A Taylor, a Rose, and a Bridge

Stories feed our imagination. A compelling narrative, masterful worldbuilding, and a well-written hero (or villain) stick with readers and viewers—for a lifetime in some instances. I have been fortunate enough to live the culminating on-campus chapters of three award-winning protagonists during the past year and a half as part of CCOM. My time here allows only short story versions of what this impactful trio has developed, nurtured, and shared through their nearly 100 years of combined service to Butler University.

This is a true story about a Taylor, a Rose and a Bridge. They have earned their beautiful and inspiring academic sunsets after so many selfless seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years of preparing Bulldogs to have their own bright, fulfilling futures.

Once upon a time, somewhere in the vicinity of 4600 Sunset Avenue…

The Taylor: Tailors mend broken clothes, impact design and fashion, and help make their clients look well put together. Our Taylor, Christine, has also done some mending, lots of designing, and has helped her students achieve their best for three decades in CCOM. Christine has been a faculty member at Butler through ebbs and flows and evolution in her immediate work environment and the discipline in which she resides. She seamlessly assimilated from the Department of Radio and Television in the Jordan College of the Arts, to the Pulliam School of Journalism and Creative Media in the College of Communication. Christine has helped build community, develop curricula, and educate students who desired the feel of a camera in their hands. She has evolved with the times, learning new technology and practices in the broadcasting industry from her days at CNN to her long tenure with Butler. Christine has been a voice of calm, a source of wisdom, and a faculty member her former students never forget—and we hear about that often.

The Rose: A single rose can, at times, be more powerful and meaningful than dozens of flowers from a florist. We know it first-hand in CCOM because we only needed our Rose—Rose Campbell. She is actively celebrated by others who have taught me how invaluable her presence and actions have been while building the foundation of our college.

I learned about Rose’s authentically forged connections with students from Trey Meehan ‘14. He told me that her investment was grounded in care, but also high expectations. Her colleagues in the Department of Strategic Communication reflect constantly on her dedication to CCOM and to Butler University. Provost Brooke Barnett echoed this by leaning on Rose as a special assistant the past two years during a grueling accreditation process. That is just one example of her “for the greater good” service throughout an award-winning career. Rose has served as chair for seven years, special assistant for two years, and a mentor to colleagues and students for her entire 25+ year career. She has always emphasized students, and that is an approach I embrace and appreciate. Rose also initiated the CCOM Experiential Learning Fund which has helped numerous students pursue education and resume-building opportunities they otherwise would be unable to take advantage of. Experiencing higher education with Dr. Rose Campbell, as a student, mentor, or peer might be best summarized in the final line of the poem “What A Rose Can Say,” by Margie Driver: “No matter what there is to say, a rose can say it best.” Butler and CCOM know this to be true.

The Bridge: The bridge is a way to connect people and places, and Scott Bridge has epitomized this during his time as a leader at Butler. He has done transformative work with CCOM’s thriving internship program. I can’t imagine anyone being surprised that during the pandemic he hosted a weekly Zoom meeting with a first-year journalism student to make them feel connected to the campus from 900 miles away. “Mr. CCOM” has done it all—from tours of campus for prospective students to hours spent advising students from all parts of the university during his career. Scott is a two-time graduate of Butler and a longstanding faculty member. His shoes aren’t likely to be filled by any single person.

At the CCOM’s retirement reception for our spectacular trio one alum told me he was explaining to colleagues that he needed to leave early because his college professor was retiring. One colleague commented, “I don’t even remember who my college professors were.” The Bulldog alum responded, “If you went to Butler, you know Scott Bridge.” We all have our Scott Bridge stories, and true to his last name, he connects students to Butler and CCOM.

The vignettes about Christine, Rose, and Scott are endless. They include dozens of mentored colleagues, and thousands of lives changed for the better. Their compelling stories navigate years of hard work and dedication as three heroes in our college—a Taylor, a Rose and a Bridge—take their final, celebratory Butler CCOM bows.

They represent the best of the best in Bulldogs Nation, and I count myself lucky to have worked with them even for such a short time. May their next career be filled with joy, adventure, and fulfillment equal to that which they have given here at Butler.