April & May 2016 College News

co-editors on both publications. Dr. Salem and Dr. Timmerman will also contribute a chapter to the book and an article to the special issue as well. Student Accolades The Elton Abernathy Forensics Society, Texas State’s competitive speech team, won second place at the National Forensics Association National Tournament. In addition, they qualified for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament for the 35th time (out of 39 years), one of the highest success rates of any program in the country. Blake Boone and Benjamin Clancy participated on the panel “Reality Queens, Zombies, Queer Villains, and Cool Feminists: A Critical Rhetorical Exploration of Modern Popular Television” at the Southern States Communication Association Conference. Emma Carberry and Cody Gould traveled to the Eastern Communication Association conference in Baltimore as Texas State representatives and Communication Studies “student ambassadors.” Ben Clancy won the Top Student Paper award in the Freedom of Speech division of the Southern States Communication Association for his paper, “Negotiator In Chief: Donald Trump’s Rise in the Wake of Citizens United.” Patrick Gonzalez participated on the panel “Using Gaming Theory Pedagogies to Heighten Student Consciousness and Communication Competencies in a New Media Society” at the SSCA Conference. Lauren Lee presented her honors thesis proposal to the 2016 Undergraduate Research Conference and Honors Thesis Forum. Her manuscript is entitled, “Communicative Work and Shifting Illness Trajectories: An Examination of Individuals Coping with Chronic Lyme Disease.” Kristen LeBlanc Farris served as her faculty advisor for the thesis. Ramces Luna presented the paper “Ferguson Protests: Why They Are Legitimate” to the Theodore Clevenger, Jr., Undergraduate Honors Conference at SSCA. Alexandra Mehlhaff presented “Does Fame Matter? Acting and Politicking for President” to the Southern States Communication Association Conference in Austin. Alexandra also presented the paper “Crawling Towards the American Dream: Simulacra, News, and a Retelling of a Classic Myth.” Vanessa Salazar was selected to become part of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was honored at a ceremony and reception at Evans Auditorium in April. Undergraduate Jordan Taylor presented the paper “Rhetorical Analysis of President Johnson’s ‘We Shall Overcome’ Speech” to the Theodore Clevenger, Jr., Undergraduate Honors Conference at SSCA. Caleb Williams participated on the panel “Methods and Approaches to Teaching the Communication Training and Development Course” at the Southern States Communication Association Conference. Goyland Williams presented the paper “‘The Cage is Full, Stay Awake:’ Representations of Mental Illness in Orange Is the New Black ” to the Southern States Communication Association Conference in Austin. Alumni Accolades M.A. program alums Angel Armijo and Shanna Schultz participated on the panel “Reality Queens, Zombies, Queer Villains, and Cool Feminists: A Critical Rhetorical Exploration of Modern Popular Television” at the Southern States Communication Association Conference. Wendy Atkins-Sayre (B.A. & M.A.) was honored with the J. Donald Ragsdale Mentor Award from the Southern States Communication Association. Dr. Atkins-Sayre is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Speaking Center at the University of Southern Mississippi. M.A. program graduate Emi Kanemoto presented the paper “Moving from Shazai to Owabi? Apology Diplomacy (shaszai gaikou) in Japanese Political Discourse on the 70th Anniversary of the End of World War II ” to the Southern States Communication Association Conference in Austin. Gretchen (Seelbach) McDade (M.A., 2001) was recently appointed as Vice President and General Manager of Sales, Wine and Spirits Division at Constellation Brands. She is the first female VP of Sales in the Wine and Spirits division, and cites teambuilding skills as the most important factor that distinguished her from other candidates. M.A. program graduate Shanna D. Schultz presented “Bitches and Burlesque: A Dramatic Frame Analysis of the Feminine Style in Wendy Davis Attack Ads” to the Southern States Communication Association Conference.