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Featured
Student

Facia Nyego Sirleaf
Beginning my undergraduate career as an undeclared student was the best decision I could have ever made. It allowed me the opportunity to fall in love with Anthropology, Gender Studies, and Communication Studies. Not only has this area of study enhanced the love I have for Anthropology and gender and ethnicity, it has given me the confidence I need to thrive as a public speaker and critical thinker. Through classes such as Gender issues in Communication, I was able to develop a passion for analyzing gender as well as ethnicity in different cultural contexts, specifically African culture. After learning tools to effectively communicate in professional settings and volunteering for two semesters, I interned at The Women’s Resource Center on campus and worked as a teaching assistant in the Communication Studies department. I have also won the Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities Grant (U.R.S.C.A.), which I used to conduct research in Fez, Morocco for my project titled I Like the Color: Race and Ethnicity in Morocco.  I have also presented research at a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) conference titled Romance Never Dies: An Ethnographic Study of Romance Novel Enthusiasts which focused on an application of literary anthropology.
I believe that Communication Studies has prepared me for graduate school as well helping me become a well-grounded scholar. Public speaking, gender issues in communication, and intercultural communication prepared me the most with being able to engage with audiences and articulate the love I have for my areas of study. With everything I have learned I plan to complete graduate studies by combining my love for Communication and African Studies to one day be able to work for the United Nations.

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Featured Student

Gabrielle Narr
I am currently a Junior at Bloomsburg University in the Communication Studies major with a concentration in Organizational Communication. I also have a minor in Human Resources. The decision to choose this major and minor was the best decision I could have made as an incoming freshman. The classes I have taken in my major and minor have set me up to be successful in any career I choose. I am now an ethical thinker, organized, have great interpersonal skills, work well in diverse groups, and thrive as a public speaker. Not only have I gained these great skills, but being a Communication Studies major has given me the courage to get involved, which led to me joining my national sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma. Throughout my time in Phi Sigma Sigma I have held three leadership positions which are, scholarship chair, sisterhood development chair, and fundraising chair. I loved fundraising when I did it and it gave me the inspiration to want to pursue a career in Event Planning. Through my connections in Phi Sigma Sigma I received the opportunity to intern over the winter of 2017 at an event planning company called Philly2Night. During my internship I was involved in the process of planning and implementing events. I also worked closely with the events production manager. My favorite event that we planned was our New Years Eve Gala at the Seaport Museum. During my time as an intern at Philly2Night I gained real life experience, personal growth, field experience, and professional skill building. Throughout my time in the Communication Studies Department there have been two professors that have really stood out and helped me strive to be my best. Dr. Shavonne Shorter and Dr. Mary King have really been a great inspiration to me. They both encouraged me to be ambitious and do something that I never thought I would be able to do— achieve a 4.0 in the Spring 2017 semester. I also served as a Teaching Assistant for Dr. Mary King's Introduction to Communication Studies course. This provided an opportunity to build leadership and teamwork skills. I am very grateful for my professors and classmates that have helped me become the best version of myself. Communication Studies has prepared me for life after graduation, even if I'm not ready to graduate.

Department News:
February 2016

Presentations

Miller, M., Marnella, M., La Valley, A., & Lamacchia, C. (2016, February). A Paradigm Shift: A Transcultural Course that Fits. Presented at the American Association of Colleges & Universities 2016 General Education and Assessment Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Shorter, S. (2016, February). Preparing For Your Future Today: Developing the Communication Skills to Help You Get the Job of Your Dreams. Presented at the Sankofa Conference, Bloomsburg University.

Workshops and Lectures

Dr. Ruth Beerman and Professor Phil Rippke presented their invited lecture "Public Speaking in a Comedy Setting" for Brian Johnson's Make Me Laugh (First Year Seminar) class on February 25 at Bloomsburg University.

Dr. Erin Brummett, Dr. Kai Kuang, and Dr. Elizabeth Petre conducted an hour-long workshop for the Center for Leadership and Engagement entitled “Skills Set Series Part 1: Communication and Conflict Management.” This workshop provided an overview of effective communication skills to emerging student leaders here on campus. Students participated in individual reflections and small group discussions about their everyday communication interactions, ways to improve their listening habits, and strategies for managing conflict effectively. Students take eight SSS1 workshops to get their Level 1 Certification.

Dr. Eric C. Miller gave a talk titled “Christian Voices in the Pluralist Wild: Religious Participation in the Liberal Public Square” on February 10, as part of the Institute for Culture and Society faculty lecture series.

Dr. Shavonne Shorter gave an invited lecture titled “Networking 101,” at the Bloomsburg University Career Intensive Boot Camp, held February 19-21.