Keepin’ Up with
Communication
Spring 2015
Communication Studies Department at Kutztown University Alumni Newsletter
A letter from the Chair of the Department, Dr. Claire Van Ens
Spring 2015 is here! There is nothing quite as inspiring as watching the lushness of
spring unfold. It is such a wonderful sign of rebirth and reawakening. As the department
moves through spring, we also are experiencing changes. We’ve hired two new tenure
track faculty members who will start in the fall. We’ve hired seven temporary faculty
members for fall - four of whom are new to KU. While we are experiencing that new
growth, we also are saying goodbye to three faculty members: Professor Jim McNiff who
has been with our department since 1986, Dr. Andrea Mitnick who is leaving after 20
years at KU and Dr. Ken Danielson who has taught in the department for a little over a
decade. All three have been well loved by our students, and we wish them the very best in
their new adventures.
Spring is the season of growth and development. Starting Fall 2015, our major will look
very different than it currently does. Our faculty decided that since Communication
Studies is such a broad field, it would benefit our students if we had areas of focus for
them to choose from. We chose five areas: Advocacy & Discourse, Interpersonal Communication, Media Studies, Performance Studies, and Strategic Communication. Students will be able to choose one or more of the focus areas and create
their major around the classes that fit in each area. There will be four required courses: Introduction to Communication
Studies (COM101), Survey of Com Theory (COM240), Research Methods & Writing (COM340) and the Senior Capstone
Experience (COM380). Our program is expansive, which means that students can readily get multiple minors along with
their Communication Studies major, all within four years. One great combination with our major is to have all three of
the following minors: Public Relations, Digital COM & New Media and Professional Writing. We are preparing our students well for their lives outside of the university!
We also look forward to working with KU’s new President, Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson, whose academic background is in
Communication Studies and, specifically, Performance Studies.
Enjoy your summer and keep in touch! Claire
Letter from the Chair Alumni: Where are they now? Guest Speakers KU Idol Happenings Within Department Communication Club Lambda Pi Eta
Public Relations Club Table of Contents
1
Awards 2
Deans List, Internships, and Study Abroad 3
Communication Studies Interns 4
Senior Seminar Projects 5
Senior Showcase
6
Communication Studies Faculty 7
Alumni Survey 8
9
10
11
12
13-18
19-20
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Please send along your news, notes, and suggestions to gambler@kutztown.edu.
1
Alumni:
Alumni:Where
Whereare
arethey
theynow?
now?
Kutztown University Communication Studies Department alumni can be found all over the world, contributing
in many different ways. Do you have an interesting alumni story to tell?
Share it with us at gambler@kutztown.edu.
Erin Dixon, ’14, is starred in Rabbit Hole, directed by Tina Angstadt, a produc-
tion at the Genesius Theatre which showed between March 25th and March 29th. Erin is
playing one of the main characters, Becca Corbett, and the story revolves around her
life and family as they struggle through a tragedy that disrupts their life in a dramatic
way. When Erin attended Kutztown she majored in Theater Acting & Directing with a
minor in Communications. She performed in seven different productions during her
four years, and graduated with honors. Not only will she be performing in this show,
but she will also be in the Genesius 2015 season in September with Boeing, Boeing. Erin
currently resides in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.
Adrian DiGiovanni, ’00, is a
graduate of the Conservatory at the Second City in Chicago, IL. He is an actor/
writer/director. He works frequently as an
actor with Imagos Films in Seattle, WA,
and has won four best actor awards on the
film festival circuit for his starring role
in Motivational Growth, which is
now available at amazon.com and streaming on iTunes. His next feature, Depth,
will be realesed in the summer of 2015.
Kristin Pedemonti just returned
from Iran. She is the first American to
perform at the International Storytelling
Festival.
Tom Walker, ’02,
has been working in television, film, and stage acting in
New York City since graduating from Kutztown as a Communication Studies
major. He left a three and a half year run in NEWSical: The Musical Off-Broadway to pursue some guest starring opportunities on television, as well as the
summer blockbuster “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”. He also starred in “Unforgettable” and “Person of Interest” on CBS, and “Alpha House” on Amazon. More
recently, he married his five year love, actress Julia Dennis, on May 3rd, 2014. He
is in a new Netflix series called “Daredevil”. To the left, Tom is seen on the red
carpet in California for the premiere on April 9, 2015.
Caitlin Smith, ’11, is the Development Coordinator at National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Philadelphia.
2
Guest Speakers
Alan Heymann, Vice President of Communication at
the Humane Society of the United States, was a guest
speaker on Tuesday, March 31st in Rickenbach Learning
Center.
Dave Johnson, from University Relations, also spoke
in Dr. Mitnick’s PR Cases & Campaigns class.
Chris Smith and Magy, from Giant Supermarket, guest
spoke in Dr. Andrea Mitnick’s PR Cases & Campaigns class.
Event Planner Visits Class - Virtually
Thanks to new technologies, the students in Dr. Eicholtz’s Meeting and Event
Planning class were able to meet and ask questions of a successful Chicago Event
Planner, Kate Fortney, on April 21st via SKYPE. Kate shared with the class what
inspired her to pursue this career, stories of her challenges and successes in the
business, and career advice. Specifically, she encouraged students to do several
internships to determine if this was really the field they wanted to work in. She
also discussed the many different career opportunities that are part of Event
Planning. Students had the opportunity to ask questions face-to-face thanks to
SKYPE technology, which projected Kate onto the classroom screen while Kate
had a view of the classroom.
Kate was a former student of Dr. Eicholtz’s and a Communication Studies major.
She began her own business in Event Planning in Chicago shortly after graduating in 2009 and now owns a boutique in the Cleveland area with plans to open a
second store.
3
KU Idol
Kutztown University’s very own Meeting and
Event Planning class hosted its first ever KU Idol
on Monday, April 27th, 2015. This was a chance for
the students at Kutztown University to show off
their talents, win prizes, as well as raise money for
charity.
Admired Alumni, JP Price emceed, Dr. Claire Van
Ens, Tracy Thompson, and Kirk Griffiths were invited to judge the contestants. There were 14 very
talented acts, and the results of the show are as
followed: Steven Robinson placed in third, Brendan Stone and Jake Supreme received the second place prize,
and Phalon Thornhill was the first place winner.
KU Idol filled the entire Alumni Auditorium in the Student Union Building, and was a night filled with fun
and entertainment. Awesome performances by Black Flame Dance Team and KU Drum Line were a major
hit. Food and refreshments were available to enjoy at intermission. Sororities and clubs on campus graciously donated raffle baskets, which were sold throughout the night.
The event was a major success and raised $450 for the Opportunity House, a Homeless Shelter in Reading,
Pennsylvania. The Opportunity House of Reading focuses on improving the lives of children and adults in
need. The classes handiwork truly paid off, and everyone was impressed by the outcome of KU Idol.
The students of Meeting and Event Planning COM 370 had been working on perfectings this event all semester. Weekly general meetings were conducted to keep everyone on schedule; updated and constant promotion was key in order to make this night happen. They want to thank their instructor, Dr. Eicholtz, saying,
“We wouldn’t be able to do it without her!”
4
Happenings within the Department
New Minor Beginning Fall 2015
A new minor will be offered at Kutztown at the start of the Fall 2015 semester. Want to know more about digital
worlds? Social media? Microblogging? Digital Communication and New Media is an interdisciplinary mnior
that was developed jointly by the Communication, English, and Electronic Media departments and focuses on
developing students’ ability to analyze and produce digital content. The goal is to provide students with intellectual skills necessary for the workforce of the 21st century (#marketable #employed #nomoreramennoodles).
Dr. Keith Massie (Communication Studies) and Dr. Robert ‘Moe’ Folk (English) co-chair the committee responsible for the minor. The committee is working to promote the minor and hopes to develop it into a degree
program in the near future.
Digital Communication & New Media Students
Alyssa Fama, an English/Professional Writing major was the first student to sign
up for the new minor that starts in Fall of 2015.
“When I first heard about the new minor, I was really excited. It was meshing all
of my interests into one. It was everything I was looking for,” she said.
After meeting with Dr. Van Ens, she found adding the new minor with the Communication Studies minor and her major, she was just two classes away from
completing a Public Relations minor as well, so she added that also.
“The new minor is easy for most students to complete because it has so many
electives that fall under several other departments as well,” Alyssa said.
Maria Sunick was the second student to add the new minor with her Art Education major and Women and Gender Studies minor.
“As a student, I am not only trying to get the best education for my future career,
but I am taking every opportunity to learn as much as I can while I’m in school.
This minor will allow me to take classes I’m interested in as well as make me a
more marketable candidate when the time comes to look for a job, so it’s really a win-win,” Maria said. “I see that our society is quickly shifting from paper
communication to digital forms faster than most can keep up, so it really is great
that Kutztown is offering this minor to give us the tools we need to be successful
in any career we choose.”
Dr. Van Ens introduced her to the new minor when she met with her to add her
Women and Gender studies minor. She encouraged her to move forward with it, as it would work great for
Maria.
5
Communication
Career Club
President: Kimberly Koehler
Vice President: Brittany Babin
Treasurer: Mike Jarell
Secretary: Karli Binder
Advisor: Dr. Emily Cripe
On March 31st, Communication Career Club hosted a guest speaker for students to learn more
about what you do with a Communication Studies degree. Alan Heymann, Vice President of Communication at the Humane Society of the United States, spoke about what working for a non-profit
organization is like, as well as how he oversees all aspects of the communication, which include
social media posts, public relations, and media communication at his job.
@Caps
Advisor: Dr. Deryl Johnson
On April 12, 2015, Mary Smith and Jillian
Bickelmandid their senior capstone project: Hello My Name Is. Each student spoke and told their
Lambda Pi Eta
President: Kaitlyn Amodei
Vice President: Ellyn Kershner
Treasurer: Alexander Vigilante
Secretary: Christina Wolfe
Advisor: Dr. Mary Eicholtz
This semester Lambda Pi Eta (LPE) inducted ten new
members while saying goodbye to nineteen graduating seniors. LPE participated in many service opportunities throughout the semester from volunteering
at the Color Run on campus, being speech aids for
students with disabilities, donating school supplies,
and raising funds for The Pulsera Project. LPE also
participated in the Kutztown Block Party, working
with the Communication Club and Public Relations
Club to bring fun to students and locals.
6
Lambda PI Eta Induction Ceremony
Xi Kappa Chater
On April 28th 2015, Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) had their inductions ceremony and honored graduating seniors. LPH is the National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and
universities. As an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), Lambda
Pi Eta has active chapters at four-year colleges and universities worldwide. Lambda Pi Eta recognizes,
fosters, and rewards outstanding scholastic achievement while stimulating interest in the communication discipline.
Inductions
Karli Binder
Brittany Burrows
Monica Denofa
Samantha Gross
Morgan Harris
Graduting Seniors
Katlynn Hildebrandt
Diana Minogue
Diedra Pile
Cory Samsel
Victoria Tagliomonti
Kaitlyn Amodei
Jillian Bickelman
Laurel Brandt
Brittany Burrows
Kailee Charles
Monica Denofa
Morgan Harris
Katlynn Hildebrandt
Ellyn Kershner
Kimberly Koehler
Erin McDonald
Emily Moore
Emily Shuler
Mary Smith
Alex Vigilante
Chelsea Williams
History
The name Lambda Pi Eta is represented by the Greek letters L (lambda), P (pi), H (eta) symbolizing
what Aristotle described in The Rhetoric as three ingredients of persuasion: logos (Lambda), meaning
logic; pathos (PI), relating to emotion; and ethos (Eta), defined as character credibility and ethics. The
candle lighting ceremony will describe each of these Greek letters.
Lambda Pi Eta was initiated by the students of the Department of Communication at the University of
Arkansas and was then endorsed by the faculty and founder, Dr. Stephen A. Smith in 1985. The Speech
Communication Association established Lambda Pi Eta as an affiliate organization and as the official
National Communication honor society for undergraduates in 1994. In Februrary 1996, Lambda Pi
Eta was inducted in the Association of College Honor Societies. There are currently 344 active chapters worldwide.
7
Public Relations Club
President: Ellyn Kershner
Vice President: Casey Montague
Treasurer: Katlynn Hildebrandt
Secretary: Kim Koehler
Advisor: Dr. Joseph Harasta
On Tuesday, February 24th, Alyson Komyanek, 2009 Communication Studies alumnus spoke to the Public Relations Club.
Alyson currently works as a Communications Director at Woods
Services. This is a non-profit service organization for individuals
with disabilities and challenges. She spoke to the Public Relations
club about how she achieved her position as Director of Communication.
Her current role manages all of Woods social media, like Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and many more.
She also does some event planning and marketing.
“She spoke to us about the interviewing process and how many companies she interviewed with before she was able to find a full-time
job,” Ellyn Kershner, President of the Public Relations Club, said.
Alyson spoke to them about her responsibilites, and how she translated her experiences to her resume. She
reminded them that every job has rewarding aspects and its not so rewarding aspects.
She showed them a video she created to raise money, as well as Wood’s Facebook page. She also spoke of the
importance of the Career Center on campus, and how she used their services while she was a student.
Alyson wrote two different columns for the Bucks Happenings Media, and she spoke about her
experiences as a freelance writer.
Alyson provided tips, advice, and shared her experiences with them so that they could go on to start their
careers successfully.
Most of the Public Relations Club’s time was
spent helping the Military Club promote their
5k Race for Wounded Warriors. They purchased
and sold bracelets, which are similiar to
Livestrong bracelets, to help advertise for the
event and raise money. Also, four of their members will be running in the event and some other
members will be volunteering. “Last year, the
event was a great success, and this year they are
hoping to have even more runners,” Ellyn Kershner, president of the Public Relations Club said.
The race took place on April 4th on Kutztown’s
campus.
Public Relations Club also attended Kutztown’s
Block Party with the Communications Club and
Lambda Pi Eta
8
Awards
Francesca Stewart has been accepted for an M.A. in Journalism at DePaul
University in Chicago. Francesca reflects on her decision to pursue the next
chapter of her life. She says, “Deciding to pursue an M.A. in Journalism at
DePaul University is simply exciting and surreal. Furthering my education
at DePaul will offer me a chance for intellectual growth and gives me a sense
of accomplishment. Being located in downtown Chicago creates such an
attraction for networking and seeking greater opportunities. A few months
ago I never imagined that Chicago would be where I would be starting the
next chapter of my life. You never know what will happen and you must take
advantage of every great oppourtunity that presents itself. I am extremely
thankful for the Communication Studies department for helping me create a
vision of my future. I would like to give a special thanks to all of my wonderful professors that have provided me with knowledge, skills, and motivation
that I will take with me to DePaul University. I believe that I am making a great decision and I look forward to
making everyone proud.”
Congratulations to Emma Billig for
receiving the Stimmel Scholarship!
Dr. Ron Grapsy and
Alyssa Cuccurilla in the
December graduation.
Dr. Ron Grapsy with
Luke Ferracone and
Megan Soucy at the
December graduation.
9
Dean’s List, Internships
Internships,&&Study
StudyAbroad
Abroad
Dean’s List Fall 2015
Laurel Brandt Studies Abroad in England
Laurel Brandt studied abroad in London, England this
past winter from December 26th, 2014 to January 11th,
2015. She had a two week stay at the London School of
Economics campus where there were many shopping
centers and cultural restaurants near the campus. She
attended multiple meetings and interviews with immigrants and international students, and one happened to
be a KU alumni. She took a walking tour throughout
Oxford Universtiy, where some parts of Harry Potter was
filmed. She visited and crossed Abbey Road, where the
famous Beatle’s photo was taken. Her favorite memory
of the trip was seeing the Tower of London and Tower
Bridge. This is where the crown jewels are housed, and
she was fortunate enough along with three other girls
to have been snuck in through a side door by a guard so
they didn’t have to wait in a 1,000 person line.
Some other places she visited were the British Library,
Big Ben, Stonehedge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham
Palace, a tour of Westminster Abbey, a ride on the London Eye, and multiple museums.
Laurel reminisces about her experience and says, “As
an undergrad I had always wanted to travel abroad and
when I learned about a chance to go to London, I knew
this would be my last chance to study abroad. I was
beyond blessed for being accepted into the program.
Meeting Dr. Mace and the other students was another
blessing; I couldn’t have asked for better peers to go with.
I was so fortunate to meet some of the most inspiring
people while in London, and I will never forget how
open and welcoming they were to the twelve of us very
curious and questioning students. They all opened their
lives to us in such generous ways. It was by far the most
amazing two weeks I have ever lived, and I will be forever grateful.”
Heather Adams
Kaitlyn Amodei
Elaine Atherholt
Sara Barton
Brittany Beaudoin
Emma Billig
Laurel Brandt
Noel Bumm
Brandon Conniff
Autumn Crouse
Monica Denofa
Katherine Douventzidis
Amber Farnum
Gina Finio
Bradi Gallagher
Bryon Garrison
Samantha Gross
Brooke Hamm
Jenessa Keller
Ellyn Kershner
Kimberly Koehler
Sara Langdon
Rachel Lawes
Nathaniel Listrani
Elise Lubinsky
David Matejka
Christina Mc Gill
Maranda Miller
Diana Minogue
Emily Moore
Janelle Nelson
Michael O’Mara
Destiny Phillips
Diedra Pile
Frances Procaccio
Chelsey Reichelt
Lauren Rhine
Amanda Robinson
Aubree Robitzer
Violet Sam-Otuh
Victoria Schaffer
Jocelyn Schlegel
Andrew Schrecengost
Kelsey Sedlacek
Setrag Shahikian
Kelli Sheatsley
Emily Shuler
Joseph Smith
Molly Smith
Kevin Sninsky
Amy Soster
Megan Soucy
Brittany Stofko
Erin Stoops
Kevin Stratton
Maria Sunick
Victoria Tagliamonti
Torrie Thompson-Kenley
Katelyn Tiernan
Samantha Troeller
Adrianna Veneri
Viviana Vidal
Laura Vining
Jodi Wagner
Ben Winn
Christina Wolfe
Megan Yaeger
Sarah Zahuta
Nicole Zensky
10
Communication Studies Interns
Recent Student Internships
Brittany Babin, Moravian Bookstore
Jesse Barats, Grace Bible Fellowship
Alyssa Bissell, KU’s Womens Center
Monica DeNofa, The Leukema & Lymphona Society
Christina Descano, Woods Services
Rachel Dziedzic, Bellostone LLC
Stefanie Faney, Santander Arena
Kimberly Koehler, Paisley & Company
Melissa Lynham, Cashman & Associates
Isabelle Martinez, KU Athletic Department
Violet Sam-Otuh, Cigna
Cory Samsel, SMG/Santander Arena
Kelsey Sedlacek, ASR Media Productions
Setrag Shahikian, Eckhaus Gallery
Kieran Sninsky, PeopleShare
Victoria Tagliamonti, The People Academy
Shantae Taylor, Prima Media Inc.
Samantha Troeller, Disney
Laura Vining, Schuylkill Valley Sports
Jodi Wagner, KU’s University Relations
Looking for an Internship?
Courtney Woytko, an alumnus from KU, received a
BFA in Communication Design. She currently works at
the Sands Event Center as their Graphic Designer and
entire Marketing Department. They are seeking interns
to help her and their box office throughout the week
when they have shows, but mostly on the weekends. If
interested, e-mail her at courtneyedesign@gmail.com.
Laurel Brandt Interns at CAI
Laurel Brandt is currently interning for Computer
Aid, Inc. as a corporate Communications Intern.
She was worked directly for CIO and senior managment team to enhance department communications, and has improved communication among
business regions by designing and composing the
monthly newsletter. She has also heightened employee moral by managing an internal rewards
system and boosted company spirit through event
coordination of 60+ employees.
Regarding her internship she says, “As for the company itself, I couldn’t be happier to work for CAI.
They are truly some of the best employees and are
the most welcoming group of people. this company strives for a kind, honest, openminded working
environment and they don’t fall short of that.”
11
Senior Seminar Projects
Hello My Name Is
On April 12, 2015, Mary and Jillian did their senior capstone project: Hello My Name Is. They had six students
with disabilities tell their personal stories about living with disabilities, and their stories were amazing. Randi
Burdge, one of our own, told her story as well. The room in the Student Union Building was packed with students. Each storyteller went on stage and in proper storytelling mode, spoke their truth.
Dr. Deryl Johnson worked with Mary, Jillian, and the storytellers, as well as being the MC.
It is so important to hear these stories, and having the students telling their own stories made it all the more
powerful.
1
12
Senior Showcase
13
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15
16
17
JIM MCNIFF RETIRES
In a Facebook post listing his influential professors, a Speech Communications alumnus described Professor James McNiff as “...a solid teacher who put forth the effort to
instill learning. I walked away from his classes actually having learned communication methodology!” A compliment to his dedication to students and colleagues, these
words frame the enormous contribution that Prof. McNiff made to the program, the
department, and to the university-at-large. In his long tenure at Kutztown, the words
“committed,” “trust” and “integrity” could be found in every endeavor in which he was
involved. Students, their learning and their success, always came first. He could be
found during office hours and beyond, advising and assisting students. His students
regularly commented on the creative assignments he would bring to facilitate effective
group work (Even bringing in photos of himself with long hair and a full beard!). As
the founding advisor for the Communication Club he arranged for our majors to utilize
their communication skills answering questions for prospective freshman and their
families. When the time for celebrating our seniors came in the spring, he made sure the awards were ordered,
the certificates were printed, and the plaques were engraved...and the table decorations were in place for the Senior Banquet. Not everyone was aware of the considerable service he gave to the International Affairs Committee, the many years of teaching Intercultural Communication, or the support he provided for our international
students. He strongly believed in the importance of understanding and experiencing different cultures as a
means of fostering effective communication on a global scale. As a colleague, within the department and across
campus, Prof. McNiff was always willing to work for the betterment of the department, the college, and the
university. Always organized and ready to go, he could be depended on to focus on the tasks at hand, working
collaboratively to complete the project or solve a problem. Even in times of heated debate, his was a voice of
reason and calm. At the same time, the “other” side of Prof. McNiff was always at the ready: Witty, with a droll
sense of humor, he and his colleagues shared many wonderful, light moments. Few knew him for the “Movie
Man” that he was, but on a Monday, you could check in with him for a critique of one of the latest releases. His
easy smile and genial demeanor put the dozens of new faculty who called LC217 their home feel at ease as they
began their tenure in the department. He was a mentor to all. His support of all the programs and faculty in
the department - Speech Comm., Related Arts, Theatre, Public Relations, Performance Studies - was unwavering. In summary, Prof. Jim McNiff ’s shoes will be hard to fill. Yes other faculty will teach his courses, advise
students, and serve the department. But matching the sum of the contributions that he made will take considerably more. - Roberta Crisson
18
Communication Studies Faculty
Dr. Keith Massie
Dr. Keith Massie was interviewed by Mike McGovern, of the Reading Eagle, for a
story about Social Media. It focused on the controversial tweet about Mo’ne Davis.
The story came out Sunday, March 29th on page 2C.
He also worked with Dr. “Moe” Folk in English to submit a grant proposal as to
assess part of the new Digital Communication and New Media Minor.
Dr. Massie has also constructed an innovative way to teach the COM 245 course
(New Media and Communication). Students in the course design a website that
highlights a non-profit organization. Using their social media networks, they promote the webpages. A Google Analytics tracker records a variety of data about the
traffic on the webpages. The assignment runs for 2 weeks of the course; during that time, the current (Spring
2015) class generated 17,098 pageviews from 75 different countries.
Dr. Andi Mitnick taught her last regular class on Thursday April 30th, at
three O’clock. The Public Relations class and department faculty joined her
in celebrating over 30 years of teaching and 20 years at KU. We wish you
the very best of fun in your retirement.
Dr. Ron Grapsy was recognized by the Office
of Grants and Sponsored Projects as having
submitted a grant proposal to an External
Sponsor at a reception on Monday,
February 23th.
Dr. Mary Eicholtz Receives
Tenure
Dr. Mary Eicholtz receieved tenure
starting Spring 2015. She says to the
faculty, “Thank you for all of your
support throughout the process.
Now we can celebrate.” In addition,
she was also elected as chair of
general education assessment.
Congratulations, Dr. Eicholtz!
Dr. Diana Ebersole
Dr. Diana Ebersole is presenting at the
International Association of Relationship
Research conference at Rugters in June. The
title of the presentation is: “This is a really
difficult time” Parent-adolescent perspectives on family communication, patterns,
privacy management, and individual and
collective health and well-being.”
19
Communication Studies Faculty
Dr. Andrea Mitnick is retiring from Kutztown University this spring, after
nearly twenty years with us. During that time she has had a remarkable career.
Thanks to the support of several administrators and the two chairs she has
worked with, Professor Roberta Crisson and, currently, Dr. Claire Van Ens,
she has had the opportunity to take leaves of absence and sail with the Semester at Sea program three times; she received two Fulbright grants and last spring found herself living and
teaching in Budapest, Hungary.
Through an exchange program with The Diplomatic Academy in Moscow, Dr. Mitnick worked there for several
weeks at a time on three different occasions while Kutztown hosted a Russian scholar here.
On a more local note, the things she remains proudest of are, among a number of items: Establishing and advising a Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Honors Society for Communication Studies students here at
Kutztown.
Early in her career she became one of the first strong advocates for LGBT students and was instrumental in
advising students as part of the ALLIES program.
Perhaps the happiest years of her life at Kutztown were when she was the Director of the Honors program and
through her efforts was able to gather support for and work with former President Cevallos; with his generosity
an Honors dorm was built to better serve the best and brightest students we have.
She was noimated for the Arthur and Isabel Wiesenberger Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching on two
different occasions, as well as for Outstanding Faculty for the needs of Non-Traditional Students.
Over the years she has presented at over 30 national and international conferences, published articles in several journals, and consulted with various organizations on and off Wall Street over a twenty year period. She
is currently in demand as a speaker on generational differences in the workplace and how to best manage a
multi-generational workforce.
She has been a Keynote speaker at such places as the New York City Regional Pharmacy Residency Conference
in Brooklyn, the National Guard Youth Challenge program’s Annual Workshop in Dallas, Texas, and has conducted one-week long workshops in communication effectiveness in places as divergent as Mexico and Cork,
Ireland.
But, her best memories will always be of all the hundreds of students she has worked with over the years, instilling in them a respect for language, for hard work and professionalism on and off of our beautiful campus. It has
been a glorious time indeed, and she thanks all those who made her journey such an exciting and fulfilling one.
It was always, and continues to be, finally, about the students - the goofy ones, the earnest ones, the delightful,
confident, scared, troubled, wonderful students who have made my life so rich with their presence.
Her plans after Kutztown include continuing her work with Vietnamese immigrants at the Delaware County
Literacy Council, volunteering at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and perhaps teaching a little closer to
home, possibly at Villanova or Temple.
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES SURVEY
1. Name: (last)____________________________________ (first)_____________________________
Maiden:______________________________ Spouse’s Name :_____________________________
2. Home Address: (street)____________________________________________________________
City:____________________________________State:_____________Zip:___________________
Home Phone: (area code)_________ Phone:___________________________________________
3. Employer:___________________________________________________ since:______________
Title:________________________________________________________ since:______________
Company Addresss: (street)________________________________________________________
City:___________________________________State:______________Zip:__________________
E-Mail:____________________________________________
4. Year of Graduation:_________________________________
5. What was your major at Kutztown? SPEECH/COMMUNICATION__________ THEATRE__________ OTHER ________
6. Are you currently employed? (If no, go to 10) YES__________ NO__________
7. Are you employed: FULL TIME_____________ PART TIME_____________
8. Are you working in a degree related field? YES___________ NO___________
9. Did you do an internship while at Kutztown University? YES____________ NO____________
If you did are you currently employed or have you ever been employed by that internship? YES_________ NO__________
10. If your job is non-degree related, what is the primary reason that you are not working in the field?
_____ (1) FEW OR NO JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD
_____ (2) INABILITY OR LACK OF DESIRE TO CHANGE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
_____ (3) AVAILABILITY OF HIGHER PAYING POSITIONS IN NON-RELATED FIELDS
_____ (4) OPTED FOR GRADUATE STUDY
_____ (5) OTHER (please specify)___________________________________________________
11. Have you enrolled in any programs for graduate study? YES________ NO________
SCHOOL:_______________________________________________________________________
DEGREE PROGRAM:______________________________DEGREE AWARED:__________________
YEAR:_________________
12. Were you employed in the field at graduation? YES________ NO________
. Please bring us up to date about yourself. Include information that you would allow us to publish in our newsletter.
(ex: promotions, job changes, moves, awards, marriage, births, etc.)
Our goal is to have this newsletter become 100% electronic, so please send us your email address. Feel free to update us by filling out
the above survey and send to Stacey Gambler at gambler@kutztown.edu.