Communication Studies Newsletter – May 2006
Recognizing our Best and Brightest: Lambda Pi Eta Initiation
The Xi Nu chapter of Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society held its second initiation ceremony on Sunday, April 23, 2006 at the Waterfront Place Hotel. Twenty-four new members were initiated, including Ashley Alger, Carolyn Argetsinger, Kristen Barber, Lara Benninger, Leah Bess, Holli Bumgarner, Brittany Carozza, Rebecca Chopyak, Brandon DeWitt, Brian Dobbins, Mary Beth Dutko, Carly Eddleman, Douglas Fidler, Sabrina Judy, Christen Justice, Jason Hillenbrand, Suzanne Likins, Jay Mason, Stephanie Mills, Kellen Murphy, Lindsay Nohe, Antoinette O’Neil, Jarrod Pescosolido, and Karissa Zigarovich.
Dr. Maria Brann, the faculty advisor for Lambda Pi Eta, welcomed the students, family, and friends to the reception. The club’s outgoing officers, President Brooke Litton and Secretary Beth Vickio, spoke about the mission of Lambda Pi Eta before the new members were initiated. Dr. Brann then recognized the outgoing officers for their hard work during the past year.
“The students became really involved and active this year serving the campus, community, and country,” Dr. Brann said. “This group of students not only excel academically, but they also really care about the people around them. They offered academic counseling to undergraduates on campus, planned an Easter party for local underprivileged children in the community, and organized a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims.”
In order to be eligible for membership into Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society, Communication Studies students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a 3.25 communication GPA, and be in the upper 35% of their graduating class.
Below are the new officers for the 2006-2007 school year: Brittany Carozza, treasurer, Brian Dobbins, secretary, Jay Mason, vice president, and Doug Fidler, president.
May 2006 Graduation Reception
On May 14, 2006, West Virginia University held its Spring Commencement at the WVU Coliseum. The day before, the Department of Communication Studies hosted a Graduation Reception for graduating students. Over 400 graduates, family members, and friends attended this event. At the reception, the members of Lambda Pi Eta received their red and white Graduation Honor Cords from Dr. Maria Brann. Ms. Andrea Weber, Director of Undergraduate Studies, then asked each of the graduating undergraduates in attendance to come to the front of the room when they were called in order to be recognized and to receive a certificate of accomplishment from the department. Congratulations once again to all of the graduates and their families.
Enuff Z?nuff: Richmond leaves WVU
“I’m out of here!” shouted Dr. Virginia Richmond at the May graduate reception as she announced that starting this fall she would be the new Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Alabama – Birmingham.
Dr. Richmond has been part of West Virginia University, either as an extended learning student, an on campus MA student, or a professor, for over 30 years. Since joining the faculty full time in 1977, Dr. Richmond has been a buttress in the Department, except for one year where she served as the Director of the School of Communication Studies at Kent State University. For many of those years, Dr. Richmond served as the Coordinator of Extended Learning for our Department. At one time, she also served as Director of the On-Campus MA program.
Many graduates from WVU acknowledge that Dr. Richmond was one of their most memorable professors. Students often commented about the stories she told about her West Virginia upbringing and her husband.
Especially for younger female students, Dr. Richmond served as a mentor. Serving on many thesis and dissertation committees, Dr. Richmond was always willing to share her knowledge and experiences to help her students. As one of the top most published scholars in our field, Dr. Richmond also demonstrated how to balance teaching and research.
I’ll always remember how Dr. Richmond would end her e-mails to the extended learning students: “My best and nothing less,” noted Dr. Matt Martin, Chair of the Department of Communication Studies. “Whether it was teaching a large lecture course, teaching a graduate seminar in nonverbal communication, serving on a department or college committee, or recruiting students for extended learning, Dr. Richmond always gave her best. Dr. Richmond is irreplaceable. We will not be able to hire someone to do what she has done in the past.”
The Department celebrated Dr. Richmond’s new position with a Farewell Dinner in early June at the Vintage Room. Almost all of the faculty members were able to attend to wish her the best and to thank her for all of her service and dedication to WVU; she even received the traditional gold watch as a token of the department’s appreciation.
ECA Marauds Philadelphia
“I once spent a year in Philadelphia. I think it was on a Sunday.” ~ W. C. Fields
“This is the best convention ever.” ~ Alex Smith
The Eastern Communication Association held their 97th annual meeting this last April in Philadelphia. The theme of the annual meeting was Transforming Communication & Community. The WVU Department of Communication Studies was well represented as over 30 undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members were in attendance.
One highlight of the convention was a research panel on health communicating featuring WVU undergraduate students (several of the students are in the picture above). This panel consisted of students from Dr. Keith Weber’s COMM 401 class during the Spring 2005 semester. “These students put a lot of effort and thought into their projects and I believed that there needed to be a wider audience for their research,” noted Dr. Weber. “I’m proud of the job they did in conducting their studies and in their presentations at the conference. These students are doing good things, transforming their communities and making a difference.”
Dr. Weber chaired the panel and Dr. Lisa Sparks from George Mason University served as the respondent to the students’ papers. Below are the papers that were presented:
“Constructing anti-drinking and driving messages: A view from the other side” by Christine M. Kochan, Joshua D. May, and Kellen F. Murphy
“Volunteers needed: Why do people choose to volunteer?” by Melissa R. Ervin, Christopher A. Garnes, and Alex B. Smith
“Perceptions of physician credibility from initial advertisement” by Zachary T. Price, Jason L. Horne, and Thomas O. Tindall
“Manipulating pro-exercise messages: What works and what doesn’t” by Carolyn S. Argetsinger, Cassandra M. Fragale, and Anne B. Melson
Another panel featured many of the WVU graduate students. Working under the supervision of Dr. Scott Myers, the graduate students explored the use of relational maintenance behaviors in a variety of relationships. Dr. Marianne Dainton from La Salle University served as the respondent to the papers. Below are the papers that were presented:
“Relational maintenance behaviors of friends with benefits: Investigating equality and relational characteristics,” by Alan K. Goodboy, Juan M. D’Brot IV and Kami S. Baker
“Relational maintenance behaviors within college roommate dyads: Predictors of trust, liking, and commitment,” by Katie Neary Dunleavy, Sarah E. Baker, Nathaniel Karl Hixson, and Stephanie Meehl
“Emerging adults’ use of relational maintenance behaviors with their parents,” by Scott A. Myers, Natica P. Glover, and Cara M. Spencer
“Going online: Relational maintenance behaviors and relational characteristics use in dating relationships,” by Robert J. Sidelinger, David Tibbles, Gus A. Ayash, and Alexandria L. Godorhazy
“Year after year I hear our students talking about their failed relationships in class. I figured this year, even if they could not have healthy interpersonal relationships on their own, they could at least learn more about how other people achieve and maintain healthy relationships,” said Dr. Myers. “While they did a great job on their projects, I’m not that optimistic about these students putting their research into practice. I hope I’m wrong but I doubt it.”
One graduate student, who wished to remain anonymous, responded after hearing Dr. Myer’s comment, “Physician, heal thyself.”
Using Humor to Communicate Effectively
I’m funny how, I mean funny like I’m a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I’m here to #@&%^ amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny? ? Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas
“When you’ve been researching humor and speak about humor, people expect you to be funny and I’m not that funny,” proclaimed Dr. Melissa Wanzer during her speech Monday March 27, 2006. As part of the Helen Coast Hayes Lecture Series that is sponsored by the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Wanzer gave a speech titled “A Summary of Ten Years of Humor Research: The Benefits of Humor Production.” Dr. Wanzer gave a summary of her own research of how humor is used in a variety of settings, including medical settings, in order to reduce stress and to build affinity.
According to Dr. Wanzer, an associate professor at Canisius College, those that work in the medical profession use humor amongst themselves to help deal the stress of their jobs. Patients and their families also use humor in dealing with their illnesses, even when battling life threatening diseases.
Dr. Wanzer received her Doctor of Education from WVU in 1995. Her recent visit was her first time back to Morgantown in about 10 years.
Besides giving her lecture in the Gluck Theatre, Dr. Wanzer also met with the current master students to discuss her research. Additionally, Dr. Wanzer had lunch with the doctoral students, offering the doctoral students her perspective on how to prepare for their academic careers after leaving WVU.
“We are very grateful that Dr. Wanzer was able to return to her alma mater. Over the years she has sent numerous of her undergraduates to WVU to study for their Master of Arts in Communication Studies. She is a phenomenal mentor, teacher, researcher, and speaker, although I must say Melissa is selling herself short, she is pretty funny,” said Dr. Matt Martin, Chair of the Department of Communication Studies.
