Since last year’s newsletter update, I’ve accepted a position as Chair of the Scholars Week Committee for WWU, working with Vice Provost Stephen Vanderstaay and Vice Provost of Research and Graduate School Dean Guatam Pillay to help administer the yearly campus event, as well as generate more participation and interest in works of student scholarship across campus. In other words, it’s a terrific opportunity to show my support of students’ academic pursuits, exercise my PR prowess and utilize my administrative skills. Unfortunately, I’ve been dealing with some unanticipated health issues that have kept me from working fall and winter quarter this year, but I intend to launch into my role directly upon my return this spring.

On the scholarship front, I was pleased to partner with my partner (see what I did there?), Senior Instructor Stephen Howie, to publish “Public Relations Videography: A Classroom Case Study in the Production and Dissemination of Digital Content” in The Journal of Communication and Media Studies. The department added the Video PR course to the regular academic schedule this year, but I was unable to teach it due to my medical leave. I hope to be able to offer the course next year, as students are enthusiastic and there is continued interest. In all my classes, I continue to challenge my students, and myself, by incorporating new technologies both for creating and sharing stories on multiple media platforms.

If you are on campus this spring, be sure to stop by. I’m always interested in hearing about your post-baccalaureate life and reminiscing about your student days as one of our #jkids (insert heart emoji here).