Butler University – CCOM Dean's Pawprints

CCOM Launches the 2025-2026 Academic Year

September 8, 2025 butlerccom

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

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

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

1,246. 96. 26.

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

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

New Faces in Fairbanks Center

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

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go”

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

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

And oh, the people we will see.

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

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

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

A Masterful Series Finale

July 1, 2025 butlerccom

Roger Sterling, as portrayed by John Slattery in the former TV series Mad Men, was sharp, smooth, and rocked a well manicured head of white hair. By the way, have any of you met Professor Gary Edgerton?

Sharp. Check. Smooth. Check. The silver mane. Absolutely (I mean, check out the above photo)!

Gary didn’t star in Mad Men, but has played a leading role in CCOM since 2012 AND he has authored two books about the award winning AMC period drama, featuring the one-liner wonders of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) about advertising on Madison Avenue. But that is just skimming the surface as I quickly share some highlights upon his recent understated retirement from Butler and CCOM.

*From left: Howard Schrott, Elaine Hall (founder of The Miracle Project that utilizes the arts to work with autistic children and teens), and Gary Edgerton.*

He arrived at Butler as Dean in 2012 from Old Dominion University, where he was Eminent Scholar, Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication and Theater Arts. His record of accomplishment at that point was tremendous, and set him up well to help establish the then-newly-formed College of Communication find its footing. He served for five years, not only continuing his scholarly achievements, but also helping to nurture and expand the impact of CCOM. From the behind the scenes work of setting up bylaws, procedures and processes in the college for faculty and students, to securing funding for upgraded student and faculty spaces in the building, Gary set CCOM on the path to distinction. Honestly, you can’t walk around Fairbanks and not see the results of the efforts he put in to set up a brand new college.

*Gary Edgerton, a proud Boston Celtics fan since his childhood, with Brad Stevens, a former Bulldogs men’s basketball coach who is currently the general manager of the Celtics.*

Following his deanship, Gary returned to the faculty in the Pulliam School of Journalism and Creative Media, teaching the theory and business side of entertainment and creative media. He also remained engaged in the college and university, often serving on committees that helped provide feedback to faculty on their development, and continued his scholarly output.

Gary’s scholarly contributions are nothing short of epic. He has written twelve books on shows from The Sopranos to Ken Burns’ America (with two more books in progress), thirty peer-reviewed articles, twenty-six book chapters, thirty online articles, twenty-two encyclopedia entries, and an astounding 100+ book reviews. Being a professor is sometimes referred to as commitment to “the life of the mind,” and in Gary’s case his commitment has expanded our understanding of media, television and culture in numerous ways through his work. Read more about his work and start your very own library today at the Gary Edgerton Amazon author page.

It’s not advertising in the 1960s, but being a prolific researcher and also a dean who established a new college at Butler might also deserve the moniker “Mad Man.” Don Draper on advertising said to “make it simple, but significant.” Gary’s work has been that of a simple teacher, but with significance beyond measure for his students, fellow scholars, and CCOM. We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter as he retires from Butler, and rides off into the sunset like a character from the shows and movies he has so deeply studied, invested in, and shared about as the leader he is.

The S.S. PBS

April 5, 2025 butlerccom

Creativity and nimbleness are hallmarks at Butler and especially within the College of Communication. Utilizing his skills at activating ideas, Professor Bob Schultz, known affectionately as PBS by many of his students, is a leader in many of the recent unique experiential opportunities of note (including NBA All-Star Weekend and Taylor Swift Street Teams with Visit Indy). But Spring Break 2025, and his STR 426 course: Tourism and Hospitality Communication and Cultural Immersion, elevated Bob to “Captain” for 12 days during a Mediterranean Cruise with 23 students.

One of these students was Madison Masek ’25 who will be graduating with a degree in strategic communication in May. Similar to when I’m hosting a tour with perspective students and their parents/guardians, there are times I’m thrilled to let the authenticity of a current student’s voice and experience sweep the audience off their feet—and here I’m doing that with part of Madison’s LinkedIn post about our excursion (please read her entire post too).

*“Dress up” night on the cruise for dinner.*

“I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible opportunity I had studying abroad with the Butler University College of Communication!” wrote Madison. “Over ten days, 22 Butler students and I traveled the Mediterranean coasts of Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples (Pompeii), Palermo, and Tunisia. We explored the tourism and hospitality industries while immersing ourselves in six different cultures.

One of the most eye-opening aspects of the course was analyzing modes of transportation in tourism. From international flights to public transit and a cruise ship, we explored how each method shapes the traveler experience and plays a role in destination marketing. Beyond transportation, we examined tourism industries through the lens of public relations, advertising, destination promotion, sustainability, and consumer relations.”

Class in the streets of Palermo.

There was analyzing and navigating—be it weather, transportation, remembering what floor on the MSC Fantasia cruise ship everyone was meeting on for our evening pre-dinner class discussion, or if WhatsApp or texting was the most efficient way to communicate with the group at any given moment.

The students learned. Bob, his wife Diane, and I learned. All from each other, constantly. The entire group bonded as we overcame obstacles, lifted one another, and port-by-port, celebrated a once in a lifetime journey together. This was something of a going away present for the seniors, while at the same time providing the highest of bars for the first-year students. But it’s safe to say everyone had fun.

Bulldogs at the playground in Barcelona – per my request.

I have the pleasure of working with Butler students in some capacity almost every single day, and consider myself fortunate for that. But this trip was so much more. As an extended family unit over multiple days I saw even more examples of why these young adults are the leaders, dreamers, doers, and critical thinkers of today and the future.

I owe a “thank you” to Captain PBS, CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano, the Study Abroad office at Butler for allowing me to be part of this trip. More importantly, I owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to each of the amazing 23 students who let me be a small part of their experience and who shared their enthusiasm for life, travel, and meaningful friendship.

Ross Hollebon – Marketing & Recruitment Manager, CCOM

Casa Batlló by Gaudi in Barcelona—just because. 😉

CCOM Student Post: Paris is great, but you have to get through Indy first

June 21, 2024 butlerccom

With CCOM Dean, Joe Valenzano, enjoying a well-earned European family vacation we are thrilled to have rising senior Sarah Hohman ‘25 contribute the first student guest post to CCOM Pawprints.

Oui oui! The U.S Olympic Swimming Trials are taking place in Indianapolis this week and the city is embracing its hosting duties—complete with a smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower on Georgia Street. Butler students are playing a role as Professor Bob Shultz gathered a group of student volunteers to help the Indiana Sports Corp produce their latest ground-breaking event.

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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.*

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“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.

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