbaum/RSI Award Jenna Skutnik Gagliardi/RSI Award Dakota Wayne RSI Student of Promise Award James Post RSI/Rising Star Award Gavin Grech David T. Santora Memorial Scholarship Terrence Walden Owen Comora/RSI Tangerine Award Ezra Duffy Cecilia Friend/RSI Award Ezra Duffy Gary and Jeanne LaBella/ RSI Transition Award Alicia Contreras Professor Kim Landon and David Simon Scholarship Alicia Contreras George Jones/RSI Outstanding PR/J Student Awards Freshman: Justus King • Sophomore: Justin Laniyan • Junior: Natalie Trophia • Senior: Megan Wright Ben and Gene Comora/RSI Scholarship Justin Laniyan Raymond Simon/RSI Scholarship Natalie Trophia

4 | RSI Update

Share Your News With Fellow Alumni!

Our alumni are making an impact every day and we want to celebrate your successes in our next newsletter!

Send us your latest professional updates, educational achievements, awards, promotions, publications, projects and other accomplishments. We would also love to hear your alumni story ideas, career journeys or lessons learned along the way.

Help us keep our alumni network connected, informed and inspired. We can’t wait to spotlight the incredible work of our alumni community.

Please submit your news or discuss a story idea with RSI Executive Director Mary Christopher at mcchrist@utica.edu or Assistant Director Laura Lewin at lalewin@utica.edu.

FACULTY UPDATES

Showcasing both successes and failures in public relations management, the fourth edition text uses a problem-based case study approach that encourages readers to put their knowledge to the test to assess what has worked and consider alternate approaches to the situations these cases explore.

Swann credits Raymond Simon’s mentoring she received as a new professor at Utica University. “I remember one day he stopped by my office and asked: ‘Would you like to update my case study textbook?’ I thought, ‘Impossible!’ Writing a textbook seemed beyond my capabilities. Yet, the project intrigued me, as did problem-based learning approaches that case study provided. In deference to Ray, I rang up an editor at McGraw-Hill to ask about updating the out-of-print title and was shocked when the response was positive,” Swann recalled.

“What I didn’t understand at the time was that case study research was a perfect fit for my journalism and PR skillset,” Swann said. “I could interview and write. I could also synthesize multiple sources of information into a coherent story, while connecting pertinent concepts. Since the first edition, it’s been fascinating to develop these case studies and share them with students.”

Swann Publishes 4th Edition of Cases in Public Relations Management For decades, Distinguished Professor of Public Relations and Management Patricia Swann has helped students prepare for careers in public relations and marketing by teaching them to think strategically and communicate effectively. Today, her influence continues to expand beyond the classroom through the publication of her latest textbook.

Swann, who was also the Interim Dean for the School of Business and Justice Studies for the 2025-2026 academic year, recently authored the fourth edition of Cases in Public Relations Management, a textbook published by Routledge that was originated by Professor Emeritus Ray Simon.

The text features a combination of new and updated cases that give students a practical view of how on-the-ground public relations is practiced today. The new edition includes cases on the Norfolk Southern Railroad derailment in East Palestine, OH, the social media influencer controversy involving Bud Light, JUUL’s illegal social media campaign, Dove’s Real Beauty campaign, the Barbie movie’s marketing campaign, and FTX’s business meltdown.

This textbook has been adopted by more than 100 colleges and universities and has sold more than 10,000 copies since it was first published in 2007.

The publication of the fourth edition reflects Swann’s longstanding commitment to bridging classroom learning and professional practice. Through her teaching, leadership, and scholarship, she continues to help prepare the next generation of communication professionals to navigate an increasingly complex media landscape.

A new Swann research project includes a chapter in a forthcoming 2026 book on the history of public relations. It will describe Raymond Simon’s significant contributions to public relations education. “This is an opportunity to solidify Simon’s work in the context of public relation’s development,” Swann said. “He was an educational trailblazer in many ways: he developed one of the first full-fledged public relations undergraduate curriculums; authored the first public relations-specific classroom textbooks for writing and case studies, in addition to a textbook for the principles course; and developing student potential through national student organizations and mentoring.

In addition to Cases in Public Relations Management, Swann has written two other textbooks: The Illustrated Guide to the Content Analysis Project (2020), and The Illustrated Guide to the Mass Communication Research Project (2023), both published

by Routledge. Each textbook breaks down the academic research process. Swann illustrated these books with cartoons, using humor to aid comprehension, encourage reading and reduce research anxiety.

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FACULTY UPDATES

A Year of Achievement: Dr. Jeff Miller Presents Research, Exhibits Artwork and Concludes Historic Film Series Run Last July, Dr. Jeff Miller, Professor of Communication and Media, presented his paper titled, “Communication and the Metaverse: Teaching Virtual Selves in Virtual Worlds,” at the 2025 Biennial World Communication Association Conference, held at Kristiania University College in Oslo, Norway. In his presentation, Dr. Miller reflected upon some of his experiences teaching Senior Seminar (CMM 481), in which he and students reconsider communication theory in the context of virtual worlds such as Second Life.

In December, Dr. Miller also delivered an online presentation of his research findings to the Covenant Coalition, a national network of racial covenant researchers. He also contributed an essay titled, “Utica: Context,” to Mapping Inequality, a leading website on the topic of redlining in American cities, located at: https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/map/ NY/Utica/context#loc=13/43.0932/-75.2328 Two of Dr. Miller’s original works of art, a digital photograph titled, “Helhesten (Gunnar Utsond), Ekeberg, Oslo,” and a 2-D found material composition titled, “ZEALOT,” were official selections in the 2025 Regional Juried Art Show at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts in Little Falls. A third work, a 2-D found material composition titled, “Holier Than Thou,” was selected for the Community Art Showcase Celebrating Local Talent – One Piece at a Time, at Redhouse Gallery in the Red House Arts Center, Syracuse.

Lastly, on October 16, Dr. Miller concluded his 26-year run as director, programmer, and host of Films on Thursday, the campus film series, Utica University. His final film was Jacques Demy’s 1964 French classic, Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

6 | RSI Update

PROGRAM NEWS

WPNR-FM Sets New Mark With Record Game Broadcasts WPNR-FM staff members called a record 140 games over the Em- “When we first re-started broadcasting Pioneers sports nearly 20 pire 8 Digital Conference Network with the help of Utica Univer- years ago, my goal was just to create a fun outlet for the students. sity’s Sports Information and Athletics departments.

Now student broadcasters are an integral part of our institution’s athletics program.”

Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, the staff covered men’s and women’s sports, ranging from ice hockey, lacrosse, Croft sees sports broadcasting as something Utica students do soccer, basketball, football, baseball, softball, field hockey and particularly well, even compared with other institutions and volleyball. their student media outlets.

The broadcasts give students hands-on experience in play-by- “There are many avenues a student can take at Pioneer Radio to be play commentary, production and live sports reporting. The creative and develop professional and transferable skills, but the partnership between the radio station and Sports Information sports broadcasting department has been a key component to and Athletics continues to provide expanded coverage for Pio- our ongoing success as an educational organization. The recent neer fans on campus and online. addition of pre-game content with UticaTV has been awesome and icing on the cake. It’s not just about the volume of games.

Doug Croft, WPNR-FM Chief Operating Officer, said he is proud We are truly working on the quality of the content and trying to of the students’ efforts and the service to the campus and com- showcase a wide range of student skills and abilities.” munity: Approximately 20% of those games are also aired and simulcasted on WPNR-FM and PioneerRadio.org.

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PLEASE SUPPORT RSI You can support the Raymond Simon Institute by making a secure online gift at utica.edu/donate.

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Your gift is greatly appreciated.

Raymond Simon Institute Advisory Committee Chris Bandura, ’99 Brad Buyce, ’91 Brooke Candelaria Thomas Caputo, ’22 Yvonne Dennis, ’91 Marissa Filletti, ’14 Renee Gamela, ’03 Angie Grande, ’05 Dorree Gurdak, ’92

8 | RSI Update

Deborah Kessler, ’90 Frank Maurizio, ’77 James McClendon, ’17 Tim McGowan, ’80 Maria Montero Silva, ’20 Robert O’Gara, ’67 Gina Pearce, ’94 Richard Puff, ’81 Jennifer Waters, ’22

Patricia Swann, RSI executive director and distinguished professor of public relations and management, pswann@utica.edu Mary Christopher, RSI assistant director and director of Tangerine operations, mcchrist@

utica.edu