2020 College Report

ALUMNI (See also Distinguished Alumni) • RON ALVES SR. Subcontract Manager, Lockheed Martin • DR. LEAH BRYANT Associate Professor, DePaul University • DR. BRITTANI CROOK User Experience (UX) Researcher at Facebook • ERNIE DOMINGUEZ Executive Director, Capital & Construction Solutions • NICK DRIVER Senior Vice President, Research Data Insights in L.A. • ANNE GRADY Author of 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work • JEFF HAHN Principal, Hahn Public Communications (Austin) • DAV ID LEE HESS Actor, Baskets , Fear the Walking Dead , and Revolution • JOE HOFFER Lawyer/Partner, Schulman, Lopez, & Hofer LLP • BRANDON LEE Founder & CEO, FunnelAmplifed and author of 99 Powerful Questions For Business Owners & Leaders • DR. VIRGINIA MCDERMOTT Dean, High Point University • STEPHEN MCINTOSH Director, Organizational Development, Shell Oil Company, Saudi Arabia • BRIAN MILLER Senior Manager of Sales Communication and Policies, United Airliness • DONTE MATHIS Former Athlete; Founder of Elevation Skills Sports • SHAWN TURNER Former White House Deputy Press Secretary RECENT ACCOLADES AND OPPORTUNITIES • 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in Forensics and Debate • MA program ranked in the TOP 20 OR HIGHER in terms of number of times published research is cited (#17) , average citations per faculty member (#20) , and average citations per faculty post Ph.D (#14) • Outstanding/Innovative Master’s Degree Program Award, Master’s Education Section of National Communication Association (2018) • Nearly 100% of masters’ students pursuing a Ph.D. are accepted to top doctoral programs • OVERALL WINNER OF 22 OF THE LAST 24 Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association tournaments • Department hosted TEDxTexasStateUniversity for the 4th time in spring 2020 • Two faculty have been elected to be President of the largest communication association in the US, the National Communication Association • COMMWeek (32 years), features national and international guest speakers, as well as networking and professional development opportunities • Recent faculty awards for online teaching, distinguished professor, distinguished article of the year in instructional communication, dissertation of the year in health communication, Presidential Award for Teaching (x2) and Presidential Award for Service (x2) • Masters students regularly present at national conferences and publish peer-reviewed articles, winning 3 Top Paper awards • Since 2004, 6 WINNERS of the Battle of Flowers Association Oratorical Contest, plus 4 second place fnishes RECENT GUEST SPEAKERS : Dr. Michael Ward (Oxford), Nina Vaca (CEO/Chairman, Pinnacle Group), Dr. Jennifer Teiss (Rutgers), Pam Cox (VP Whataburger), Andrew Lazo (CS Lewis Scholar), Joe Hamlin (Cleveland Browns) department of communi cat ion studi es Communication Studies examines the creation, expression, exchange, and analysis of meaning in personal, professional, and public life. In-depth study of communication equips graduates with versatile and relevant social intelligence that is bolstered by critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills. Te undergraduate degree ofers concentrations in Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, and Persuasive Communication as well as Teacher Certifcation. Te Department ofers three interdisciplinary minors: Leadership, Political Communication, and Health Communication. Te graduate degree (MA) ofers research emphases in Health Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, Persuasion and Political Communication, Rhetorical Studies, as well as Training and Development. 42 . COLLEGE REPORT 2020 F i r s t gen / N e x t gen . 43 419 - Majors - 407 - Minors - BEST ( National Communication Association ) Masters Program in Communication Studies