News & Notes
Jackson Joins International Journal Editorial Board. Dr. Lorraine Jackson has been invited to serve on the Editorial Board of a new scholarly journal. The International Journal of Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies (IJICST) focuses on a broad spectrum of existing and emerging Internet-based social interaction technologies, including their applications, functions, and services. This interdisciplinary journal brings together global experts from the areas of communication science, human-computer interaction, information systems, computer science, knowledge management, business, economics, media studies, public relations, advertising, marketing, education, law, psychology, anthropology, and social work.
Fahs Receives NCA Top Panel Award. The Training and Development Division of the National Communication Association presented its 2009 "Top Panel" award to a group of faculty scholars that included Communication Studies professor Dr. Michael Fahs. The division presents the award to participants on the Training and Development sponsored panel determined by organizers to be the division's spotlight panel at the annual conference. Dr. Fahs presented a paper titled "Old Tricks for New Dogs: Lessons Learned Applying Communication Research to New Settings, Contexts and Organizations." Other participants on the award winning panel included faculty from Marietta College, USC, University of Texas, and University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.
Faculty Attend National Communication Conference. The Communication Studies Department was well represented at the National Communication Association Annual Conference held in Chicago, November 12-15. Dr. Richard Besel presented a paper sponsored by the Group Communication Division, Dr. Jnan Blau presented a paper sponsored by the Performance Studies Division, and Dr. Michael Fahs presented a paper sponsored by the Training and Development Division.
Department Welcomes New Students. Communication Studies welcomed sixty-one new students for the Fall Quarter, forty-eight first time freshmen and thirteen upper-division transfer students. The new students replace forty-nine students who completed their degrees during the 2008-09 academic year. With attrition and changes of major taken into account, the new academic year begins with 234 students registered as Communication Studies majors. This number represents a slight increase over last year, and an increase of over 18% in the last four years. Communication Studies remains one of the most requested majors in the College of Liberal Arts, with over 900 applicants vying for the sixty-plus slots available for this year. The Fall 2008 entering class brings an impressive set of qualifications to the department, with mean grade point average of 3.93 and a mean combined SAT score of 1248, both of which are among the highest in the College.
Blau Appointed to Peru Study Program. During Summer Quarter 2010, Dr. Jnan Blau will be one of two university faculty appointed to lead the Summer 2010 Peru Study Program. Dr. Blau will help supervise student participants, as well as teach a specially designed course, Communication and Culture in Latin America. In addition to regular class time, faculty and students in the program will be involved in a service activity component involving hands-on, community-based development work.
IN MEMORIAM. Communication Studies Emerituis Professor Robert Cleath passed away on July 5, 2009 in Santa Maria. He had been in failing health for some time. Dr. Cleath came to Cal Poly in 1965, was one of the founding members of the original Speech and Drama Department, and a university Distinguished Teacher. He retired from full-time teaching in 1980, although he continued to teach part-time in the Faculty Early Retirement Program through 2002. Dr. Cleath was an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, serving for a time as pastor of the Community Presbyterian Church of Cambria, and preaching at a number of churches on the Central Coast. He is survived by Virginia, his wife of 60 years, three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.