Butler CCOM Events

Butler CCOM events

Welcome, Butler CCOM Class of 2028

Welcome, Butler CCOM Class of 2028

The CCOM Class of 2028 on Academic Day (Monday, Aug. 26, 2024).

New York City in the summer would get HOT. My father said his favorite way to cool down was running through open fire hydrants. The start of a new academic year always reminds me of this as the university welcomes new students to Bulldog Nation. I mean, they are drinking from the proverbial fire hydrant or hose.  

“New-ness” is everywhere in this next stage of their adventures. There are so many opportunities to pursue, and endless choices about joining this activity or that club. But orientation and “Welcome Week” are honestly a joyful time of the academic year for returning students and faculty alike, and especially for the incoming Class of 2028.

Here’s a look at the past couple weeks from our side of things:

CCOM Leadership Retreat

Dr. Tonya Bergeson shares research information with fellow CCOM faculty and staff at the first College Meeting of the school year.

Fall 2024 festivities began for CCOM last week when we welcomed back the faculty from their well-deserved summers away from campus. CCOM Leadership started it off with a retreat where we discussed our priorities for the coming year. A few days later we hosted a full College faculty meeting filled with smiles, stories, and introductions of our new faculty members. It always warms my heart to see everyone after taking a break from the typical grind. 

Student Move-In Day and Convocation

Sydney Haworth (left), SGA President, with Olivia Coy, SGA Chief of Staff, addressing CCOM students during Academic Day. Haworth also presented at Convocation over the weekend.

Students moved into their residences during the last full weekend in August —likely after stopping at Target, IKEA, or Kroger to stock up on necessities and decorate their campus homes. That Sunday we celebrated the time-honored academic ceremony of Convocation, where our new students officially became Bulldogs and launched their journey towards graduation. Lori Greene, vice president of enrollment management, shared the characteristics of our 1,048 new first-year students, including the popular and unique pet names they brought with them. Sydney Haworth, president of the Student Government Association and a speech, language, and hearing sciences (SLHS) major, welcomed her new peers and shared advice for the new students. The event finale was President Danko sharing perspective on what his job entails, and movingly sharing with students how much we care about each and every one of them.

Academic Day  

Joe Valenzano, Dean of the College of Communication, welcomes students during Academic Day.

The Monday before the term started CCOM faculty and staff are provided the opportunity to welcome our new students—seemingly right as they reach peak new info overload. 😊 This is where their great CCOM stories begin. As I told them, four years from now they all will be very different. They will grow based on the choices they make now that they have the freedom a college experience provides. They are now their own authors. Faculty, staff, and other mentors and resources across campus serve as editors, guiding them to the best versions of themselves, but the stories are each student’s to write. 

The new students might be exhausted at this moment—potentially overwhelmed as they persevere through a combination of heat, activity, and a firehose of information they have tried to absorb gracefully. But this challenge empowers them and nurtures their evolution to adulthood. I still maintain that the start of an academic year is, to date, the most exciting adventure in a student’s life. I can’t wait to see what paths they choose to follow and excel in.

To the Class of 2028, and the start of yet another fun-filled, amazing year in CCOM and at Butler!  

  

Dean Valenzano’s 2024 CCOM Top 10

Dean Valenzano’s 2024 CCOM Top 10

From popular music to the top sports plays of any given day or season, Top 10 lists are synonymous with excellence. I witnessed accolades worthy of applause during my first full school year at Butler University as Dean of the College of Communication. There was a whirlwind of excitement, accomplishment, partnership, growing pains, and most importantly learning experiences and enhanced relationships for students, faculty, alumni, staff, and the entire Butler community.

These 10 highlights from the 2023-2024 school year are not in any order of significance but are impactful in my eyes. I’d love to hear about your favorite memories and experiences that didn’t make my list (I know there will be some that I curse myself about not including) but here we go. So imagine your favorite voice actor, as you see the transition frame with a huge one and zero on it. I’ve got the voice of Amy Dichter ‘98 in my head starting us off with an energetic and powerful, “NUMBER 10!” vocalization.

#10 – COMMENCEMENT CELEBRATION WEEKEND

Graduation is the most significant moment of any college student’s career. On Saturday, May 11, 2024, we celebrated 138 CCOM graduates from our undergraduate programs. They were accompanied by another dozen or so students from our Strategic Communication graduate program. In CCOM we like to have fun so we expanded a memorable event into a full Commencement Celebration Weekend. Thursday night kicked-off with the inaugural CCOM Senior Dinner, where about 80% of our seniors, approximately 60 parents, 25 faculty and staff, and six alumni from our Dean’s Advisory Board came to celebrate this year’s graduating class.  Experiencing families getting to meet the faculty who shepherded their loved ones to the precipice of graduation was special for everyone and a reminder of why we work so hard for student success! On Friday, our very own Scott Bridge gave a moving and inspirational speech as this year’s University Commencement Faculty Speaker. Finally, on Saturday, students received their well-earned diplomas in Clowes Hall after hearing reflections and advice from senior Micah Horne ‘24, and Professor Amanda Stevenson-Holmes. This was a graduation weekend I will never forget!

#9 – AWARD WINNING STUDENT GROUPS

The Intercollegiate Speech and Debate Team earned 153 different awards throughout the ‘23-’24 season. These awards include a first place overall debate ranking at State, senior Abby Kom’s All-American award, and our overall 8th ranking in the nation in combined speech and debate at Pi Kappa Delta. The Collegian student-run newspaper brought home 32 awards from the Indiana Collegiate Journalism Association, while also taking home more hardware in the form of Mark of Excellence awards from the Society of Professional Journalism. 

#8 – RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, AND A TED TALK

The trophies and medals do not even begin to capture all the cool things our students accomplished this past year.  Six students (Eva Hallman, Arie Lihktman, Lauren Browning, Sarah Mahnesmith, Elaine Stribley & Abigail Dame) attended four different major academic conferences this year to both learn about and deliver research. Abby Kom, previously mentioned and now on her way to the graduate program at the University of Tennessee, also delivered a TED Talk entitled “So You’ve Been Called Aggressive.” These students continue to amaze me with their drive to make meaningful contributions to a wide array of fields.

#7 – ELITE ALUMNI

Our current students are not alone in the recognition department.  This past Homecoming we celebrated two CCOM alumni who have made significant contributions to their professions, our communities, and Butler. Jacqueline Eckhardt ‘13 was presented the Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award, while John Doyle ‘74 exhibited grace and humility in accepting the Butler Medal, the university’s highest honor. I can’t wait to see this year’s graduates take home these awards in the future.

#6 – THE FAIRWAYS AT FAIRBANKS

It was a moment of pride and joy when CCOM again led the academic pack on the Day of Giving this past February. We didn’t just receive the most gifts among the colleges, nor simply raise the most money among that group. As we strive to do, we led the way in fun too. We turned our classroom building into a miniature golf course with eight unique putt-putt holes created by faculty and student organizations within the college. The bar has been raised for next year.

#5 – BELL RINGS TRUE

The Butler Early Language Literacy program (BELL), spearheaded by Associate Dean Dr. Suzanne Reading and the faculty and students of the Speech Language and Hearing Sciences department received a huge boost this year. Their program received a major leading gift to establish an endowment, ensuring this vitally important, community-facing, clinical opportunity for our students will be a part of CCOM and Butler forever. Additionally, the SLHS students continued their trend of attaining 50-60% more graduate placements for seniors than the national average.  

#4 – FAIRBANKS “FOMO”

Fairbanks Center, the home of CCOM, proved that even though we are on the edge of campus, we are a huge part of its heartbeat. From our first “Dogs with the Dean” event to the aforementioned Fairways at Fairbanks, we produced successful events all year. We’ll only grow from this year’s inaugural Chili Cook-Off (who puts peanut butter in Chili, anyway?!), a March Madness viewing party, and even an appearance by the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Dean himself during our Halloween office decorating party. The word is out, and people have a fear of missing out on the fun that is Fairbanks. 

#3 – WAJC RADIO REUNION

WAJC Radio was THE experiential learning lab for students in communication for a long time at Butler. The university sold the station in 1993 and unfortunately the station and the students who staffed it seemed to float away like lost radio waves. This year, however, we invited these trailblazers of experiential learning back for a very special reunion in April. I like to think it proved their legacy is a critical piece of CCOM and that the spirit of WAJC lives on today in the DNA of the college. Sharing time with these alumni, from seven different decades, who returned to campus from as far away as California, Texas, and Minnesota to celebrate and reminisce was special. We’ll work on more ways to keep the band back together.

#2 – DOWNTOWN BIKE TOUR (AKA: GOLF CART OFF-ROADING)

No year is complete without something that makes you laugh every time you think about it.  For me, it was in Professor Bob Schultz’s Fall Hospitality and Tourism Promotion class. He regularly hosts a bike tour of downtown Indy but had two students who could not bike due to injury. So I stepped up to drive them around the route on a golf cart. What could go wrong? Well, near Centennial Park there were metal pylons that the bikes could get through, but the golf cart? Not so much. It got stuck, and everyone had to push the golf cart back out—a memory that will always make me smile.

#1 – BUTLER ALL STARS WITH THE NBA

CCOM is nimble and hungry to provide unique opportunities for our students. This was epitomized by the same Bob Schultz who got me stuck in the golf cart. 😉  Bob spearheaded an effort to offer 100 students a one-credit experience where they served as hospitality ambassadors for the city of Indianapolis while hosting the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. The weekend was frigid, but these students gave a warm embrace to visitors and finished with stories that will last them a lifetime. This is just the tip of the iceberg for what is possible for students in CCOM going forward.

As I reflect on the year and these wonderful accomplishments, I am so humbled by the hard work, dedication, and care our students, faculty and staff bring every day. CCOM continues to build momentum, and I am eager to see where things go next academic year.  But for now, we all can take a short breather. Have a great summer! 😊

A Taylor, a Rose, and a Bridge

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…

Prof. Christine Taylor spending time with friends and peers at the CCOM Retirement Celebration.

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.

Dr. Rose Campbell, with her husband Ken, during the CCOM Retirement Celebration.

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.

Prof. Scott Bridge in a moment of reflection, as his wife Maryann proudly watches him at the CCOM Retirement Celebration.

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.

‘Dawgs experience BIG EAST in the Big Apple

‘Dawgs experience BIG EAST in the Big Apple

What do a former dairy processing plant, The Drew Barrymore Show, and Butler basketball legend Shelvin Mack have in common? You’re about to find out as it relates to 12 current sports media majors embarking on New York City during our recent spring break trip.

Gary Beaulieu, senior director of Butler’s Career and Professional Success (CaPS) office, joined me in hosting the dozen CCOM students as part of a co-sponsored experiential learning opportunity provided by a partnership between our offices. 

The City that Never Sleeps welcomed us to where the Big East Conference and Butler alumni intersect during the opening days of the men’s basketball tournament. The festivities tipped-off on Wednesday afternoon and served as an invaluable whirlwind of activity and opportunity for our students. 

A pre-game gathering of approximately 75 alumni and friends at Mustang Harry’s, on Manhattan’s West Side, allowed current students to interact with former students, and current professionals, in the Tri-State area. Then it was time to head next door to Madison Square Garden to watch the Bulldogs Big East tournament game. The result on the court wasn’t what we hoped for but it was still a great experience, especially as some of our students had never been in “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” But the most-impactful slam dunks, in my opinion, occurred the next day.

We headed right back to Madison Square Garden on Thursday morning, this time through the employee entrance. Taylor Harmon ’21, who majored in Sports Media and Strategic Communication, greeted us at the door and our next adventure was underway.

Taylor is a tour de force, and made time in her busy schedule to give us a behind-the-scenes look at MSG and its operations. She guided us around the home of the New York Rangers (NHL), New York Knicks (NHL)—and another BIG EAST basketball team I won’t mention here—as well as the hub for nearly every great concert act you can imagine since the mid-to-late 1960s. Everything there—even the garbage cans—had sponsors. And much like the sponsorship team at MSG making the most of every piece of real estate to monetize, Taylor didn’t miss a beat or opportunity to answer questions about her journey and future goals from our focused students before we left “The Garden” for lunch.

Next stop: CBS Broadcast Center, a short Uber ride away. Ryan Briganti ’98, senior vice president of sports sales at Paramount, arranged a tour of their NYC studios, including the stage where “The Drew Barrymore Show” is shot for CBS. Then a bonus VIP tour guide, Drew Kaliski, arrived to lead the next parts of the visit. Drew produces the NFL Sunday pregame show and might just be Bulldog parent in the near future. He noted that the building was once a dairy processing plant, which is amazing given how much technical equipment and space is needed for all of their broadcasts and content production.

Drew spun tales, provided information, and fielded questions from our group of students. We were introduced to Adam Zucker, the host of the NCAA Basketball desk for CBS, who also spent some quality time with us. Adam even remarked that this opportunity was something he didn’t get when he was at Syracuse!  We met the professionals in the “Bullpen” who watched every conference tournament game and helped prepare the hosts for their halftime show. We engaged with the production team in the control room, and even saw Butler basketball legend, Shelvin Mack, prior to his halftime show duties with Adam later that afternoon. Little did we know that we would cram into the studio, being still and silent behind the cameras, to watch the opening segment live as they produced the halftime show. 

The trip would have been great if it ended there, but we still had the Big East Career Networking Event that evening. It was exciting watching our 12 students work the room, talking to representatives of the Big East, MLB, New York Yankees, New York Rangers (repped by Taylor Harmon), Military Bowl and many more sports organizations. They not only learned about career opportunities in the different organizations but also how to make themselves stand out in the applicant pool. This event was open only to students from Big East schools, and was such a great opportunity for our students to learn more about getting into the sports and entertainment industry.

This trip was an opportunity for me to spend significant time with these 12 exceptional CCOM students—and for that I could not be more grateful. I want to call out each of them for being such amazing ambassadors of The Butler Way. 

I’ll start with Emma Martin, a goalkeeper on Butler’s women’s soccer team, whose father traveled to meet her in New York. Ally White and Butler volleyball player Cora Taylor made it a road trip to New York from Indy. It was great to have a pair of Tri-State area locals in Nick Laudano and Michael Terzakis. Ethan Polak and Nina Mazzotti had the opportunity to work the men’s basketball game on Wednesday. And to round it out, I was able to learn more about Owen O’Keefe, Charlie Petrusch, Sam Carus (yes, Sam, I still remember your prediction😊), Tyler Bigford, and Sean Davies in a tremendous off-campus setting. This group made the trip memorable for me and there is no doubt they are destined for great things.

For a couple days Butler CCOM was the common thread between a dairy processing plant, The Drew Barrymore Show, and Shelvin Mack. Experiences like these, even when they happen during a supposed break, are what makes being a Butler Bulldog in CCOM so special, and I look forward to being back in the Big Apple again next year and paving the way for our students to learn from the best and brightest in more major cities in the future!

CCOM Distinguished Lecturer: Dr. Nneka Logan

CCOM Distinguished Lecturer: Dr. Nneka Logan

College campuses are hotbeds of thought and action. From student projects and presentations to diverse co-curricular groups. From the intensity and joy of intramural and NCAA intercollegiate sports to intellectual explorations of contemporary issues, Butler University is a shining example of passion as a guide for growth and understanding. 

Contributing to these campus efforts, CCOM will host our annual Distinguished Lecture Series on Monday, Feb. 19th in Gallahue Hall (Room 104) at 4:15 p.m., shining a spotlight on Dr. Nneka Logan and her topic: “Exploring the Relationship between Corporations, Race and Responsibility in the Age of AI.”

For me, this year’s speaker, voted on by CCOM faculty, brings a personal connection as well. I met Nneka, currently an Associate Professor of Communication in the School of Communication at Virginia Tech, 20 years ago while I was studying for my doctorate. It is thrilling to have her join us and share her expertise and professional experience with our college and the entire campus community. She is brilliant, accomplished, enthusiastic, a fantastic speaker, and, most importantly, a genuinely good soul.

In addition to presenting her lecture, Nneka will visit Butler CCOM classes to provide more intimate opportunities for our students and faculty to learn more about her and her scholastic pursuits. Her lecture also qualifies as a Butler Cultural Requirement for current students. To learn more please visit the CCOM Distinguished Lecture event page.

We’re excited to welcome Nneka to Butler for this special event!

20/20 Fo(u)r Vision and Inspiration

20/20 Fo(u)r Vision and Inspiration

New can be exciting, and, if we’re fortunate, it lights a passion while inspiring our vision. Excitement greets me still every single day after completing my first year at Butler with CCOM. The Fall 2023 semester was successful in myriad ways and I was able to reflect on all of our accomplishments during winter break. 

During the down time my family headed to warmer weather—visiting the magical place “Where Dreams Come True,” for the first time with my 9-year-old son, Connor. Something new, and at first intimidating, for him was encountering a full-sized roller coaster.

We boarded the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Coaster and three minutes of twists, turns, and constant screaming later, we pulled into the exit and he was THRILLED. The positive new experience inspired him to try more roller coasters. A new year can also inspire us to do new things. It’s why now, as 2024 is just in its infancy, I am inspired by and excited for all the things ahead of us.

REASONS TO BE EXCITED IN ‘24

Morgan Snyder ’07, Sr. Director of Public Relations at Visit Indy and a CCOM Dean’s Advisory Board member, recently wrote 24 REASONS 2024 IS A BLOCKBUSTER YEAR FOR INDIANAPOLIS. It is a terrific piece highlighting tentpole events like hosting the NBA All Star Game, the Solar Eclipse in April, renovation at the Madam Walker Legacy Center, and much more.

Events on and off campus are great for the Indy community but are even more valuable, in our eyes, because they provide unmatched experiential learning opportunities for our students beyond the classroom. Here’s just a sampling of what we have on the horizon:

  • In February, 100 Butler students (many from CCOM) will serve as Hospitality Ambassadors during NBA All-Star Weekend thanks to a creative one-credit opportunity designed by faculty members Prof. Bob Schultz, Dr. Abbey Levenshus, and Dr. Lee Farquhar. 
  • Dr. Nneka Logan will be the 2024 CCOM Distinguished Lecturer on Feb. 19th. She will give a talk that explores the relationship between corporations, race, and social responsibility in the age of AI. 
  • Classroom visits by Larry Potash, WGN Morning News anchor (Chicago) 
  • Classroom visits by Cory Stark ’08, KMOV News 4 anchor (St. Louis) 
  • CCOM will host Steve Bulpett, of heavy.com and formerly of the Boston Herald, who will talk with our students in journalism about his experiences. 
  • Chicago Trek: Students will travel to the Windy City in April to learn more about career opportunities, and how to earn them, during an immersive experience across industries.

But it’s not just the academic experiences we are excited about, especially once we reach February. On the 12th we will have our inaugural CCOM Chili Cook-Off. Faculty and staff will line the hallways of Fairbanks with their Crock-pots to present their own homemade chilis at lunch time. Then, after all the tasting and comparing has been completed, students, faculty and staff will vote for winners in multiple categories. 

At the end of the short but impactful month, we will also celebrate Butler’s Day of Giving. No pies this year (you’re welcome Mark, Amira, Mary, etc.) but Fairbanks will be transformed into Fairways. Current students, alumni, and staff will have a chance to “Putt Against Their Prof” while supporting CCOM’s giving goals for this year’s incredibly important event. 

In March we will host March Madness Watch Parties in Fairbanks for the CCOM community—and mark my prediction—Butler will be playing! As the weather gets nicer I’ll also find excuses for us to do one or two Dogs with the Dean outings too.

We have so much ahead of us to be excited about and to get involved with. I know these opportunities will inspire our students to try new things, challenge themselves, and discover new passions to start 2024!

Go Dawgs!

Chill-inducing: Homecoming & Halloween 2023

Chill-inducing: Homecoming & Halloween 2023

PHOTOS: Amy Ulrich ’98 with Prof. Scott Bridge at Homecoming (left); Dean Joe Valenzano and Mary Duffer in Dr. Tatsiana Karaliova’s office in Fairbanks Center on Halloween (right).

Autumn, in many parts of the country, provides a soundtrack of crunching leaves accompanying a seemingly brush-stroked backdrop of reds, yellows, browns, and crisp greens as the transition from summer to winter occurs. This change in setting and temperature—and boy did the temperature change quickly this year—also alerts us to some of the most creative and enjoyable festivals and celebrations held in our communities. This fall, Butler introduced me to a new celebration, and reminded me why an age-old holiday remains a personal favorite.  

Homecoming may adopt the natural colors of the changing leaves and graying sky as its background setting, but Butler Blue and white still dominated Oct. 27 – 29 as school pride elevated with each alum who arrived on campus. It was extra-special for me, as I had never attended a Homecoming event before. With the excitement of a child on Christmas morning, I wanted to soak up everything as fast as I could. 

There’s a vibe that starts building in the middle of the week and ramps up on Friday as friends gather from near and far to first get business taken care of. The semi-annual meetings of the Butler Alumni Board, the different College Advisory Boards, and the University Alumni Award Celebration are all critical aspects of evolving the University, but also include hugs, handshakes, laughs, and smiles shared by those who lived their best Butler days as an undergraduate and light up while reminiscing about their time. As the Dean of  CCOM, it was humbling to see our energizing and inspiring alumni everywhere. 

Our Friday CCOM Dean’s Advisory Board meeting is a gathering that is fast becoming a highlight for me each year. Roughly 15 members of the Board met for five hours—yes, we stopped for lunch—and talked about the future of the College of Communication, shared successes by our faculty and students, and pre-celebrated two CCOM alumni who would receive University-level awards later that night (more details on this later). The meeting was engaging, and I am grateful to our members for volunteering their time, talents, and expertise to advise us on our opportunities going forward. The Chair and Vice-Chair, Dan Cooreman ‘76 and Patricia Mays ‘93, deserve special recognition for their leadership of this insightful group.

The calling of the CCOM Grill (thanks, Mark and Dutch for getting it ready) meant the meetings were over and it was time to unwind. I cooked both meat and plant-based hot dogs for our alumni, faculty, and students outside Fairbanks Center. The weather could not have cooperated better, and it’s a new tradition I look forward to carrying forward into the years to come.

PHOTOS: (Left) John Doyle ’74 accepting The Butler Medal; (Right) Sharon (Boyack) Myers ’90, Jacqueline Eckhardt ’13 after accepting the Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award, and Butler University President James M. Danko.

Later that evening many of us represented CCOM at the Butler Alumni Awards and were honored to watch all of the recipients be recognized, but especially the two CCOM alumni being honored.

Jacqueline Eckhardt ’13 received the Joseph Irwin Sweeney Alumni Service Award for her efforts as a young alumnus in giving back to Butler and the community through service. She was introduced during the awards by her long-time mentor and Butler professor, Bob Schultz. To help celebrate Jacqueline and her accomplishments to a larger audience, she joined me on the CCOM Dean’s Pawcast and, as always, represented Indianapolis well. 

CCOM’s second award winner was John Doyle ’74, who earned the Butler Medal, the highest honor the University can bestow on an alum. John is a special individual who is as caring as he is intelligent and inspiring. Upon receiving the award he praised the individuals who made a profound impact on his life. For all of John’s successes, and they are many, he remains humble and a seemingly peerless example of being a Butler Bulldog. It was an honor to be there with both Jacqueline and John for this very special evening to close out Friday.

A brisk Saturday morning welcomed the Homecoming celebration at its height, leading up to the football game, a 17 – 7 win by the Bulldogs over Valparaiso. The CCOM Tailgate tent, hosted by “Mr. 3 a.m. Email” himself, Professor Scott Bridge, was homebase for many alumni. Although the Indy Marathon prevented my attendance—no, I didn’t run it—I enjoyed hearing about the number of CCOM alumni who came to celebrate with one another. Finally, Saturday evening, I enjoyed watching the first men’s basketball exhibition game of the season with two amazing CCOM alumni, professional voice talent Amy Ulrich ‘98, who flew in from L.A., and Critical Communication and Media graduate, Kayla Long ’19.  Both Amy and Kayla are shining examples of CCOM and Butler success and generosity, and I was grateful to spend an evening learning from and laughing with them.

PHOTO: Prof. Rob Norris sharing stories with CCOM alumni outside Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Saturday of Homecoming.

After such an amazing introduction to Homecoming done right and spending time with so many wonderful individuals, you might think I was due for a letdown heading into the new week. Not a chance!

Halloween is a holiday I have always loved, and much like Homecoming, it wasn’t treated like a one-day or just a weekend event. During October the faculty in Fairbanks were invited to decorate their doors and offices, with prizes, based on student voting, for the most creative, the scariest, and the spookiest. In the first year of this exercise in Fairbanks it went so well—I was really excited and thankful for those who contributed to our culture—that I created a Best in Show Dean’s Award. The decorating by Dr. Tatsiana Karaliova and Dr. Kristen Patrow of their offices was so fantastic that I needed to up my game from a recognition standpoint. A high bar has been set for next year. There was candy, creativity, and camaraderie, and I even got into the act by giving out candy across campus in costume (contrary to people saying I was the Michelin Man, I was the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from the Ghostbusters)! From Fairbanks to Dugan, Jordan to Atherton, and through Irwin Library, I handed out treats  to students, faculty, and staff wherever I found them.  

To say this week was fun would be an understatement! From Homecoming to Halloween, it was a spooktacular experience for this new Bulldog, and one that will haunt my dreams, in the best way imaginable, for a long time!