CCOM Pawcast

The CCOM Pawcast is a podcast hosted by Dean of the College of Communication (CCOM), Joe Valenzano. It was created to provide an additional touchpoint to CCOM and the success of individuals in our expansive community. We’re excited to celebrate experiences and authentic stories with current and prospective students, their parents, our faculty and staff, the engaged CCOM alumni network throughout the country, and the Butler University at large.

A special thank you to Amy Dichter ’98 for her collaboration and contribution of a professional intro and close to our episodes. Visit amydichter.com to learn more about Amy’s voiceover career—just another example of our amazing alumni. We would also like to thank Mark Harris ’06 and students from the Music Industry Studies major for their role in audio engineering. #GoDawgs

Student Audio Engineers 2023–2024:

Gabe Gomez ’24, Elizabeth Dixon ’25, Chas Hall ’25

Thanks for listening!

All CCOM Pawcast Episodes

Season 2: Ep. 6 – Dr. David and Deeny Waite and Dr. Gregory Mark ’79 talk Debate & Speech, fond Butler memories, and react to a special CCOM announcement

Dr. David H. Waite, his wife Deeny, and Dr. Gregory Mark ’79 poured their heart and soul into Debate & Speech and what today is the College of Communication (CCOM). As close friends to this day, they also remain actively connected to the college and university.

Listen to some of their fond memories of Butler before CCOM was an actual college and learn more about the 80 for 80 campaign, celebrating David and Dr. Bill Neher.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE ON APPLE PODCASTS

LISTEN TO THE 80 FOR 80 ANNOUNCEMENT (EPISODE CLIP) ON APPLE PODCASTS

Season 2: Ep. 5 – Grant Leiendecker ‘11, Vice President/Director of Butler Athletics, talks The Butler Way, the impact of NIL on college athletics, and more.

(Recorded on November 1, 2024) Grant Leiendecker ‘11, Vice President/Director of Butler Athletics joined CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano as men’s and women’s basketball kick off their 2024-25 seasons, respectively.

Leiendecker reflects on his experiences as a student at Butler, the special feeling that historic Hinkle Fieldhouse provides, his relationship with Barry Collier, what the future holds for Bulldog athletics, and how proud he is of every student-athlete at Butler, in all 20 NCAA sports. Learn more about all Butler Athletics and read more about Leiendecker in his official Butler bio.

A special shout out to Blake Richmond ’26, a marketing major in the Lacy School of Business, who co-produced this episode as a CCOM content marketing intern. Great job, Blake!

LISTEN TO GRANT AND JOE ON APPLE PODCASTS – CLICK HERE

Season 2: Ep. 4 – Dr. Bryan Foltice and Randy Brown, of Butler LSB, talk their “Money Strong” program for students.

(Recorded on November 1, 2024) Dr. Bryan Foltice, associate professor of finance and the creator of the “Money Strong” program is joined by his initiative partner Randy Brown, a career mentor with LSB, to talk with CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano on the latest episode of the CCOM Pawcast.

Topics include student loans, budgeting, and personal finance, especially while transitioning from being an undergraduate student to a working professional and/or graduate student.

Foltice and Brown provide financial support and planning, targeted for Butler students and their future financial confidence and success, through the lens of Behavior Finance.

Check out the ⁠Bryan Foltice Behavioral Finance Podcast⁠ as CCOM continues to support all of our friends and partners in Butler’s Lacy School of Business.

LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS – CLICK HERE

Season 2: Ep. 3 – Stephanie Hinshaw and Shaun Owens discuss the background of Butler’s online BSOL degree completion program.

(Recorded September 15, 2024) Butler’s Stephanie Hinshaw, Associate Vice President of Transformation, and Shaun Owens, the BSOL program director for CCOM, join Joe Valenzano, Dean of the College of Communication to talk about the partnership between the transformation lab, CCOM, and other critical stakeholders at Butler and in the Indianapolis community.

Celebrate the initial cohort of students who began their journey this semester, building on previous coursework but working hard to earn a Butler degree. Click to learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership (BSOL).

LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS – CLICK HERE

Season 2: Ep. 2 – Aaron Hurt, VP of Arts, Events, and Enterprise Management, talks his family history and putting Butler on the entertainment venue map.

(Recorded September 5, 2024) Aaron Hurt ‘08, Vice President of Arts, Events, and Enterprise Management at Butler, joins CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano on the latest episode of the CCOM Pawcast.

Hurt started at Butler in 2013 as an operations manager for the Schrott Center for the Arts, and has made a massive impact on delivering world-class acts and entertainment to the amazing facilities on campus.

Check out the latest acts scheduled for the Butler Arts & Events Center by clicking here.

Season 2: Ep. 1 – President James Danko joins the Pawcast during Butler’s 2024 Welcome Week to discuss excitement about classes kicking off and big campus and community news.

(Recorded Aug. 29, 2024) Butler’s President James Danko joins host Joe Valenzano, Dean of the College of Communication at Butler, in the Season 2 kickoff of the CCOM Pawcast.

They talk the excitement of Welcome Week and the Fall 2024 semester, as well as multiple elements of The Butler Gateway Project and the University’s leadership role in Midtown Indianapolis. Specific items include the transformation of Ross Hall into a Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton, a generous $22.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., and the recently launched Founder’s College.

Ep. 17 – Sarah Myer ’06 and Prof. Bob Schultz on Indiana Sports Corp., the 2024 US Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium, and studying sports in college.

(Recorded July 25, 2024) Sarah Myer ’06 (Journalism) and Prof. Bob Schultz join host Joe Valenzano, Dean of the College of Communication at Butler, to talk sports, tourism and hospitality, and experiential opportunities in the Circle City.

Myer is a Butler CCOM alumni star, currently the Chief of Staff & Strategy at Indiana Sports Corp. She was essential in Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium hosting the US Swimming Olympic trials last June.

Bob Schultz has been at Butler for 20 years. He is civic leader in Indianapolis who served as an adjunct professor within Strategic Communication and is now a full time CCOM lecturer and the College’s Internship Director. Bob has recently taught a class involving 100 Butler students working as Ambassadors for the NBA All-Star Game last February 2024, in conjunction with Indiana Sports Corp.

Ep. 16 – Dean’s Advisory Board members share their thoughts on CCOM and Butler University as we close the 2023-24 school year.

(Recorded May 10, 2024) Dan Cooreman ’76 (DAB Chairperson), Amy Dichter ’98, and Jordan Anderson ’10 join CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano in Studio 42 of Fairbanks Center for the 16th episode of the Pawcast—the final episode of the 2023-24 school year.

The active alumni discuss their professional paths, roles within the CCOM Dean’s Advisory Board, why they volunteer their time, and what Butler means to them today as they invest in CCOM’s ongoing growth and mentorship opportunities with current students.

Ep. 15 – Ryan Briganti ’98, VP of Sports Sales at Paramount, discusses his years at Butler, working in Manhattan, and his side of the sports industry

(Recorded March 25, 2024) Ryan Briganti ’98 is vice president of sports sales at Paramount. He recently arranged a tour of CBS Studios for current Butler sports media students but is also helping his daughter navigate her college selection journey—including a visit to his beloved alma mater.

Ep. 14 – Dr. Nneka Logan, 2024 CCOM Distinguished Lecturer, shares her impressive PR & communication background and how it impacts her research

(Recorded Feb. 20, 2024) Dr. Nneka Logan is an associate professor at Virginia Tech and she visited Bulter University as the CCOM 2024 Distinguished Speaker. Her presentation focused on “Exploring the relationship between corporations, race, and responsibility in the age of AI.”

She was also a classmate with CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano as he worked on his Ph.D. and she worked on her M.A. in mass communication.

Ep. 13 – Umayr Shaikh ’21, Butler alum, talks Pokemon, Speech & Debate at Butler, and his non-traditional path to currently pursuing his M.D. at Georgetown (Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2024)

(Recorded Feb. 19, 2024) Umayr Shaikh graduated from Butler University in 2021 with a dual major in Spanish Language & Human Communication/Organizational Leadership, as well as minors in Chemistry and English Lit—and he was just getting started.

He earned his Master of Public Health (MPH) from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice in June 2022 and is currently working on his MD at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. — where he also gave a TEDx Talk in April 2023. Watch: ⁠”So, you want to be a doctor? Study English!”⁠ with Umayr Shaikh | TEDxGeorgetown

And yes, he has a formal title relative to Pokemon too.

Ep. 12 – Steve Bulpett, veteran reporter, talks about covering the Celtics, NBA, and the journey he traveled to get there (Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2024)

(Recorded Feb. 16, 2024) Steve Bulpett was in town to cover aspects of the NBA All-Star game and shared his time to speak to a pair of classes, sharing tales from his more than 35 years as a journalist. Stephen has primarily covered the Boston Celtics and the NBA at large, as a veteran reporter for the Boston Herald and Heavy.com.

Bulpett spoke to Media Ethics and Sports Media students while visiting CCOM and also sat down with Dean Joe Valenzano for this episode of the Pawcast.

Ep. 11 – Cory Stark ‘08 and Larry Potash share their professional broadcast news experience and thoughts on Butler (Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2024)

(Recorded Feb. 17, 2024) Cory Stark ’08 and Larry Potash, parent of a current Bulldog, both have illustrious careers as broadcast TV anchors and hosts in St. Louis and Chicago, respectively.
Both visited CCOM in February to talk with students and give them advice on how to achieve success and make a mark on media companies.

Ep. 10 – Mohsin Waraich ’20 talks life in sports marketing, his Muslim experience at Butler, and more (Posted Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2024)

Chicagoland native Mohsin Waraich ’20, major in sports media and minors in religion, and business, joined Dean Joe Valenzano for a last-minute episode of the CCOM Pawcast.

Enjoy Mohsin’s take on his Butler experience and how he continues to find success in his burgeoning sports marketing career.

Ep. 9 – Prof. Ann Bilodeau on Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and her Faculty In Residence Experience (Posted Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023)

Prof. Ann Bilodeau, representing the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) department and clinical experience, joins Dean Joe Valenzano to discuss her roles in the classroom and as a Faculty In Residence at Butler University.

Learn more about the value of our amazing SLHS undergraduate program, Ann’s cat Oreo, and find out how she handles the “Dean’s List” speed round.

Ep. 8 – Dean Joe Valenzano and Ross Hollebon discuss the NCA Conference and a DC Alumni Event (Posted Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023)

Ross Hollebon, marketing & recruitment manager of CCOM, joins host Dean Joe Valenzano to discuss their trip to Washington, D.C., for the National Communication Association Conference and a Butler Alumni Event.

They celebrate conference presenters from Butler CCOM including Prof. Janis Crawford, Dr. Rong Ma, and Dr. Kristin Swenson. Joe and Ross also share the fun they had with Butler alumni at a men’s basketball watch party on Friday evening.

Ep. 7 – Abby Kom ’24 discussing her TEDx Talk, Speech & Debate, and her love of Butler (Posted Tuesday, November 7, 2023)

CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano welcomes senior Abby Kom to the 050 Studio in Fairbanks Center for this early November episode of the CCOM Pawcast.

Abby recently presented “Called aggressive? Me too,” at TEDx Danville (Ky.), and is a dual major in Organizational Communications & Music. She is the president of the Butler Speech & Debate team and has completed multiple internships in Indianapolis. A native Minnesotan, she trekked down to Indy for the close community of a mid-sized campus that has allowed her numerous opportunities to grow and thrive.

Ep. 6 – Butler CCOM Alumni Panel – Homecoming 2023 (Posted Thursday, November 2, 2023)

Corey McPherrin ’77 hosts an all-star lineup of CCOM alumni who are making their mark on our communication world. Jen Christensen ’94, Patricia Mays ’93, and Steve Key ’77 continue to give back to Butler and CCOM through their time, effort, and eagerness to mentor Bulldogs looking to make their name in journalism, broadcasting, and communication leadership.

Listen to their stories of how they ended up at Butler, where they’ve gone since (CNN, ESPN, and more), and why they’re excited about the future of their alma mater.

Go Dawgs!

Ep. 5 – Guest: Barry G. Hohlfelder ’66 with Guest Host Corey McPherrin ’77 – Homecoming 2023 (Posted Wednesday, November 1, 2023)

The third of four special Homecoming 2023 episodes allows a spotlight to be shined on the wonderful Barry G. Hohlfelder ’66. He joins guest host Corey McPherrin ’77 to talk about his love for Butler, his early days of broadcasting with WAJC, and who mentored him into understanding his voice might not have been the right one for radio.

Hohlfelder won the Katharine Merrill Graydon Alumni Service Award in 2015. It recognizes a long-term commitment of outstanding service to Butler University. The recipients have provided affirmative service to the University to assist in perpetuating the University as a great educational and cultural institution.

Ep. 4 – Guest: Jacqueline Eckhardt ’13 – Homecoming 2023 (Posted Tuesday, October 31, 2023)

The second of four Homecoming 2023 episodes, host Dean Joe Valenzano welcomes Jacqueline Eckhardt ’13 to the CCOM Pawcast and geets to help celebrate her 2023 Alumni Award. On Friday night of Homecoming weekend Eckhardt was presented with the Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award, recognizing a recent alumnus who has demonstrated a significant commitment of outstanding service to the University.

They discuss Eckhardt’s memories of her time at Butler, the special role Prof. Bob Schultz has played during and after her graduation, and there’s another round of the “Dean’s List.” So hit play and enjoy. Go Dawgs!

Ep. 3 – Guest: Amy Ulrich ’98 with Guest Host Corey McPherrin ’77 – Homecoming 2023 (Posted Monday, October 30, 2023)

One of four Homecoming 2023 episodes, Corey McPherrin ’77 guest hosts this discussion with Amy Ulrich ’98, welcoming her back to campus from her home in Los Angeles. They discuss Amy’s career as voice talent, her path starting at Butler—not knowing she would be a voice actor in the future—and the positive vibe that Homecoming and Butler provide for alumni coming back to campus.

Learn more about Amy’s career at https://amyulrich.com/.

Go Dawgs!

Ep. 2 – Guests: Alison Miccolis and Eva Hallman – The Butler Collegian (Posted Wednesday, October 11, 2023)

In episode 2 of the CCOM Pawcast, host Dean Joe Valenzano is joined by two leaders of The Butler Collegian, the student-run University newspaper. Alison Miccolis ’24, editor-in-chief, is a senior journalism and German double major, and Eva Hallman ’26, multimedia editor, is a sophomore journalism major with a minor in strategic communication.

They talk about their Butler experience and their path to choosing the school, the future of The Collegian, and some of their biggest mentors on campus. And they both take part in “The Dean’s List” speed round.

A special thank you to CCOM students Elizabeth Dixon ’25 and Chas Hall ’25 for their audio engineering and positive energy in making this episode happen.

Ep. 1 – Guest: Provost Brooke Barnett (Posted Saturday, September 16, 2023)

Listen to Ep. 1 of the CCOM Pawcast. Provost Brooke Barnett joins Dean Valenzano as our inaugural guest and discusses where Butler currently stands in the higher ed landscape, explains her role as Provost of Butler University, describes her affinity for The Farm at Butler, and braves the “Dean’s List” speed round.