October2018CollegeNews

4 Melinda Villagran working to move the Translational Health Research Initiative onto the list of legislative appropriation items 5 Te annual Welcome and Welcome Back! reception hosted by the department 6 Te Elton Abernathy Forensics Society 8 | October | College News DEPARTMENT ACCOLADES Te Department of Communication Studies is hosting its second TEDx event on Saturday, November 3 at Te Marc. Tis full-day event will feature innovative ideas from a variety of speakers, wonderful entertainment from Texas State students and community members, and the chance to discuss and share with others in the community. Revolving around the theme of “reXamine,” speakers will challenge the status quo and embrace the question “Why?” Topics will focus on innovation in technology, science, the arts, humanities, and our daily lives. Te TEDx Leadership team consists of Communication Studies faculty members Marsha Burney , Michael Burns , Kristen Farris , and Cassandra LeClair , and M.A. students David Beadle and Hannah Jones . Communication Faculty members Ann Burnette and Mark Paz are serving as speaker coaches along with alumnus Jonathan Alba . Melinda Villagran has worked closely with Walt Horton and Eric Algoe to defne the request that would create a source of state-level funding for the THRI. Te administration selected the Translational Health Research Initiative (THRI) to be included in the university’s Legislative Appropriations Request for the 86th Legislature. Melinda continues to lead the THRI at Texas State, announcing the 2019 Health Scholar Showcase to be held on Wednesday, February 27th. Tis event connects faculty and community partners so they may engage in collaborative research eforts. For 2019, “Smart and Connected Innovation” is the general theme, building on the combined NSF/ NIH program that was launched last year focused on “Smart and Connected Health.” Tere will also be an opportunity to learn more about health-focused research being completed by faculty from Departments, Schools, Centers, and Colleges across Texas State University. Te THRI supports faculty seeking to attract new grant funding, build their research teams, develop research tools, or move forward on multidisciplinary programs. Michael Burns , Kristen Farris , and Marian Houser , working with Daris Hale , Ian Davidson , and Nico Schuler from the School of Music were approved for a new joint study abroad program to London and Paris where students will earn credit for Fundamentals of Human Communication and Introduction to Fine Arts. Tis program will be the frst study abroad course marketed and endorsed by the Texas International Education Consortium. As a pilot project, the details of the program will be distributed to 31 public universities in Texas. Te Graduate Faculty Committee from the Department of Communication Studies held the annual Graduate Day of Dialogue. Tis day-long meeting focuses upon continued progress and planning to maintain status as a top-level Master’s program. Among the many agenda items that were addressed, the faculty developed the planned course oferings for the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters. Te department also hosted the annual Welcome and Welcome Back! reception. Te event allows faculty and graduate students to (re-)establish relationships, catch up on projects, and develop the coordination needed to lead into a productive academic year. [5] Te Department of Communication Studies’ Graduate Instructional Assistants and Graduate Teaching Assistants are hard at work balancing the dual goals of excellence in teaching and research. A recent stroll through their ofces provides evidence of their simultaneous dedication to teaching and research. Te COMM Lab is Texas State’s only resource for enhancing the delivery of presentations and oral communication. Te Lab has temporarily relocated to the second foor of the Alkek Library, with plans for permanent housing on the fourth foor once renovations are complete. Communication Studies faculty member (MA, Texas State University) Casey Chilton is the director of the Comm Lab and provides training for up to 7 staf members, coordinates technology and infrastructure requirements, and serves as a liaison between Comm Lab and a wide range of campus units that utilize his team’s services. Recently, the university approved Student Service Fee funding for the Lab for the second year, which allowed additional staf to be hired and more students will be served. Te COMM Lab is open to all students, regardless of major. FORENSICS ACCOLADES Te Elton Abernathy Forensics Society won second place at the 30th Annual Hill Country Swing hosted by Texas State and the University of Texas. Eleven universities, including Arizona State, LSU, University of Louisiana- Lafayette, Rice, and the University of Texas competed in the tournament. Te Elton Abernathy Forensics Society is Texas State’s competitive speech team. [6] Tey travel a local, regional, and national circuit with emphasis on qualifcation for the NIET. • Jaelyn Ashford won 1st in Prose Interpretation. • Tyra Williams won 1st in Dramatic Interpretation. • Dillon McCoy won 1st in Program Oral Interpretation and 4th in Prose Interpretation. • Enrique Urdiales took 2nd place in Program Oral Interpretation. • Shaelyn Handy took 5th place in Program Oral Interpretation and 6th in Prose Interpretation. • Lily Montemayor was 4th in Extemporaneous Speaking. • Tyshee Sonnier was 4th in Informative Speaking. Te following weekend, the team competed at the Storm Classic at Southeastern Oklahoma. • Nate Sauve and Jonathan Wagner were semi- fnalists in Parliamentary Debate. • Lily Montemayor and Jordan Drake were Quarterfnalists in Parliamentary Debate. • Lily Montemayor took 3rd in Extemporaneous Speaking and 3rd in Informative Speaking. • Jordan Drake took 3rd in Informative Speaking and was a semifnalist in Impromptu Speaking. • Tyshee Sonnier took 1st in Informative Speaking and was a semifnalist in Impromptu Speaking. • Dillon McCoy placed 2nd in Program Oral Interpretation. College of Fine Arts and Communication | 9