Corey Anton was named editor of the journal EME: Explorations in Media Ecology. He will serve as editor from 2008-2010. Anton presented a paper last summer in Greece on the History, Orientation and Future Directions of Media Ecology. Learn more about the journal at www.Media-ecology.org

 

Valerie Peterson and Corey Anton spoke about the impact of new media on it users on the half-hour TV show "Community Awareness," on WKTV, Wyoming. The show is hosted by Donna Kidner-Smith, who also teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Communications. They discussed new media etiquette and the effects of new media on interpersonal and social relations. Specifically, Peterson and Anton spoke about shifts in space/time relations, extensions of human capacities brought about by the cell phone and e-mail, and how these shifts and extensions affect the human condition. 

 

Professor Roger Ellis’ 15th book will appear in the bookshops this month. The book is an anthology of scenes and monologs by new international playwrights, published by Meriwether, Ltd. Ellis has also has been appointed chair of the Artistic Development Committee by the International Amateur Theatre Association, the world's largest international theatre organization. As part of his responsibilities, Ellis will be travelling to share plans with colleagues on artistic projects at conferences in Seoul, Paderborn (Germany), and Talinn (Estonia).

 

The Theatre program at GVSU received two Grand Awards—the Tony Awards of Grand Rapids--in 2006. One was given to Michael Harthen, a Film/Video Production major and Theatre minor, for Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production for his role in “The Servant of Two Masters,” an April 2006 production. The second award went to Karen Libman and the ensemble from Heritage Theatre for Outstanding Ensemble Production for “Metamorphoses” in the Summer of 2006. Diane Rayor, from GVSU, was Dramaturg for the production, as were alumni Heather Hartnett and Matthew Wilson and current students Megan Johnson and Mike Empson. 

 

Professor Deanna Morse was elected as a Vice President of ASIFA International, the Association Internationale du Film d'Animation, after a competitive race with five candidates for two leadership positions. Morse will work with the president, Sayoko Kinoshita, who is from Japan. Morse’s term is three years. ASIFA was founded in 1960 in France, and has over 30 chapters around the world. The organization is affiliated with UNESCO (the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), which encourages international peace and universal respect by promoting collaboration among nations. The goal of ASIFA International is to promote cultural exchange through the art of animation. More information about this story is available online: http://gvsu.edu/r/?q=CC1655

 

Lisa Travnik, an APR major who is serving as Vice President for Advocacy of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), is organizing an event on GVSU’s Allendale campus April 4 that will advocate for the PR profession. Travnik, an honor’s student, is planning the event as her senior project and is working under the supervision of Professor Tim Penning. The event will involve a panel of regional PR professionals to discuss criticisms of the PR profession and explain what public relations practitioners actually do. The idea is to attract students and faculty from other majors all across campus. The event is planned for April 4, at 4:30, in the Pere Marquette Room in the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale campus. It will be free and open to all.

 

APR major Renee Gaudreau is currently working on an internship with Warner Bros. Music in Nashville. Some of her duties include: previewing demo. tapes and artist promotions, and to organize and attend artist showcases to promote new artists on the Warner label. For more information: www.wbrnashville.com

 

 

Angela (Sharper) Brown (APR) took a new job as marketing and business development coordinator/proposal writer for the WilmerHale, a firm in Washington D.C. She started an MBA program at Regis University last month.

 

 

Alumni News Needed :
We'd like to hear from GVSU School of Communications alumni for future issues of dotCOM. If you have an update about a job change, accomplishment or other news, please let us know. You can email information to Professor Tim Penning (Advertising/Public Relations), editor of dotCOM, at penningt@gvsu.edu