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!