Butler CCOM Dean – CCOM Pawprints

Congratulations, Prof. Ann Bilodeau!

May 11, 2026 butlerccom

Butler SLHS visited the statehouse to lobby with the Indiana Speech Language Hearing Association. Junior students (L to R) Logan Henry, Ruby Ruhl, Alyson Rentschler, Prof. Ann Bilodeau, and Lauren Thomas joined Rep. Chris Campbell (middle), not only a state representative but an audiologist, for a photo in the House of Representatives.

The role of a faculty member is a lot like that of a parent. Once a student arrives on campus—having relocated from their childhood nest—the university faculty and staff embrace their role as mentor, supporter, teacher, and guide. They help students navigate everything from classroom challenges to roommate conflicts, and from learning how to manage multiple clubs and commitments to preparing to enter the workforce as a professional. In the College of Communication Professor Ann Bilodeau has embraced, embodied, and engaged students from this perspective for the last 14 years. And this spring we celebrate her commitment to Butler and its students as she retires and begins the next chapter of her life.

*On February 10, 2026, Prof. Ann Bilodeau and Prof. Bob Schultz (Strategic Communication) presented during Butler’s Spotlight on Excellence in Teaching and Learning.*

Ann’s contributions to Butler are many and varied, and not solely related to her home department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences where she has capably served as Clinic Director for the entirety of her time here. Never one to sit still, Ann has engineered numerous opportunities for students. Just this year, when most people retiring would dial it back, she designed and led our first ever SLHS Student Trek to Washington, DC. The genesis of that trip came from her dedication to advocacy for issues related to speech pathology and hearing—something she has repeatedly focused on through her Legislative Days with students and appointment to an Indiana State board concerned with those topics.

Perhaps most emblematic of how Ann is more than a professor is how she embraced being a Faculty-in-Residence on campus for the 4th floor of Irvington House. In this role she and her husband live on campus in one of our dormitories, serving as an advisor, mentor, and general support person as students transition to college life. One of her first activities to get to know the students in her building was an event with her cat, Oreo. “Oreos with Oreo,” was born and has been very popular with the students who missed their own pets and taught students without pets the joy of having a furry little friend. Ann’s enthusiasm for this role has been visible, and her love and care for the students in her charge has been deep.

*Prof. Ann Bilodeau giving back to her alma mater, Purdue University, during a special guest opportunity, working with students.*

Ann’s impact stretches to places people may not even know. She has been a constant presence at graduation, reading names for various colleges and serving as a marshall at the university commencement celebration. Ann loves Butler, loves her profession, and above all has loved her students like they were her own children and it has shown in all she has done. CCOM and Butler will miss seeing the gentle lamp light shining from her first floor office this fall, but the impression she has left here will not soon fade.

Butler University “Founder’s Week” 2026

February 4, 2026 butlerccom

Mission statements grow out of a university’s founding, and they articulate the purpose, goals, and values that guide the institution in its educational and community-facing efforts. While also kicking off the celebration of Black History Month across campus (please read Black History Month on campus by Elliot Z. Muehlhausen ’28, The Collegian Staff Reporter and journalism major), the first full week of February is when Butler University recognizes “Founder’s Week,” an event marking the importance of its mission and the man who set the university on its course, Ovid Butler.

Butler’s vision was for a university that provided educational opportunities for all, regardless of gender, race, or circumstance. This drove his approach—and it is the soul of the institution.

This year, CCOM assistant professor of Film and Media Production (updating its name from Creative Media and Entertainment starting in Fall 2026), Assistant Professor Eric Hahn, and his students in our student-run media production organization, BlueRoll Media, created a short film celebrating both Ovid Butler and his mission that embodies Butler University to this day. It’s a terrific video, and I encourage you to watch it, not just to learn more about the university, but to also see what amazing work our faculty and students do in CCOM.

Butler’s mission animates this campus, its faculty, students, alumni and community, and our students helped capture and share the story through their short film.

*Assistant Professor Eric Hahn working with students in CCOM’s television broadcast studio.*

Although this week will feature fun activities, like Trivia Night and the College Cup competition, for me the central component is the Founder’s Awards, where individuals, campus organizations, and community partners are recognized for their work in advancing Ovid Butler’s mission. It’s a special night that shows off the core of what “The Butler Way” is—a university credo and promise to work hard, born originally from the men’s basketball program but adopted by the entire campus, to provide access and opportunity for all.

This Founder’s Week, we celebrate our mission, but never lose sight of the fact it is a work in progress, and something we strive towards everyday. Thank you for the part you play in this important work and opportunity.

Butler’s CCOM Pawprints in Denver

November 24, 2025 butlerccom

Denver Dawgs has a nice ring to it—and even more so after the inaugural CCOM Trek was such a positive experience for students, faculty, active alumni, and leaders in the strategic communication and marketing community in the Mile High City.

13 experiential learners representing a variety of CCOM majors earned one-credit towards graduation, but more-importantly soaked in real-world insights heard directly from communication leaders—in their own offices—during this intensive industry immersion that maneuvered from board rooms to sound boards to cutting boards.

Ramonna Robinson ‘93 is an international leader in public relations and strategic communication, as well as an active civic leader in Denver, who stepped up to make sure Butler students could expand their Trek opportunities to a new city.

*Ramonna Robinson ’93 explaining aspects of Red Rocks Amphitheatre to CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano.*

She partnered with Professor Bob Schultz, a civic leader for Indy who also champions experiential learning and providing opportunities to our CCOM students studying strategic communication, sports media, music industry studies, journalism, organizational communication & leadership, and creative media and entertainment—and each major had at least one moment in the sun during the journey.

The pair, over the course of several months, laid out an itinerary that emphasized an intensive industry experience. Here’s a quick rundown of the two action-packed days helmed by Ramonna and Bob (be sure to watch the embedded video above for a deeper-dive into the energy and experience):

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

City and County of Denver (Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building)

Students met and interacted with the Mayor’s Deputy Communications Director, Jose Salas, and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment Director of Marketing and Communication, Emily Williams.

Dispatch Health

Butler alumna Ashley Henson ’07, VP of communication and marketing for Dispatch Health, provided the students a tour of the facility, answered their questions about her career path, education, and current responsibilities. Additionally, Ashley shared her story about working as interim head of communications for Dow Jones, when Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovitch was held by Russian authorities. Her professionalism and attention to detail prepared her to manage the crisis communication during the initial months of his ordeal.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater

Brian Kitts, chief marketing and business development officer – Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex-City of Denver, and Josh Lenz, director of marketing at Denver Arts & Venues, regaled us with stories about famous entertainers and what makes the outdoor concert venue so special. We received a full tour of the facility, learned about its unique history, and even got to explore the backstage/underground area. Side note: The walk from the stage to the top of the stairs is brutal, well, maybe more for me than the students!

GFM/Center Table

GFM|CenterTable is Ramonna’s downtown Denver strategic communication firm. We entered through an unassuming exterior only to walk into a hip, welcoming, collaborative space. She introduced us to four of her team members: Jeremy Story, Kathleen Deal, John Woods, and Sarah Wool, who tackled everything from creating content to full strategic planning for their clients. One of the most enlightening parts of this visit was learning how they engage with artificial intelligence in their work helping clients build brands and messaging in an optimized process.

Olive & Finch Collective

*The exterior of the Olive & Finch Union Station location.*

Lunch was a meeting too! It included a conversation with Mary Nguyen, the founder and president of Olive & Finch Collective, and Britt Diehl, senior director of external affairs and marketing and communication for Downtown Denver. Britt talked about the revitalization of the downtown area, while Mary told her amazing story of becoming the first ever female sushi chef in North America while overcoming traditional myths that prevented women from entering into the craft. It was special to hear how they partner to help promote one another and all of downtown Denver.

Humane Colorado

I’m not sure Blue IV is up for a roommate, but we had the opportunity to “interview” some furry and friendly candidates at Humane Colorado. This enormous operation provided students with a glimpse into the strategic communication work of a non-profit entity driven by mission. Kelly Bell, VP of marketing and communications, and Alyssa Putzer, communications and media relations manager, not only gave a tour of the facility, but also explained what goes into their work in terms of mixing awareness messaging with critical fundraising messaging (and the amazing work and contributions of dedicated volunteers).

The Pig and The Sprout

The tour culminated at an evening reception with Denver-area Butler alumni at The Pig and The Sprout restaurant. Students had a chance to network with our great Denver Bulldog community. After an exciting yet exhausting 48 hours—and I was still catching my breath from Red Rocks!—our students embodied “The Butler Way” of determination, kindness, and hard work.

(From left) Braden Corry ’26 and Riley Kim ’28 at Red Rocks, Ross Hollebon, associate director of marketing for CCOM, and Reese Paradowski ’26 at the City and County of Denver offices, and McKenna Curless ’27 taking a group selfie in the van.

As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, I would be remiss if I did not express my profound gratitude for Ramonna and all of her friends who made this inaugural Denver Trek a spectacular success. It’s a great reminder of the power of Dawgs helping Dawgs, and how supportive our alumni and their communities are of our current students. Everyone went the extra mile for sure!

Fall break? Wasn’t it Just Homecoming?

October 17, 2025 butlerccom

Somehow, fall break is nearly upon us, meaning the active schedules of Family Weekend and Homecoming are in the not-too-distant review mirror (and I hope you enjoy the embedded recap video done by Butler’s University Marketing Team). Both of these annual events are fun and well-attended every year, but it meant a little more this September with Boldly Butler being unveiled to the entire Butler footprint (pawprint?) of friends, partners, and supporters (more on that below).

One of the pillars of the new Boldly Butler university strategy is “Building a Dynamic Campus and Community.” The College of Communication (CCOM) is excited to help amplify and extend this goal, but for us, like many of our partners and friends across campus, this is already part of our DNA.

CCOM faculty, students, staff, and our engaged alumni lead and promote in these areas, and here are just a few recent examples of how:

*From left: Alumni Association President and Trustee, Delia Askew-Harris ’99, Dan Cooreman ’76, and President Jim Danko at the 2025 Butler Alumni Awards presentation breakfast.*

THE BUTLER ALUMNI AWARDS

Each fall I look forward to The Butler Alumni Awards, celebrated during Homecoming weekend. The 2025 event once again shone the spotlight on deserving and impactful members of our small but powerful CCOM-munity.

Dan Cooreman ’76 was presented the Butler Medal, the university’s highest honor. He is the current chair of the CCOM Dean’s Advisory Board, a former editor of The New York Times and Atlanta Journal Constitution, and, perhaps most importantly, former Editor-in-Chief of the Butler Collegian.

Dan’s continued dedication to his alma mater, however, is not what stole the show—it was his acceptance speech. His characteristic humility and charm were ever present, but his purpose-driven inspiration to the leaders of tomorrow stressed the importance of the facts, news, and education today.

*From left: President Jim Danko, Trey Meehan ‘14, and Alumni Association President and Trustee, Delia Askew-Harris ’99 at the 2025 Butler Alumni Awards presentation breakfast.*

Trey Meehan ‘14, a graduate of our strategic communication program, received the Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award, which recognizes recent graduates who demonstrate a significant commitment of outstanding service to the university, especially as it pertains to the university’s mission of education and cultural enrichment.

Since his days as an undergraduate student, Trey is someone whose hand is always up to volunteer, and out to help others. One of his mentors, Dr. Rose Campbell, captured this in her comments on Trey’s video tribute—he is someone who is always there to help, and cares deeply about others. He is a testament to “The Butler Way,” and the community we create on-campus and across the globe.

BOLDLY BUTLER

As previously mentioned, Homecoming 2025 included the launch of Boldly Butler—the university’s new strategy and comprehensive campaign. Butler leaders and alumni from around the country converged for a day-long event that articulated not just the desire, but the need, to forge a creative and transformational path for Butler in the coming years.

The plan is built upon three pillars: Transformational Learning Experiences; the aforementioned Building a Dynamic Campus and Community; and ensuring a Thriving Butler. Campaigns and strategies for universities are not just some effort to grab attention, but they are opportunities to galvanize energy and support around specific aims that elevate the student and university experience—to learn more about a campaign, listen to my latest podcast with Jonathan Purvis, Butler’s VP for Marketing and Advancement.

Imagine the possibilities of elevating Butler’s already strong hands-on experiences we provide students, envision a national reputation in health, sports, and student growth, and see the possibility of making these ideas a reality.

In CCOM we have begun our own effort at identifying ways we can take what we do and elevate our story, our students’ stories, and our ability to tell the stories of others through our own strategic plan. The process is a lot of work, but faculty and staff are already well underway, and we will share more on how we will help push the bold future for Butler in our college soon.

AN (SLHS) EARLY WIN

It’s not a coincidence—it’s karma—that as Dan Cooreman was speaking (receiving his alumni award) I received a text from CCOM faculty member, Dr. Jenna Voss, who recently joined our department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) to help build our MA in Deaf Education program.

The exciting news was that her application for a $1.25 million dollar grant from the Office of Special Education Programs in the Department of Education was approved! I imagine her screams of joy could be heard in Chicago. These funds will help pay for development and then (hopefully) scholarships for students in the program once it makes its way through the curriculum approval process.

This is a huge early win for CCOM within the Boldly Butler framework. We are proud of Dr. Voss, and excited to build this new program to help create deaf educators within Indiana and beyond.

*Candid homecoming photo taken by Hannah Sipich ’26.*

A PERSONAL STORY OF BUTLER COMMUNITY

I grew up as a devout Philadelphia Phillies baseball fan. Living just outside of New York City, with no cell phones and dial-up internet (insert screech here) only just beginning, this meant I could not find out the score of my team’s games whenever I wanted. I could watch the Yankees or Mets on TV, but not my Phightin’ Phils. With streaming sports games not yet invented, I turned to the radio. On evenings when reception was decent, I listened to Phillies games through a static-filled audio signal. When reception wasn’t good, I relied on waiting every 20 minutes to get a score update on WFAN radio in New York. Little did I know then, this experience would come full-circle at Butler.

During the summer, our esteemed alum Corey McPherrin ‘77, told me about a Butler alum, involved with the St. John’s Red Storm basketball program, who was interested in meeting me. I happily asked him to set it up.

On the Thursday prior to Homecoming we met. The alum, John Minko, the voice of the St. John’s Red Storm basketball program was the same voice I listened to as a youth to get Phillies score updates on WFAN!

Adding some additional 6-degrees-of-Kevin Bacon randomness, John shared that he graduated high school with my uncle. We even called my uncle and chatted a bit as I showed John around the amazing facilities in Fairbanks.

It’s funny how small our world is, and the communities each of us are a part of—sometimes without even realizing it.

Rest assured, and you’re all welcome to join in our efforts, that CCOM as a group and as talented individuals with a variety of interests and expertise, will do our part in amplifying Boldly Butler.

CCOM’s Circle City Sports Intersection

September 15, 2025 butlerccom

Indianapolis is known in some circles as “Sportstown, USA.” Butler and CCOM have taken to the spirit of this nickname and here are just a few recent examples on how they are intertwined.

*Welcome to Sports Town! visiting the Indiana Fever in August.*

New Student Experience

For the last several years, during orientation and before classes start for the Fall term, Dr. Lee Farquhar and Prof. Nick White have provided a carefully curated experience for students who want to learn about the rich sports ethos of Indianapolis. Dubbed, “Welcome to Sports Town!” students visit the NCAA offices, LIDS offices, kiss the bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, get VIP tours of Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and more. What a way to start your Butler career!

*From left: Kelly Hallinan, Ethan Polak, Lexi Schell, and Grace Harahan.*

CCOM and the NFL

Five students representing every department in CCOM recently worked in or in association with the NFL and its teams (if we missed anyone, PLEASE let us know!):

Kelly Hallinan ’21 (Sports Media) covered the Green Bay Packers opening wins over the Detroit Lions in week 1 and the Washington Commanders in week 2 at Lambeau Field for NBC 26 in Green Bay as sports anchor/reporter.
Ethan Polak ’24 (Sports Media; Strategic Communication) worked his first regular season game, vs. the San Francisco 49ers, at Lumen Field as a communications intern with the Seattle Seahawks as part of a full-time internship for the 2025-26 season.
Grace Harahan ’25 (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) started her rookie season as 2025 Ben-Gal cheerleader when the Cincinnati Bengals stunned the Jacksonville Jaguars with a game-winning touchdown with only :18 seconds remaining at Paycor Stadium for their home opener on Sunday.
Lexi Schell ‘ 23 (Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) started her third season as an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader, doing her part to activate the fans in Lucas Oil Stadium during the 33-8 season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins and a walk-off 29-28 win in week 2 versus the Denver Broncos.
Michael Terzakis ’24 (Sports Media) is now getting paid to watch NFL games. In his seasonal role with the League Office in New York, Michael is a Game Statistics Support Assistant in Information Technology. He uses the NFL GSIS and NFL Vision software to ensure statistical accuracy per NFL league rules, coordinating with in-stadium crews to deliver reliable data to partners and media.

ESPN+

Thanks to the new Big East media deal, our Butler Sports Live student crews are able to showcase their talents on ESPN+. Under the tutelage of Prof. Nick White, also GM of BSL, students are scheduled to produce more than a dozen Butler athletics events for the media outlet. These include men’s and women’s soccer and women’s basketball and is a great experience and resume boosting opportunity for these talented Sports Media students.

*Indianapolis, Sports, and Entertainment. Another stop on the Welcome to Sports Town! experience.*

MS in Sports Management

This Fall, CCOM launched its latest graduate program, a MS in Sports Management. The program has charged out of the starting gate, with 26 students in the inaugural cohort, and an estimated 40+ students expected to join the program this academic year. It’s a terrific experience in terms of courses and the opportunities it provides to connect with professionals in the industry from Indy and beyond.

Butler Institute for Sports and Entertainment

Butler’s latest cross-college enterprise, the Butler Institute for Sports and Entertainment (BISE), launched this summer. It already has provided 20 students the experience working at the LIV Golf tournament in nearby Hamilton County, where more than 60,000 people attended, setting a new attendance record for the league’s U.S. events. Read more about BISE’s impact in this AXIOS article.

More recently, just last week more than 20 current students, faculty, and staff teamed up to volunteer at the first ever TEDSports Indianapolis event. With almost 100 students already indicating interest in working with BISE on future events, this Institute is a model for campus-community connection with local sports teams and entertainment venues, Indiana Sports Corp, Downtown Indy, Inc., Visit Indy, and more.

*From left: Owen Priscott, Linda Rheinstein, TEDSports speaker and Founder & CEO of the Space Games Federation, Kaitlyn Buckley, and Max Haley.*

So, what does sports buy Butler and CCOM……the answer is it “BISE” us and our students special opportunities and one-of-a-kind experiences from production of live games to large scale events to the thrill of victory. Go Dawgs!

CCOM Launches the 2025-2026 Academic Year

September 8, 2025 butlerccom

“This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” – Taylor Swift

Last year our students served as ambassadors for Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour stop in Indianapolis, which is why I feel like she and I are now good friends. So much so, her line from above struck a chord as the new academic year began here at Butler. Things will surely change, and many of those changes are exciting! “What are they?,” you might ask—well, let me tell you.

*Dean Joe Valenzano addressing the CCOM Class of 2029 on Academic Day.*

1,246. 96. 26.

No, that’s not an IP address. We have 1,246 new Butler first-year students this Fall—the third largest incoming class in school history. Of that group, we welcomed 96 to CCOM, and that number will surely grow over the coming weeks and months as students realize what they are missing out on. On top of that, our inaugural MS in Sports Management cohort consists of a robust 26 students. There is nothing like welcoming new students to campus at the start of the year.

*Katie Coby, CCOM’s first professional advisor and student success coordinator.*

New Faces in Fairbanks Center

In addition to the new students, we also welcome some amazing new faculty and staff to CCOM. In the Pulliam School of Journalism and Creative Media we welcome Professor Kiersten Houser and Professor Peter Matsoukas, both of whom will be teaching our budding filmmakers. In the Department of Communication and Leadership, Professor Todd Logan now oversees our undergraduate online degree completer program, known as BSOL (Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership for students who have earned an associate’s degree). Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences welcomes Dr. Jenna Voss who will be building out the MA in Deaf Education program. Finally, the College added a new staff position, a Professional Advisor and Student Success Coordinator, Katie Coby, who will help our first and second year students navigate the start of their college careers.

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go”

Pardon my channeling the late, great Dr. Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), but we are off to so many places this year. In the fall, our Department of Communication and Leadership students will take part in our first industry immersive trek to Denver. In the spring, we will have similar trips to New York and Chicago. During Spring Break, Professor Bob Schultz (PBS) will run part deux of his Mediterranean Cruise class, and in the summer, Professor Cutler Armstrong will again accompany students on our Butler in LA program. This says nothing about our tremendous study abroad opportunities available in the spring.

*Chris Rose, professional broadcaster and content creator, who will serve as the inaugural Sports Media Residency professional within CCOM.*

And oh, the people we will see.

This year CCOM will hold our inaugural Sports Media Residency with sportscaster extraordinaire, Chris Rose. He will spend a few days on campus to guest lecture in classes, hold workshops, and mentor students. This program will benefit numerous students in the College with hands-on professional training from one of the elite industry talents in the game.

The beginning of the year is always filled with hope, excitement and joy—and this year is no different. At this point, I shouldn’t be amazed at how many first-year students immediately sought out faculty and staff to learn how they could get involved right away. With everything we have going on, there is no doubt in my mind they will find a way. In fact, I bet they already have.

There’s no magic quite like that found at the start of the academic year.

Dean Valenzano’s 2025 CCOM Top 10

May 14, 2025 butlerccom

The academic year can be intense for faculty, staff and students, and so it’s reasonable that there is a lot of pent up energy and emotion this time of year. Honestly, its what makes things like commencement, our annual Senior Dinner, and the start of summer so hopeful. But an event that has become something people look forward to in a way that surpasses even commencement is……my annual CCOM Top Ten List!

Without further ado, let’s get started on what is a difficult-to-determine tip of the excellence iceberg from this year in CCOM!

#10 – THE FIRST-EVER CCOM CARNIVAL: From the Elixir de Beans to a “Kiss(ing)” Booth, this year’s Day of Giving celebration in Fairbanks had something fun for everyone. It also continued CCOM’s recent record of leading the way in giving totals and giving by faculty and staff among all of Butler’s colleges.

#9 – MORE AND MORE STUDENT AWARDS: Our students continue to bring home the hardware. The Butler Collegian received Division II Newspaper of the Year for the second straight year from the Collegiate Press Association, as well as numerous other awards for stories and photos. Not to be outdone, our Speech and Debate Team also continued to win tournaments and once again placed at least one student at Nationals.

#8 – BLUE ROLL(ING): The student film production team, BlueRoll Media, took the campus by storm this year under the leadership of Dr. Eric Hahn, doing projects for the College of Liberal Arts, Indiana Sports Corps and more!

#7 – JUST TREKKING ALONG: In addition to another year of successful CCOM treks to Chicago and New York this spring, we also sent 17 students to the Music City, Nashville, TN, in the Fall under the watchful eye of Cutler Armstrong. This new trek served students from Strategic Communication and Music Industry Studies, among other majors.

#6 – A SWIFT EXPERIENCE: 70 students helped bring the North American leg of the historic Taylor Swift Eras Tour to a close here in Indianapolis back in November. This pop-up immersive industry experience saw our students helping thousands of visitors experience some Hoosier Hospitality through a class experience led by Professor Bob Schultz, whom the students affectionately call P.B.S. It was also great to see Butler with 70 students against……13 for a much larger institutional neighbor of ours. 😊

#5 – CCOM GOES CRUISIN’ WITH PBS: Professor Bob Schultz was back at it again in the Spring semester with CCOM’s very first Study Abroad Cruise. 23 students accompanied him on an MSC cruise of the Western Mediterranean, with stops in France, Italy, and Tunisia where students not only learned about hospitality in a variety of different settings, but organized tourism itineraries for each port they visited.

#4 – A NEW MASTER’S DEGREE: This Spring we announced the launch of a new graduate program, in collaboration with the Lacy School of Business and the Department of Athletics—an MS in Sports Management. This unique program builds on the strengths of Indianapolis (aka Sports Town, USA) and our faculty. It also is the first program at Butler where alumni receive a 20% discount on tuition—talk about a commitment to lifelong learning!

*Image from MA in Deaf Education page for Fontbonne University.*

#3 – MASTER’S DEGREE PART DEUX: CCOM also received initial approval to build another new Master’s degree, an MA in Deaf Education, modeled after the founding program at Fontbonne University which is closing this summer. More details are coming on this program as it is built, but it will be a graduate offering in our amazing SLHS Department when all is said and done. The best part? Fontbonne alumni, the deaf education community, and Butler friends and alumni all contributed to make this happen in just a seven week period.

#2 – FAIRBANK’S FANTASTIC FACULTY: Recently, I wrote about four faculty who received promotions this year, but that’s just a small sampling of the amazing work our faculty accomplished this academic year. In fact, to call out individual faculty, or list all the achievements, would not be possible without much more space than we have. It’s important to note, though, that in addition to their research, teaching, committee work, and curricular innovations, they also are responsible for being dedicated advisors to our roughly 500 students.

*Family and friends of Bill Ney joined students, faculty, and staff in April to share stories about Mr. Ney and celebrate this anonymous gift.*

#1 – AN HONOR LIKE NO OTHER: This year saw the largest gift in CCOM’s history, in honor of a faculty member—William “Bill” Ney—who had such a monumental impact on Butler and CCOM as the founder of what is now the Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Department. This gift will establish the William Ney Endowed Professorship in SLHS, while also creating an endowed scholarship for students in that field. This is also the very first endowed professorship in CCOM’s 15 years at Butler. Bill Ney’s legacy will never be forgotten, and will always be cherished by faculty and students alike.

There is much more we could celebrate, like the 80 for 80 campaign, our redesign of Butler Bound into a Game Show, or student scholarship on display throughout both semesters, which made this list so hard to create. But don’t just take my word for it. Listen to four of our students—including two May graduates—share their thoughts about CCOM and their Bulldog experience (listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify).

It’s yet another year where CCOM has shown why it is the best college of communication around! I am so proud and humbled to be a part of this community and cannot wait to see what 2025-2026 brings—in the meantime, let’s celebrate our seniors on their graduation. It’s well earned.

Butler Bound(less Opportunity)

March 6, 2025 butlerccom

*Proud parents utilizing a photo booth area in Fairbanks during the Butler Bound open house.*

Butler and CCOM just wrapped of another successful Day of Giving—thanks to many of you who are reading this. In Fairbanks Center we made an event within the event as engaged members of our college put in some extra effort, and wonderful creativity, to celebrate our students and inspire a generous mood. I’ll likely touch on the CCOM Carnival at Day of Giving in a coming post, but the future is now for younger students readying for their jump to higher ed.

High school seniors across the country are entering the peak of college decision season—likely somewhere between the most stressful and simultaneously exciting moments in their lives. They’ll work with their parents, guardians, guidance counselors, and others to choose where to spend the next four years immersed in the investment of their future and their evolution as friends, citizens, and leaders. Their burgeoning horizon offers positivity and life lessons during the formative years of college—evolving or learning about the passions and interests that will help define who they are.

*As the room was filling, shortly before the official Butler Bound program kicked-off.*

In February the College of Communication hosted nearly 70 high school seniors who have been accepted to Butler University this fall with intent to major in one of our excellent programs. This event, more commonly referred to as “Butler Bound,” provides high school students a chance to learn more about us, meet potential future classmates, and imagine themselves in Midtown Indy as Bulldogs. Our CCOM specific program typically includes an informative session on our majors, internship program, and study abroad opportunities. Authentic stories are shared through a variety of voices as a panel of current students and another with alumni from our majors define how “The Butler Way,” set them up for success, fulfillment, and happiness. These tried and true elements remain terrific, but we are always thinking about how to innovate and improve, so this year we made a few tweaks.

The information sessions and the panels planted their foundational roots in our narrative, but we also wanted to have some fun—it’s in the CCOM DNA. One of our very own interns, junior Blake Richmond ’26, spearheaded a unique twist on the recruitment event by designing an interactive game show to perk everyone up after lunch. Corey McPherrin ‘77, alumnus and former nightly news anchor in Chicago, played the role of host—and boy did he have a good time with that task!

*Scenes from the trivia segment (left*) and cup stacking challenge (right).

Visiting students were offered the opportunity to opt-in to being a contestant (remember, as noted above, this could already be a stressful time, and we recognize that) that put their names into a random drawing—think The Price is Right, and McPherrin indeed told each of the 10 to “come on down, you’re the next contestant on the inaugural CCOM-petition!”

Both teams were anchored by a faculty captain, Prof. Mary Gospel of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences orProf. Amanda Stevenson-Holmes. Their competitive spirit brought energy and fun as they welcomed their new teammates to the stage.

Segment one was a trivia competition (think Family Feud one-to-one, head-to-head) produced from information they learned throughout the day’s programming. Segment two offered a two-part physical challenge. Team Mary vs. Team Amanda, with five brave prospective students on each side, in the cup-stacking AND the Marshmallow Challenge, simultaneously.

*Team Amanda working feverishly on their Marshmallow Challenge structure.*

If you’re not familiar with the Marshmallow Challenge, participants work together in a timed-situation to see who can get one full-sized marshmallow to a higher structural point using only marshmallows and dry spaghetti. Suffice it to say, folks had a lot of fun, numerous laughs, and truly got a feel for what we are about in CCOM and at Butler. It was teamwork, creativity, focus, support from faculty, “infotainment,” and a memorable visit. The best part was this all happened thanks to the ingenuity of one of our own students!

Bringing the day to a close—or at least some parting words before faculty and current students shone during a low-pressure open house in our beloved Fairbanks Center—I shared with the prospective students my thoughts on how to navigate the difficult task of choosing a college. I told them whenever they visit a school they are considering to elevate their future, take 10 minutes at the end of the day, before they leave campus, find a quiet place away from their parents, and briefly shut their eyes. If they can see themselves at that school, thriving, smiling, and enjoying it, then that’s where they should go.

*From left: Ross Hollebon, marketing and recruitment manager for CCOM, Blake Richmond ’26, and Corey McPherrin ’77.*

On the front of Dugan Hall there is a banner that reads “We are changing what it means to be a university.” In CCOM, we are changing what it means to consider what university you want to attend, too.

Connectivity Via Strategic Communication

January 26, 2025 butlerccom

January 2025 is almost in the books and the College of Communication has sprinted out of the gates with a new semester of inspiration, education, and growth through classes and experiences for our students. But even before the first faculty member stood in front of a new collection of learners, CCOM was connecting with another important audience of partners.

On the Thursday evening before the first week of Spring ‘24/’25 classes, Prof. Bob Schultz, lecturer within Strategic Communication and CCOM’s internship director, gathered more than a dozen representatives from advertising, public relations, and strategic communication agencies from in and around Indianapolis for an evening of thought leadership and discussion.

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Happy Holidays (You’re Never “Home Alone” in CCOM)!

December 21, 2024 butlerccom

The email showed up in my inbox in mid-November, innocuously beginning with, “We have an idea for a Christmas season video…..”

The quick follow-up in early December included a unique request: “If you have a black sock hat and an overcoat of sorts to bring on Friday that would be great. Let me know if you don’t have either of those and we will track them down for you to wear.”

Little did I know how creative the CCOM content interns Ross Hollebon brought together are or how on the nose they would be with the role in which they cast me.

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