April May 2023 College News

College of Fine Arts and Communication | 15 where they increasingly are: Online, against female journalists and outside of newsrooms . She is now a member of the Journalism Safety Research Network. Kelly Kaufhold co-authored a study that was just published in the International Journal of Interactive Communications Systems and Technologies (IJICST) . The work is entitled "Power to the People: Social Media as a Catalyst for Political Participation in Nigeria" that used survey data from 1,600 Nigerians to examine how they communicate about, and participate in, politics. This is the second study Kaufhold has published with Dr. Adeniyi Bello from McPherson University in Nigeria. [2] Gilbert Martinez was nominated and selected by honors students as the John R. Hood Professor of the Year for fall 2022 to spring 2023. Martinez has taught his honors class, “Free Speech, Free Press and the Supreme Court of the United States,” every spring semester for the last 14 years, leading honors students to visit the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Prisca Ngondo , Vanessa Higgins Joyce and Jennifer Scharlach received Most Innovative Program during the Texas State University Inclusive Excellence Showcase. This award was received for their work and research on the Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Hispanic Texans project. [3] Debra Price 's students in her PR Campaigns class are working to develop strategic communication plans to prevent fraud against seniors and the military in 105 Texas counties for the Better Business Bureau serving the Heart of Texas. [4] Cindy Royal 's speaker series in her Digital Media Innovation Capstone course included several alumni of the program this semester. Digital Media Innovation graduates Julia Pinto ('17), Luis Seijo ('18 ) and Anne Cox ('20), who work in web content and sales operations roles for South by Southwest, spoke with students on March 28th about the large-scale music, film and technology event. Julia, Luis, and Anne had participated in the SXSW Content Project while they were students, which has led to their permanent employment with the organization. Other DMI alumni participating in the speaker series this semester include Giselle Kowalski ('21), Digital Marketing Strategist at Texas State; Kenya Ramirez ('21), Web Content Design Specialist at SHI International; Jacklyn Mann ('18), Email Digital Developer at Southwest Airlines; and Bridget Barth ('22), Front End Developer at Michaels Stores. [5] STUDENT ACCOLADES The Texas State Student Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists attended the SPJ Region 8 Conference at Texas A&M San Antonio March 31st to April 1st. Students connected with media professionals from various areas of mass comm and attended sessions focusing on the Uvalde school shooting, public records request, podcasting and other topics. The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas has named Brianna Chavez , a journalism junior at Texas State University, as the recipient of the inaugural Ralph Langer Scholarship. Alongside her journalism studies, Chavez has worked as a life and arts reporter at The University Star . Some of her stories have been published by the Austin American-Statesmen . Chavez, who is in the first generation of her family to attend college, will receive a $6,000 scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship was created in memory of Ralph Langer, a guiding light as the FOI Foundation became the state’s leading voice on transparency and the First Amendment. UNIVERISTY STAR ACCOLADES The University Star staff members and contributors won 15 awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) during the spring convention March 23rd-25th. The Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) is the oldest collegiate media organization in the country. It consists of 77 public and private two- year colleges and four-year universities in Texas that teach journalism or have existing or planned student publications. The annual awards honor excellence in student media. Awards the students received were: On-Site Competition Awards (Open Division) First Place for Editorial Writing, Rhian Davis