Communication Studies Newsletter – Nov. 2006
Dr. Melanie Booth-Butterfield:
The Peggy Rardin McConnell Chair
in Speech Communication
In 2003, John McConnell, founder of Worthington Industries Inc., made a one million dollar gift to the WVU Foundation to endow the Peggy Rardin McConnell Chair in Speech Communication, to honor his late wife, a WVU alumna. Mr. McConnell outlined that “the McConnell Chair should take leadership in demonstrating how speech performance and speech communication can be integrated into the Department of Communication Studies strategic plan and into attracting and retaining quality students.”
This year Dr. Melanie Booth-Butterfield was honored with being named as the first recipient of the Peggy Rardin McConnell Chair in Speech Communication. In her application for this honor, Dr. Booth-Butterfield proposed a new six-hour health communication component. After completing COMM 309: Health Communication, students interested in the promotion of health in the state of West Virginia could enroll in two advanced courses in health communication. In these courses, students would create and conduct health communication campaigns.
“Her proposal for the endowed Chair impressed all involved in the selection process and her work will impact the university and the state of West Virginia,” noted Dean Mary Ellen Mazey.
In her recent textbook Influential Health Communication, Dr. Booth-Butterfield notes that one cannot wave a magic wand and have people adopt a healthy lifestyle. “It’s also certain that we can’t just tell someone to quit doing unhealthy activities and have them stop.”
“There will be a great deal of public communication about this project to heighten involvement – a Web site, press conferences and community activities. With the McConnell project, we will be able to give a wide range of excellent opportunities to students in the area of health communication,” said Dr. Booth-Butterfield. “I am deeply grateful to the McConnell family for their generous support to the Eberly College. This extraordinary enrichment experience will be important, productive, and invigorating for me and for my students.”
Dr. Matthew M. Martin, Chair of the Department of the Communication Studies, strongly supports the appointment of Dr. Booth-Butterfield as McConnell Chair. “Dr. Booth-Butterfield has a high sense of caring for others. In her teaching and research, she aims for making positive changes in people’s lifestyles and relationships. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this wonderful honor.”
Learn more about the McConnell Health Project at this website: http://www.livelongwv.com/
Dr. Megan Dillow Conjoins Faculty
Joining our faculty this fall is Dr. Megan Dillow. Megan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, and her Master of Arts degree from the University of Georgia. She recently received her Ph.D. in Communication Arts and Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University. This summer, she successfully defended her dissertation, entitled “Development and Experimental Validation of a Measure to Assess Reasons for Maintaining Romantic Relationships after Major Transgressions have Occurred.”
In her dissertation, Megan discovered that perceptions of one’s romantic partner – in particular, perceptions of the romantic partner’s unique ability to fulfill certain relational needs – are an important determinant of decisions to maintain relationships after the discovery of a partner’s transgression. In addition, perceptions of the partner’s uniqueness also predict several basic communicative responses and conflict management strategies that are utilized after a romantic relationship has been damaged by a partner’s transgression.
Megan’s primary areas of research and teaching include interpersonal/romantic relationships and “dark side” relational events. In addition, Megan maintains a strong interest in examining romantic relationship reconciliation. Megan plans to continue to investigate the role that communication plays in the context of these types of romantic relationship occurrences. In the near future, Megan looks forward to teaching graduate seminars related to her primary areas of interest.
Megan has published several articles in professional journals, including Communication Studies, Personal Relationships, the Southern Communication Journal, and the Journal of the National Medical Association. She has also been very active in service for the Eastern Communication Association, and is eager to play a more active service role in the National Communication Association.
Megan is very pleased to return to the Morgantown area, where she resided from 2000-2002 while employed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. “I am glad to be back in Morgantown. My colleagues are so helpful and supportive, which made the transition a very easy one. WVU already feels like home to me!”
Welcome Megan, we are fortunate to have you as a member of our faculty.
Motion Pictures that Move: The Peace Film Initiative
Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. ~ Dalia Lama
Peace is not the absence of war; it is a virtue; a state of mind; a disposition for benevolence; confidence; and justice. ~ Spinoza
One film tells the story of a British stockbroker who was instrumental in saving hundreds of Jewish children during World War II. Another focuses on a monk who speaks out against the United States’ involvement in Vietnam. Other films focus on the rights to protest, whether the topic is military involvement in Iraq or praying in a mosque. All of these topics were covered in the first-ever Peace Film Initiative that took place this last October in Morgantown.
Dr. John Shibley, an Associate Professor of Communication Studies, routinely teaches courses in Film Appreciation and Nonviolence in Communication Behavior, spearheaded a group whose goal was to show a series of films that are, as Shibley described, “motion pictures that move.” Films shown included Witnessing Darfur, The Peace Patriots, No Man’s Land, Peace is Every Step: The Life and Works of Thich Nhat Hanh, Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good, and Me and the Mosque.
“These are films that can’t help but move you emotionally,” noted Dr. Shibley. “We’re proud of this grouping of films. They’re a pretty powerful mix of documentary films and feature films, and they all ask that you simply consider peace.”
Dr. Shibley recognizes A. J. Muste, a legendary pacifist, as a spiritual father of the peace initiative. “Muste’s mantra was, ‘There is no way to peace – peace is the way,” Shibley said. “We want you to consider that.”
“John and his committee did an outstanding job in organizing and implementing this initial offering of the Peace Film Initiative. From my discussions with John, I believe this is a beginning of the Peace Film Initiative, not an ending,” said Dr. Matthew M. Martin, Chair of the Department of Communication Studies.
