Butler CCOM Current Students – CCOM Dean's Pawprints

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.

Nevertheless, always eager for a fun student-led project—especially focused on the holidays—I did as instructed and showed up with a long black coat, scarf, and black hat. As it happens, David Simon ‘25, Blake Richmond ‘26, and Kyira Duchemin ‘25 took their cue from an idea that had been percolating in Ross’ twisted mind since his initial interview with me almost two years ago. They accepted the assignment and sketched out an adaptation of a character from Home Alone, played by Joe Pesci, appearing during a student dream sequence in the middle of a final exam. My part in the project took approximately twenty minutes to film, and the end product was so worth it!

It was so much fun to get to work with these three creative students not just on this project, but for the whole semester. Each of them brought energy, inventiveness, and a true desire to amplify both Butler and CCOM, and they learned a lot from their mentor, Ross, too.

I first got to meet David Simon ‘25, a senior Creative Media and Entertainment major in CCOM, during Prof. Cutler Armstrong’s inaugural Butler in LA program in May. We talked about the interns Ross would be hiring, while I also learned about his personal passion project on social media involving Rubik’s Cubes. David’s penchant for creative videos was on display during Homecoming in October when we produced a Bulldog Head logo out of 400 Rubik’s Cubes activation at our CCOM tent. Alumni, current students, and kids of all ages engaged with the fun that is part of our DNA.

Fun content is better when it has a business purpose and not only entertains current Bulldogs and alumni but introduces Butler and CCOM to a wider national audience. This CCOM video has earned 7.2k views on YouTube and an astounding 136k views on Instagram! On Instagram it has also garnered 5.5k “Likes,” has reached 110,517 unique accounts and total view time is 28 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes, and 18 seconds as of the morning of Dec. 21, 2024. Much of that had to do with David’s status as an international influencer with his account Captain Cuber (follow him!).

Kyira Duchemin ‘25, a senior double majoring in Music Industry Studies and Creative Media and Entertainment, has been a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Board in CCOM since my arrival. In his/their role this fall I got to know him better. Kyira was always around, taking pictures of student and faculty events, storyboarding cool ideas, and learning from Ross and others—while also teaching Blake the technical side of camera equipment. Perhaps the coolest thing he helped with was covering our first Intensive Industry Experience trip to Nashville with 16 other students, again led by Prof. Armstrong. Kyira’s presence and keen eye for photos and stories helped us capture how great that trip truly was!

*Kyira and CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano at a “Dogs With the Dean” event in September 2024.*

Then there is Blake Richmond, a Marketing major with a Strategic Communication minor, who will be back with us in the Spring after Fall was jam packed with impact. Blake’s first class of his college career was an 8 a.m. Promotional Writing I course, taught by Ross in 2022, and he stood out immediately. Then Blake impressed me with his very first CCOM project, a competitive analysis of colleges of communication at several other universities that helped us identify some areas of distinctiveness and opportunity for CCOM. Always thriving to learn and add to his skillset, Blake has become a go-to-producer for our recent Pawcast episodes, shadowing Ross and even producing his first solo Pawcast in November.

From left: Pawcast guest Grant Leiendecker ‘11, Vice President/Director of Butler Athletics, host CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano, Blake Richmond ’26, and guests, Dr. Bryan Foltice, associate professor of finance, and Randy Brown, a career mentor with LSB, after recording their episodes in Fairbanks Studio 50.

This holiday season, as we prepare for some rest and valuable time with those we love and cherish, I would be remiss if I didn’t say how grateful and glad I am for the time I got to spend with these three interns. Every day they remind me of why we are fortunate to do what we do, and how special Butler students are. I just need to read their request emails more carefully moving forward. 😊

As I close out 2024, I’d like to share two more things. The first is our heartfelt wish for a happy holiday season and healthy and prosperous new year to our CCOM and Butler friends, family, and community across the globe. The second, and this is to David, Kyira and Blake, the casting of me as Harry Lyme is spot on because……Pesci was my high school nickname (he says as his gold tooth glistens 😊).

Happy Holidays!

Thankful For Experiential Learning Opportunities

November 27, 2024 butlerccom

The holiday season, complete with some of our favorite foods and most cherished people, is upon us. It is a time of year when we not only create special memories with loved ones and friends, but many of us also provide to others. Whether that is volunteering at a food kitchen, donating warm clothes, or pledging money to a worthy cause, it makes memory-making possible. We are fortunate that many of you do the same to support The Butler Way and our various avenues of reinforcing a valuable education steeped in experiential learning.

All of CCOM, but especially our engaged faculty, are thankful for the generous support of our alumni, friends, and community because you have helped make so much more possible for the student experience with your generosity to a number of activities and funds.

The Dean’s Priority Needs Fund—used to support initiatives for our students and faculty—is one of the most important avenues of impact. Support to this fund has enabled us to accelerate experiential learning for our students and make opportunities available that otherwise would not be possible. In the last two years, 224 unique donors have contributed nearly $80,000 to this fund. These gifts have been put to meaningful use in preparing our students for their future careers and further distinguishing CCOM as an exceptional choice for aspiring communication and media professionals—and, maybe most importantly—critical thinkers.

Here are examples of how these funds were used:

Butler In LA: It helped pay for professionals and equipment to support our two-week “Butler in LA” program in May, where students produced a nearly 7-minute short film titled “Cycle.”

Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati Reds: 10 Butler Sports Live (BSL) students were hosted by Braves TV play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin ’06 in September. The intensive experience included time on the field during batting practice, a walk-thru of the production trucks, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the announcing booth setup on the press level.

Butler in Nashville: CCOM students traveled to Nashville for an exciting career trek in early November. Visits included Sterling Sound, and their fully immersive Dolby Atmos experience within the studio, and Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) where professionals explained what they do for streaming services and artists alike. Watch a behind-the-scenes look at all of the adventures with the Instagram story done for Butler University by student attendees Isabella Ernsberger, Katerina Anderson, and Logan Goettemoeller.

Donors have also supported other efforts in the college, including:

The Valentine Family Fund: Supports students in Creative Media and Entertainment, especially as it relates to film production.
The Roger and Bonnie Lindberg Fund: Supported Eva Hallman ‘26 attending the National Broadcasting Association Conference in Las Vegas—where she was also able to shadow professional TV and radio broadcasters for the Minnesota Wild professional hockey team.
The Susan Ebbinghaus Warsaw and Harris Warsaw BELL Program Support Fund: Assists in underwriting the annual costs associated with the Butler Early Language and Literacy clinical program within Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.
The Collegian Support Fund and the five fountains Fund: provide fuel for some of our top student-run organizations.

This wide array of experiences and resources within the college are made possible because of our generous donors. We appreciate every single dollar that allows us to make the student experience even more special at Butler, within CCOM, and for each specific major. So this Thanksgiving, as I sit around the table and wonder why we only make pumpkin pie once a year, I remain enormously thankful for the support of the Butler community and family that helps set our initiatives apart from other institutions.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Welcome, Butler CCOM Class of 2028

August 30, 2024 butlerccom

*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

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

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!

Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences: SLHS Summer Spotlight

June 3, 2024 butlerccom

May represents graduation and the celebration of hard work by students and faculty within the world of higher education. May goes even further for our stellar Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) majors, and annually carries special messages and recognition into June.

Every year the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA) celebrates their important work with National Speech Language Hearing Month in May, and continues the focus with Aphasia Awareness Month in June. This is a great opportunity to highlight the important contributions our SLHS students and faculty make to the Butler CCOM culture. What they accomplish also hits close to home for me.

*Dr. Mary Gospel receiving the CCOM Faculty All-Star Award from Provost Brooke Barnett and CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano during halftime of men’s basketball game on Nov. 10, 2023.*

When I was growing up, my father published a magazine for children with special needs and the people who care for them. This allowed me to attend the Special Olympics and learn about various challenges people can face, including developmental delays that impact a child’s ability to speak. I also learned about the impact traumatic brain injuries can have on speech during my time helping out at his company. It’s one of the many reasons I am so humbled by, and proud of, the SLHS faculty and students in CCOM at Butler.

SLHS isn’t just a major—It is a heartfelt culture that expertly walks the line between developing professionals and making a tangible impact on the community, while also embracing fun and joy in their work. It’s easy to point to the fact they beat the national acceptance rate for their students into graduate programs by an astounding 50%, but how they do it is even more impressive. Their engagement goes beyond the classroom and our impactful clinics that allow undergraduate students valuable and rare hands-on opportunities.

*Members of the ASL Club during their 14th Annual Hands on Fire event on April 9, 2024 in the Reilly Room on the campus of Butler University.*

The SLHS program boasts not one or two, but FIVE different hands-on clinical experiences for our students—something no school I know of in the country does. These include multiple cutting-edge research opportunities with faculty and unmatched undergraduate clinical practicum experiential learning opportunities with our on-campus speech-language clinic, community preschool speech-language hearing screening events, the Butler Early Learning and Literacy (BELL) preschool program, and our Butler Aphasia Community. Visiting these experiences is powerful, as you witness the life-altering work our students do under the guidance of faculty mentors like Dr. Mary Gospel, Prof. Ann Bilodeau, and Dr. Suzanne Reading.

SLHS is also integrated into student groups on campus, providing leadership opportunities and exposure. There is Butler’s National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter that provides a variety of social, academic, and professional support, as well as the American Sign-Language (ASL) Club. The ASL Club annually signs the National Anthem at a Butler men’s home basketball game and hosts the “Hands On Fire” signing event on campus, providing more community and experiential opportunities within this important course of study.

*SLHS and Butler CCOM were well represented by students and Prof. Ann Bilodeau at ISHA Legislative Day 2024 and even spent time with Indiana Senator Greg Taylor (left image).*

It’s not just about the great clinical and co-curricular experiences in SLHS either. In February, students provided free speech, language, and hearing screenings at the International School of Indiana. During this year’s kickoff event, our SLHS majors provided services to 55 students. Prof. Bilodeau, who was appointed by former Gov. Mike Pence and has served 12 years on the Indiana Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board, brought 30 Butler SLHS students to the Indiana Statehouse in February to participate in training on how bills are created and to discuss issues relevant to the profession, such as pending literacy bills at the state level. In fact, they also met Indiana Senator Greg Taylor who referred to Butler and our SLHS program as a crown jewel in his district. Not too shabby!

*Recently graduated seniors, (left to right) Mackenzie Beal, Sarah Mahnesmith, and Emily Bowyer at ISHA Legislative Day at the Indiana Statehouse on Feb. 12, 2024.*

The culture in SLHS is also remarkably inviting. This year they hosted two external speakers. Dean’s Advisory Board Member Amy McConkey Robbins talked with students about supporting language development and listening through music, and Dr. Irina Castellanos discussed cochlear implants and spoken language skills. In addition to intellectual engagement, SLHS knows how to have fun too. Whether it’s their ice cream social at the start of the year, their senior breakfast at the end of the year, their pumpkin decoration tradition at Halloween, or the fact one of their faculty taught a class in a dinosaur costume after a Day of Giving Challenge was met, SLHS brings joy with them wherever they go. I’ve also been the subject of a patient prank by Dr. Gospel. Shortly after I arrived at Butler, she snuck into my office and slipped a Justin Bieber book in with the rest of my small library—and it took me two months and a hint or two to actually find it! It didn’t take me long to realize that these are my people.

*SLHS students decorate pumpkins to look like their professors each Halloween.*

Although this time of year provides an intentional spotlight on the work of speech, language, and hearing sciences professionals, our CCOM SLHS faculty deliver their work with heart and joy day in and day out. They embody the connection between Butler and our community, and exemplify the sense of fun and heart that fills the halls of Fairbanks Center. Everyday they remind me of my father, his company, and the chance I had early in life to learn about the diversity of human experience and how special people give of themselves to help those who need it.

Dean Valenzano’s 2024 CCOM Top 10

May 16, 2024 butlerccom

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 8^th 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! 😊

Spring Break ’24 and More!

March 12, 2024 butlerccom

Spring Break is a cherished time in the academic calendar. It represents an opportunity to step back, recharge, rest, and even have fun away from campus before the final sprint to the end of another successful academic year.

Whether traveling, visiting family, or catching up on final projects or grading (and/or sleep), it’s a well-earned moment for the CCOM community at Butler. It’s also another opportunity to reflect on what we’ve accomplished so far in 2024.

Fairbanks has been buzzing all semester, before this quiet week of respite. So, I’m taking this time to provide a recap of some of the highlights. Away we go!

The inaugural CCOM Chili Cook-Off: As a chili fan I am a firm believer that there is no one right way to make it. This theory was put to the test with the faculty and students, as eight different chilis were entered by faculty, and then judged by students, staff, and faculty in a blind taste competition. The winner for best overall chili and hottest chili was Prof. Bob Schultz, who made a flavorful turkey tortilla chili. The most unique prize went to Ross Hollebon for something I had never tasted before—Peanut butter chili. It was surprisingly tasty too! Finally, Prof. Carly Middleton received the most votes for the best name category for her “Girl Dinner” entry. The best part was seeing our CCOM community come together for the new event.

Cory Stark ‘08 and Larry Potash class visits: 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. They led a discussion with students stressing the importance of reading, writing, developing a character in new stories, and exhibiting hard work and creativity. It was an engaging conversation, and Cory even left our students with a great set of slides, entitled “The Art of the Interview.” Click to listen to the CCOM Pawcast episode with Cory and Larry.

Stephen Bulpett class visits: Stephen Bulpett is an old friend of mine. He visited Indianapolis to cover aspects of the NBA All-Star game and shared his time to speak to a pair of classes, telling 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. He engaged with our Media Ethics class and shared, among other things, the importance of telling the truth and maintaining professionalism when working with professional athletes. He also made time to talk with first-year journalism and sports media majors. As a proud alum of the University of Dayton, he also could not hold back from trying to push for the Big East to invite his alma mater into the fold—and I can’t say I disagree! Click to listen to the CCOM Pawcast episode with Stephen.

Indy NBA All-Star Weekend: While conversations and classroom visits with Stark, Potash, and Bulpett were occurring, 100 Butler students were working as ambassadors for Indianapolis and the NBA All-Star Weekend. Led by the indefatigable Prof. Schultz, these students traded shifts downtown during a snowstorm Friday evening and then braved frigid temperatures Saturday and Sunday to shine warmth and smiles on visitors and fans during this once-in-a-lifetime experience. As “Street Team” ambassadors they handed out sunglasses, maps, and good ol’ Hoosier Hospitality to the 150,000 guests in town for this major sporting celebration. One student, Katelyn Skinner, created a short video about this opportunity. Another student, Kristin Anderson, was on her shift and saw something suspicious that she called in, and it turned out she stopped scammers from taking advantage of Indy’s guests. A third student helped a person find their way around downtown when they looked a little lost. That person was perennial NBA All-Star Steph Curry, of the Golden State Warriors. I don’t think she will ever forget that moment!

My trip to New Jersey: More recently, I traveled to New Jersey to watch our men’s basketball team take on Seton Hall. It was special to attend the game with several alumni from that area. Our own Dean’s Advisory Board Chair, Dan Cooreman ‘76, and his partner joined, as did current Butler parents Dana and Jenna McClintock. Dana, as it turns out, worked alongside an alum who was with us, Ryan Briganti ‘98, years ago at CBS. Ryan was fresh off selling advertisements for the Super Bowl—during the Super Bowl!

Day of Giving 2024: I immediately switched gears for the 2024 Day of Giving upon returning to Indianapolis. Students and faculty concentrated on redecorating many of the main hallways (and the offices of five fountains and The Collegian) to produce our very own 9-hole miniature golf course. We staged a massive upset in terms of the number of gifts in 2023, more than any other group on campus, and aimed to defend our title. Unfortunately, Athletics managed to top us this year—and I now owe our new Athletic Director a round of golf—but we still set college records for most gifts received (365), and most support received for our students (a whopping $71,411). It was great seeing all the creative putt-putt holes our faculty and students crafted to help create the Fairways at Fairbanks, as well as all the smiles and cheer we had in the building.

CCOM Butler Bound 2024: Finally, on March 1^st we welcomed roughly 40 prospective students to campus for the CCOM Butler Bound experience. This fantastic all-day event helped students who are thinking about being a Bulldog (what’s there really to think about, I say) understand more about The Butler Way and how it can impact their immediate future and career and life goals. They heard from a terrific panel of current students and a panel of alumni. They met numerous members of the CCOM faculty, toured our phenomenal facilities, and learned more about internship and study abroad opportunities. In what was a humbling moment, one student and their parents came up after the event and asked where they could go to make a deposit right there and then!

I know this has been a long read (and an even longer post to write), but it goes to show you why, as we enjoy Spring Break, it’s understandable that people are eager to relax for a moment. On the other side of this lull, we still have so many fun activities, events, and achievements to pack into the final weeks, but a deep breath now goes a long way. So, what will yours truly be doing? I’ll be accompanying a dozen of our students to the Big East Tournament for an alumni event, a networking opportunity in the sports and media industry, and a tour of Madison Square Garden. There is no rest for the weary here—and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

20/20 Fo(u)r Vision and Inspiration

January 11, 2024 butlerccom

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!

CCOM Community Warmth & Well Wishes

December 20, 2023 butlerccom

The winter holiday season, for many, is a time of joy, celebration, family, and friends. On a college campus, this aura kicks into full swing upon the return from the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s hectic but full of positive energy, engagement, and a rewarding, sometimes exhausting, sense of accomplishment. This holiday season in CCOM provided numerous reasons for cheer, provided gifts full of meaning and recognition,and has inspired our college resolutions for the coming year.

A good friend of mine used to call exams, “celebrations of knowledge.” Whether it’s final exams, final projects, or final papers, it is something to acknowledge with a smile—for our hard working faculty, who have to grade each assignment on a tight deadline, as much as the students who have to perform the work. A small group of these students, after getting everything graded, finished their current course of studies.

We proudly celebrated our December graduates in recent weeks. In the quiet of winter these students reached the summit of their undergraduate careers at Butler and now march undeterred into their bright futures as Bulldog graduates.I know they will make an impact on the world and their respective communities.

These members of the CCOM community included undergrads representing numerous degrees, as well as students from our quickly growing graduate program in Strategic Communication. We hosted a reception for the entire group in Fairbanks. Each graduate received an alumni blanket to mark their momentous achievement, and to reassure each graduate they were always welcome to return to the warmth and comfort of “home.”

The holiday season also ushers in the new year. It is common practice to resolve ourselves to improve on who we are and what we contribute. Instead of making resolutions supporting greater physical health (which I will do), eating better (which I also will do), and taking up a new hobby (unlikely), colleges and universities resolve to improve different things. So, here are just a few of CCOM’s resolutions for 2024:

Provide more opportunities for students to explore their intended vocation:

We have several established immersive experiences for students to apply their knowledge in the classroom and in real life. And we encourage them to connect with industry professionals while exploring potential career paths, but I want to develop more of these opportunities. From New York to LA, and Atlanta to Indianapolis, I want our students to be able to navigate their path, and a successful future, wherever it may lead.

Develop new educational programs for students:

We have a stable of strong majors and minors, as well as a budding graduate program, but there is more we can offer students. In 2024 I hope we can develop and introduce another graduate program. Fluidity and creativity are also important so we intend to offer some unique one-credit classes and workshops for students. These all provide memorable and impactful experiences.

Continue to keep alumni, friends and partners informed:

In 2023 we launched this blog and the CCOM Pawcast (podcast), and they have been great vehicles for helping our community keep up with what is going on at Butler. In 2024 I want to explore ways to create more avenues to interact with students, alumni, and partners so even more friends can see how much we provide and accomplish as proud members, contributors, and stewards of CCOM.

Keep bringing the “fun” to Fairbanks:

In 2023 we had “Pie the New Guy,” “Dogs with the Dean,” the “Stay Puft Marshmallow Dean Halloween,” and an Ugly Holiday Sweater party. It won’t stop there! In 2024 I want to ensure that every month with students on campus we do something fun together. I tell people all the time I have the best job on earth, because I get to wake up every morning and go to Butler—so it should be fun! What’s in store next year? One hint is that as a graduate student I always loved to putt golf balls in my hallway. 😊

This is the final Pawprints blog for 2023, and what a year it has been—and what a way to celebrate the holiday season with newly minted graduates! Even though I cannot wait for 2024, I want to wish all Bulldogs, friends of Butler, and our extended CCOM family a very happy, healthy, and joyful holiday season. May 2024 bring you all the blessings you could hope for!

GO DAWGS!!!

Thankful As We Move Forward

November 21, 2023 butlerccom

Descriptions of Thanksgiving can offer many Hallmark-esque ways to define it—too often trite and fleeting. When I say Thanksgiving for me brings grace and gratitude to the forefront, I mean it on a deeply personal level.

Two years ago, my younger brother, Michael, lost his fight with addiction on Thanksgiving eve. For the rest of my life I will never forget how I spent that holiday. Nor will I forget how from the seeds of grief we can experience and truly treasure the fruits of that grace and gratitude. Through my brother’s struggles and the heartbreaking nature of learning of his passing, my reflections on Thanksgiving help ground me in appreciation for the time we have with each other and the things we can accomplish and experience with the time we are given.

Like favorite plates at the family table during the holidays, here I’m going to share individual items that I’m able to reflect upon and cherish as I give thanks for the love, opportunities, and ever-expanding communities in my life.

I am grateful to be in Indianapolis with my family. The first six months of my time at Butler were spent becoming closely acquainted with I-70. I commuted between where my family was still living and the new community I had joined. Spending so much time driving each week, and the warm welcome I’d receive upon returning to Indianapolis, made me deeply appreciate the warm nature of everyone at Butler. It helped make the time when my wonderful family could join me here so much more special and I appreciate the sacrifices they made for me and my new opportunity.

I am grateful to work at a mission-oriented institution that clearly knows who it is and who it wants to be. Making a high-quality education like that which we provide at Butler available to, and accessible for, more people is a mission and a purpose that resonates deep within my core. Activating and energizing the Butler community behind this mission is critically important—and with Butler’s New Two-Year College, in association with the non-profit Come to Believe, I have seen first hand we put our money and resources where our mission is.

Dr. Mary Gospel (center) is applauded by CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano (left), Provost Brooke Barnett (right), and fans during the first half of the Butler men’s basketball game vs. Southeast Missouri State at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Fri., Nov. 10, 2023. (Photo courtesy of zjbphotography.com)

I am grateful for my colleagues in the College of Communication. Their patience and grace as we learn about each other and explore ways to elevate the college has helped me feel at home in Fairbanks. Their dedication to our students inspires me every day, just as it inspires those learners. Their willingness to serve their communities as well as participate meaningfully in shared governance motivates me to work hard for them. Most of all, I am thankful to them for their energy and enthusiasm, evidenced in large and small ways everyday. I was humbled to celebrate one of them—the very special Dr. Mary Gospel—recently at midcourt during the first half of a men’s basketball game as our CCOM Faculty All-Star.

I am grateful to be at a place with such amazing students. From Abby Kom, who recently recorded a TedX presentation while also taking home hardware at every speech and debate competition around, to Kody Leach, whose ability to tackle opponents on the Bulldog football team is only exceeded by his tackling of his coursework in CCOM, to Ethan Polak who conducted a social media takeover during his summer broadcast internship with the Chicago Cubs, to Gabbi Hart who speaks so eloquently from her heart every chance she gets, especially about her desire to be a speech pathologist. That is such a small sample of so many other talented, hardworking individuals. I have no doubt these students will change the world.

I am grateful for working alongside my fellow deans, who have accepted and supported me from the jump. Like all of the senior leaders at Butler, they are a creative, innovative, mission-oriented, student-centered, and faculty-supportive group who all believe in what we do at Butler. Being around individuals like this is not a given. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and work with them towards our common goals. I am thankful everyday for the fact we do not see ourselves as leading separate silos on campus, but as a team seeking to elevate Butler for all.

Matt Schumaker ‘14 (left), Mark Minner ‘12 (center), and Brendan King ‘17 (right) all visited campus and volunteered their time to discuss with sports media students the intricacies and secrets to their success in sports announcing.

I am grateful for alumni that continue to be invested in our students. There is Corey McPherrin ‘77 who returns every month to work with students one-on-one. In Sports Media Matt Schumaker ‘14, Mark Minner ‘12, and Brendan King ‘17 have visited campus to run evening broadcasting workshops this fall. Our alumni continue to help the next generation of Bulldogs prepare for their careers with real-world anecdotes and samples from these leaders who are out there already living their dreams. It doesn’t stop there though. Kayla Long ‘19, just last week, saw we were running a canned food drive for the Butler Food Pantry and showed up with grocery bags full of cans to further the effort! Then there is Steve Key ‘77 who helped bring the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame to Butler this past semester. These committed Butler community members continue to impress me with their engagement and desire to help their fellow Bulldogs.

Finally, I am grateful for the challenges this year presented to me. Whether personal or professional, it was these challenges that continued to make me into a better version of myself. Things worth doing are often not done easily, and the value in the doing comes not just in the outcome, but through the process. The challenges of this past year are no different, and I am thankful for them and the people that helped me along the way.

As I reflect on Thanksgiving this year, and recall the tragedy of my brother’s passing two years ago, I remind myself that everyday is a gift and another opportunity to do good. The time we have each day is not promised, and as I continue to be thankful for the time I had with my brother, I am grateful for the time I get to do things I enjoy with terrific people whom I care about in the service of a greater good. I suppose the thing I am most thankful for is the time I have each day, and the ability to choose to spend it in pursuit of the good with my fellow Bulldogs.

I wish all of you a very happy, healthy, and joyful holiday with your loved ones. May you spend this time in ways that make you feel fulfilled and warm.

Thank you for reading and Happy Thanksgiving, Bulldog Nation!

“Dawgs Helping Dawgs” – Chicago Style

October 25, 2023 butlerccom

There is no substitute for experience. Julius Caesar claimed it is the teacher of all things. And as a teacher for my entire professional life, I can tell you how accurate that statement is. A recent example is the Oct. 11-13 Butler Career Trek in Chicago during fall break.

Or maybe I should instead refer to the trek as fall break-through based on the myriad opportunities Butler students had to visit a variety of companies and learn from top-notch professionals while building their networks in a structured experiential setting.

Accompanying 13 students, representing numerous Butler colleges, for a snapshot of what life after graduation in the Windy City could be like was exciting, especially as we entered each new building—immersed in impactful brands. Two powerful stops during the trek were relative but distinct global strategic communications firms in the heart of downtown.

Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses to evolve, promote, and protect their brands, while Publicis is a global creative network, driving strategy, messaging, and the ads and digital experiences we all see every day.

I was particularly impressed with Butler alumni Catrina Cranfill ’15 and Rachel Berner ’20 who both work at Edelman. They crafted an engaging and informative presentation regarding what they do at Edelman and the importance of internships, preparing resumes, networking, and refining interview skills. Rule #1: Know your audience—It was the perfect message to students gearing up to launch their careers. These are foundational elements you find in classrooms across Butler, but this experiential extravaganza hosted by former Butler students was filled with helpful hints, interesting anecdotes, and compelling stories that reinforce classroom learning but hit differently in this “real-world” environment shared by members of the Bulldogs community.

And there may be no better example of a Windy City warm-welcome than a visit with Corey McPherrin ’77, longtime Chicago news anchor. Corey may have stepped away from the news desk a few months ago, but he was right at home guiding our students through his natural habitat, the Fox32 newsroom. His access to former colleagues, who were preparing stories and packages for air, showed the power of relationships and an eagerness to pay it forward. These busy professionals spoke with students about their careers, and even managed to interview an anchor who was delivering the noon show at the same time (don’t worry, all Corey’s questions occurred during commercial breaks!).

The Chicago Career Trek program is in its third year at Butler and costs students just $50 each. I may not be in the Lacy School of Business at Butler but I see that the return on that investment is incredible for the future leaders and the stewardship of the entire university. I look forward to experiencing the program’s trips to Detroit (this was the sixth time for the Motor City) and New York City in the future.

The offices and studio were great but there’s also value in socializing with friends, and friends of friends. On Wednesday night we gathered at Chicago’s Gaslight Bar and Grill where the students had a chance to meet and talk with some of the numerous alumni from throughout the city. Personally, I cherished the opportunity to talk with Stacy Hodge ‘00, David Fryrear MS ’03, Jacqueline Wishau ’10, Jessie Surridge ’21, and her mother, Mary Surridge, just to name a few. They shared their memories of Butler and their excitement for this week’s Homecoming, but mostly peppered the current students with questions about the campus and how they could help prepare them for their futures. The idea of “Dawgs helping Dawgs” is something special, and it truly warms my heart to see it at work when our current students meet our alumni.

Experiences, and alumni, like those found on Butler’s Chicago Trek, are a huge reason why our university is such a special place. I could not think of a better way to spend fall break than with these curious, driven students. Exploring their options for the future and networking with alumni just a few hours northwest—I know they all feel like it was worth the price of admission!