Butler CCOM MI

Butler CCOM Music Industry Studies (Major/minor)

Doghouse Treasures

Doghouse Treasures

Relocating is a way of life in some professions. My higher ed path has taken me from New Jersey to Chicago; Providence, R.I.; Orono, Maine; Atlanta; Las Vegas; Dayton, Ohio; and now Indianapolis. The process of moving can be stressful but there is an element of excitement and adventure for us lifelong learners. When packing and unpacking boxes there are time-capsule moments of nostalgia as certain board games, comic books, pictures, and personal keepsakes sweep us back to different points in time. I like to think this is the case with most people, and that finding these seemingly lost memories fills their hearts with joy as they reminisce.

Butler’s College of Communication (CCOM)—well before being named the College of Communication—was quilted together with a fabric of groundbreaking ideas, experiences, and individuals who have nurtured our college evolution.

I’ve learned that CCOM, as a young college of only 13-years-old, has a rich history from when its departments resided in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Lacy School of Business, and the Jordan College of the Arts. Sifting through these stories has underscored why I made the correct decision to become a Bulldog.

Multiple university leaders and proud alums have shared stories with me of the tremendous impact of three former faculty members: Jim Phillippe, Art Levin and Ann Harper.  Each, whether through their advising, encouragement or even tough love, left an indelible mark on students and, in many cases, changed the course of student lives for the better.  As amazing as these institutions of Butler’s history are—it is the details and story extensions I discovered later that feel most like the lost treasures found during a move.

Two months ago, I received a package in the mail from Norm Wilkens ‘57 (headshot in image below). He had worked at the university’s former radio station, WAJC. Norm sent me a box filled with photocopies of news clippings and stories from his time working at the former campus radio station.  

He also included a self-published book, appropriately titled Treasures, that told various stories from his life, including a detailed accounting of his time at Butler and WAJC.  Norm told the stories of Robert L. Montgomery, the faculty member who, in the middle of the 1950’s, worked to keep the station on air; John Krom, the station’s chief engineer who worked with local businesses to find a way to fix an issue that would have taken WAJC off air; and, of the board they used at the station which reportedly came from a World War II destroyer.

Norm and I were scheduled to meet in person a few weeks ago when he visited Indianapolis for a Butler Alumni Association meeting. He was unable to attend but made it a point to keep the get-together going through trusted friends and family. His daughter and Barry Hohlfelder ’66, a friend of Norm’s and fellow WAJC alum, met with me. It was unfortunate not to spend time with Norm but it’s safe to say that some of the initial treasures I’ve found during this move are Barry, Norm and his daughter, and the memories shared of WAJC and Butler.

I look forward to finding more opportunities to honor the past while supporting the present and planning for the future, and creatively showcasing the treasures that have paved the way for Butler CCOM.

Bulldogs: Barking From Atlanta to LA

Bulldogs: Barking From Atlanta to LA

Butler University is home. I felt it even before accepting my role as the Dean of the College of Communication (CCOM) seven months ago. The campus is beautiful, and Indianapolis is the perfect backdrop for educational experiences and entertainment. But it is the authentic consistency of the hard-working people that makes this university, and specifically our college, so special.

It is energizing to work with our innovators, educators, researchers, advocates, analysts, citizens, and creators—all making impactful, positive contributions to the communities in which they reside. But even as I consider Indianapolis home base now, I have come to learn that the Bulldogs of Butler roam and succeed across the country.

After a brief trip to Los Angeles, it’s easy for me to recognize alumni star power, starting with former Trustee, Rick Cummings ’73. As president of radio programming since 2009, he is still impacting the global media landscape after more than 40 years at Emmis Communications. But he is far from the only CCOM leader making a mark in the City of Angels that I was fortunate to spend time with.

I met with Patricia Mays ’93 (Image above), now the Executive Editor of The Hollywood Reporter, whose dedication to her alma mater is evident in her work on the CCOM Dean’s Advisory Board.  I had dinner with fellow DAB member, Sharon Everitt ’98, an accomplished director who wants nothing more than to provide a unique experiential opportunity to CCOM students interested in film.  I felt the passion of Brendon Holl ’15, Meredith Burns ’15, and Amy Ulrich ’98 who followed their hearts into the entertainment industry with the confidence only a CCOM Butler degree can provide.  And I watched each of them take five current undergraduate CCOM students under their wing.

Ava Turner ’24, Logan Leve ’25, Elizabeth Dixon ’25, Maddy Campbell ’26, and Katerina Anderson ’25 are spending this summer in LA and putting their foundational education into practice—taking classes and working on an internship in the Entertainment Capital of the world.  They spend nine invaluable weeks working and learning at Preach Records, Bang Zoom Studios, Studio City Sound, East West Studios, and Maison Privee PR.  And thanks to the generosity of Grammy Museum president, Michael Sticka, they also experienced the Shakira exhibit at the Grammy Museum!  It’s a trip they will remember long after they collect their degree in Clowes Memorial Hall.

Immersive trips like this also require planning and passion above the norm. The dedication of Cutler Armstrong ’99, MS ’03, CCOM Senior Lecturer in Music Industry Studies, needs to be recognized—even if we know he does it for the good of others.  Cutler works hard to make this summer experience both educational and special for each of the students.  He is a testament to the quality of faculty I have only just come to recognize at Butler.  As I flew back from The Golden State, I felt that thanks to Butler, “Indy Rocked it in LA.” And I intend to make it possible for more students to participate in special experiences like those this summer surrounded by the Hollywood Hills.