The award will be presented at PPRA’s annual meeting June 26. Previous Temple alumni who have received this prestigious honor include Jessica Lawlor, StOC ’10, and Meredith Avakian, JPRA ’06.

SMC faculty who have received an award are:

John Edward Campbell, MSP

Amy L. Caples, MSP

Fabienne Darling-Wolf, JOUR

Jason Del Gandio, STRC

Brooke E. Duffy, ADV

Gregg C. Feistman, STRC

Jan L. Fernback, MSP

Matthew R. Fine, MSP

Jennifer Lovrinic Freeman, ADV

Scott Gratson, STRC

Christopher Harper, JOUR

Sheryl D. Kantrowitz, ADV

Carolyn Kitch, JOUR

Jack Klotz, MSP

Andrew Mendelson, JOUR

George Miller, JOUR

Maida Odom, JOUR

Donnalyn Pompper, STRC

Hector Postigo, MSP

Cornelius Pratt, STRC

Dana K. Saewitz, ADV

Larry Stains, JOUR

Lori L. Tharps, JOUR

Edward J. Trayes, JOUR

Karen M. Turner, JOUR

Barry Vacker, MSP

Tracey Weiss, STRC

Thomas Wright, STRC

Kaibin Xu, STRC

Karen M. Turner, associate professor of journalism, has received a 2012-13 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. The awards are intended to recognize and honor those faculty members who epitomize the highest levels of sustained teaching excellence in the classroom, in the research laboratory or in the clinical setting. She was one of six Temple faculty members to be honored with a Lindback Award this year.

In addition, the School of Media and Communication honored three faculty members at its May 7 faculty assembly.

Teaching Awards

Assistant Professor Tracey Weiss, Strategic Communication
Senior Teaching Award

Assistant Professor Lori Tharps, Journalism
Junior Teaching Award

Two awards will be given to full-time faculty members: one for senior faculty (six years or more at Temple) and one junior faculty (five years or fewer at Temple). Applicants should submit an overview of teaching philosophy, and they must include all student evaluations from the prior year. The application must include a written analysis of the applicant’s teaching by the school’s teaching mentor. The applicant is responsible for setting up the evaluation with the teaching mentor. This award also can be given to individuals for teaching innovations in the classroom.

Service Award

Associate Professor Paul Gluck, Media Studies and Production

This award is open to all full-time faculty members. Applicants should provide a written overview of their service contributions beyond those normally associated with the expected service of all faculty members. The service may include, but is not limited to, service to the university, student activities, Faculty Senate, alumni activities, professional associations, community activities, or other forms of service not associated with religious organizations.

Kristina De Voe

Kristina De Voe, English and communications librarian at Temple University’s Paley Library, has won the first “Friend of the M.S. in Communication Management Program” certificate of appreciation for her “selfless dedication to supporting students’ and faculty members’ research activities.”

Donnalyn Pompper, director of the M.S. program explained:  “Our program continues to grow and thrive and we are much honored to have the support of valued friends such as Ms. De Voe. We want to formally thank her for sharing her expertise so kindly with our students and faculty.”

De Voe is the first to win the award, which was presented at Capstone Day Spring ’13 on May 10 to kick off the event hosted for graduate students presenting their final projects before graduation. The award was created to annually honor someone who has enthusiastically supported the M.S. in Communication Management Program.

This semester’s newsletter features more photos of graduate students, their career goals and success stories, news about upcoming courses and a story about important behind-the-scenes support.

Click here to download the PDF file of the Spring 2013 MeSsenger newsletter.

Graduate students are invited to work with Dr. Donnalyn Pompper, who directs the M.S. program, and edits the MeSsenger newsletter. Story ideas and photos always are welcome.

For more information about the Department of Strategic Communication, follow @StratCommTU on Twitter and visit the M.S. Program on Facebook.

This study investigated the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake survivors’ communication practices in two communities in Beichuan during summer 2009, focusing on survivors’ sharing of earthquake stories.

Four major purposes were identified in quake survivors’ narratives:

• memorializing loved ones and the past
• clarifying conflicting emotions
• reappraising reality and life values
• rebuilding community

This study suggests that sharing such stories serves a therapeutic purpose that helps survivors cope with negative experiences and emotions, and to rebuild their communities.

The Temple School of Media and Communication’s Department of Strategic Communication hosted “From Us to You” Feb. 27, an informational event and networking opportunity between professors and students.

Students were able to ask questions and receive advice from a panel of four StratComm professors: Gregg Feistman, Alanna Miller, Leanne Augustine and Dale Wilcox. The professors, all of whom have many years of experience in the media and communication field, were open and honest.

“From Us to You” was hosted by PRowl Public Relations Assistant Firm Director Kaitlyn Sutton. Sutton opened up the panel discussion by asking, “What was your dream job and where did you end up?,” a question that certainly got the conversation going. Students were reminded not everyone will obtain their dream job directly after graduation and their future goals may be altered during the process of finding that “perfect job.” Most of the panel said that by being able to teach and prepare students for the future of the media and communication field, they had finally found their dream job.

The event continued with a great deal of discussion about the media and communication industry, with the students asking their professors a broad range of questions. The panel discussion came to a close as the professors provided advice as to what classes they would recommend students to take outside of the media and communication realm. It was a unanimous vote; students should take at least one business class during their college career.

After the event was over, students introduced themselves to the panel and were able to network with them.

For more information:
Twitter: @StratCommTU
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StratCommTU

 photos by Rachel Royer

A partnership between Temple University Television, Temple University Athletics and Temple’s student-run PR firm, PRowl Public Relations, came to fruition in an effort to find the Temple student who eats, sleeps and breathes cherry and white. The result was a Feb. 21 contest in which three Temple students were dubbed “the most spirited owls on campus.”

TUTV’s cameras were rolling at the Liacouras Center as the men’s basketball team became Big 5 champions with a meaningful win over LaSalle University. As TUTV scouted for the most spirited students, the crowd roared particularly loud in the cherry and white student section.

The three students who cheered the loudest and showed the most pride for their school during the game’s first half  were selected to receive a TUTV prize package on the court during halftime. They were Alec Murphy, Brittney Benjamin and Michelle Adshead.

“At TUTV, we celebrate the success of the Temple men’s and women’s basketball programs,” said TUTV General Manager Paul Gluck. “We were excited to meet, identify and recognize the most spirited fans in the stands at the Temple-LaSalle game. Their energy and excitement fuels victory that is truly Temple Made.”

The Most Spirited Contest footage premiered as a special on TUTV in the City of Philadelphia on Comcast Digital Cable Channel 50 and Channel 45 on Verizon FIOS Friday, March 1. It is also available online at templetv.net.

Watch here:

TUTV’s Most Spirited Contest from TUTV on Vimeo.

By Mackenzie Krott

The Temple University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America welcomed back recent graduates Feb. 19 to talk to members about their Temple experience and how it has helped them navigate life after college.

The Young Alumni Panel consisted of five recent alumni of the Department of Strategic Communication: Jade Barnes, ’11, account coordinator at Skai Blue Media; Lauren Cox, ’12, public relations specialist for the office of the city representative of Philadelphia; Niki Ianni ’12, public relations specialist at The National Humane Society of the United States; Alex Crispino, ’12, learning and development consultant at PricewaterhouseCooper; and Emily Ascani, ’12, media facilitator at the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit.

The panel members discussed their past internships and leadership roles that led them to their current jobs, as well as tips for soon-to-be graduates.

(L-R): Alex Crispino, Jade Barnes, Lauren Cox, Emily Ascani and Niki Ianni.

“Hiring managers want to see that you can successfully manage yourself, your time and your work,” Ianni said. “Being an active member of PRSSA and PRowl Public Relations gives you that opportunity.”

The room of approximately 60 PRSSA members had plenty of questions for the panel. The questions touched on virtual internships, job search strategies, ways for younger PRSSA members to get involved in leadership roles and how to balance a busy career with a personal life.

“I was honored to be invited back to campus to speak about my experience,” said Crispino. “I’m happy to know I made an impact here and was reminded how great it is to be Temple Made.”