Department News

Dr. Omotayo Banjo

Omotayo Banjo, Assistant Professor of Communication, has recently joined the Department of Communication faculty as part of a diversity cluster hire in affiliation with the Africana Studies Department. She obtained her bachelors degree in Psychology and her doctorate in Mass Communication—both of which she received from Penn State University. Dr. Banjo’s research examines the social and psychological effects of ethnic media, raising questions about how media can be used to further the conversation surrounding diversity.

Lisa Wagner, Visiting Assistant Professor

Lisa Wagner is a second-year Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication. Her research interests include adolescence and youth culture, identity and the Internet. Lisa focuses on how adolescent girls are negotiating social networking sites and participatory media into their everyday lives and how these communication technologies influence identity construction and maintenance. Lisa is able to share her interests with students in mass communication courses Gender and New Media and Introduction to Mass Communication.

Communication and Popular Culture - Debuting Winter 09

In the winter quarter, Lisa Wagner (avatar at left, photo above) is debuting a new communication course, Communication and Popular Culture. This course is designed to take a multiperspectival approach to the broad field of communication. The course will explore the media of our everyday lives by learning of the political economy behind the production of the texts, analyzing the textual codes within the texts, and studying the audience reception. Lisa feels as our mediated world becomes more and more complicated with the convergence of new and expanding technologies, it is imperative that we are prepared with the crucial and critical tools to evaluate the media saturated culture in which we reside.

PRSSA Wins 1st Place in Donate Life Ohio Campaign!

In May, 2009, UC's PRSSA chapter won the statewide campaign competition promoting organ donation awareness and donor registrations. Called DO IT Now, the competition included 17 colleges and universities from throughout Ohio and ran from Sept 2008 until May 2009. UC's team conducted a well-researched and implemented campaign that exceeded all goals. In addition to the excellent experience, the team also won $2,000 to fund PRSSA chapter activities.

Alice House Speech Contest Winners

Congrautlations to the winners of our annual Alice House Speech Contest.  THis year's contest asked, "Do Social Newtorking Sites have a positive or Negative Impact on Individuals in Society." The winners were 1st - Matthew Stuckey, 2nd - Ryan Tinney, 3rd - Fathia Lutfi, 4th - Jared Queen, 5th - Ryan Schatzman, and Honorable Mention to Tiffanei Moyer. 


Steve Fuller:  A Spiritual Journey

Steve Fuller, Associate Profess of in Communication was featured in a recent article in Cin Weekly.  Read the full article and learn more about Professor Fuller's spiritual journey that is taking him to 52 places of worship in one year. You can also follow him on his mission by reading his blog.

11th Annual Verderber Lecture Series

Dr. Ed Schiappa was the guest speaker at The 11th Annual Verderber Lecture Series.  The event which brings a noted communication scholar at UC, honors Dr. Rudoloph Verderber, Professor Emeritus.  Dr.  Schiappa, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Studies, at the University of Minnesota spoke on, "Defining Marriage in California: An Analysis of Public and Technical Argument."

Judith Trent - Centennial Scholar of Communication

Judith Trent, Professor in Communication, was just named the Eastern Communication Association Centennial Scholar of Communication and honored at their annual convention during the Centennial Luncheon on April 24th, 2009, in Philadelphia. This prestigious award was given to Juddi in recognition of her scholarship and the impact that it has made upon her colleagues, students, and the field.

UC Forensics Team

UC Forensics Speech Organization attended one of their last events of the quarter at IUPUI. Our team wrapped up the competition season with great experiences and new friendships. While, we harness our enhanced oratory skills and confidence - we are also preparing for our chance to begin competing again next year. Come join us!

Making Connections

The Department of Communication hosted the "Making Connections" event for graduate students. This event featured communication professionals who have graduated from the program. This year's guests included Eric Winegardner from Monster.com, Mark Jorgensen from Global Recruiters, and Jennifer Kues from i-Wireless.

Communication Moves to New Offices

The Department of Communication has moved into new and expanded offices. We are now located on the first floor of McMicken Hall. While our phone number remains 513-556-4440, our main office is now 137 McMicken Hall. We are very happy to be at the center of the campus, and to be sharing the home of several other McMicken Arts & Sciences departments, including English, History and Philosophy.

Professor Gail Fairhurst Receives Scholarship Award

Our faculty are engaged, as always, in many remarkable projects. In conjunction with the publication of her new book, "Discursive Leadership: In Conversation with Leadership Psychology," (2007, Sage Publications), Professor Gail Fairhurst has received a 2008 Fulbright Seniors Scholarship Award. As a result, she will be lecturing and leading workshops on leadership at the University of Lund in Sweden during spring quarter, 2009.

Professor Steve Depoe Launches New Journal

Professor Steve Depoe, who was recently promoted to Full Professor, has launched a new journal, "Environmental Communication: A Journal of Nature and Culture," (Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers). In keeping with its focus on critical current issues, the journal will publish a special issue on environmental communication and global climate change in 2009. In his role as editor of the journal, Professor Depoe will travel to Barcelona, Spain this fall to attend the International Conference on Environmental Communication.

COMMunity House News

Brittany Collins, a second year graduate student who also serves as the resident advisor to our students living COMMunity House was selected by Mayor Mallory to help conduct research and write, among other things, the State of the City Speech, to be delivered early in 2009. The relationship with Mayor Mallory is but one example of the engaged scholarship opportunities that the Department of Communication has been seeking and fulfilling across the Greater Cincinnati Community.

In addition to student residency, the COMMunity House is now home to Dr. Nancy Jennings, and her research laboratory, where she and her Graduate Student Assistants can be found day and night conducting research on Children and Media. This work is sponsored by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the PBS Ready to Learn Initiative.

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