Farewell CCI

I can remember writing my welcome blog post almost a year ago, and now as I sit and write my farewell the irony seems bittersweet.  This past year at CCI has been the best work experience ever! When I started out here as Practicum student I wasn’t expecting to spend the next semester as a Marketing Assistant and even to come back this past spring semester after graduating in December.

My position here at CCI allowed me to work on a lot of fantastic projects, the coolest being the premiere for Research: The Musical. I served as the head of the movie’s marketing and PR team, which allowed me to gain hand’s on experience in planning a major art’s event like the movie premiere. This project also helped me figure out my career goals.

When I first came to CCI, I had plans on being a journalist. See blog post. However I soon realized that my love of writing would go perfectly with my love for the arts. In other words I decided that I wanted to work on the communications side of the entertainment industry. My ultimate goal would be to start my own arts non-profit for children from low-income families. I believe talent should be nurtured no matter what your financial circumstances are. I plan to work towards this goal by obtaining my Master’s from Akron University in Arts Administration in the fall and continuing to do post-graduate internships within the arts and media industry throughout Norteast Ohio.

Working with the CCI staff truly changed my life. I would recommend to anyone who has the oppurtunity to work here to make your experince count by getting to know the people you’re working with and tailoring your projects to fit your future career plans.

Britany Ruby has been a Marketing Assistant for the College of Communication and Information from May 2011-May 2012 . She graduated with her BA in Communication Studies in December 2011 and will be pursuing her Master’s in Arts Administration beginning Fall 2012.

Student Traces 30 Years of Mother’s History Through Florence Program

By Ryan Collins

Kent State University student Lydia Coutré stands on a bridge over the Arno River in Pisa, Italy, near the Santa Maria dellaSpina Church.

From 1982 to 2012, famous Italian sights like Florence’s cathedral, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum or Venice’s Grand Canal probably haven’t changed much. However, the person behind the lens in 1982 and 2012 will be different.

When Kent State student Lydia Coutré, a junior newspaper journalism major, returns in May from studying abroad with the College of Communication and Information’s program in Florence, Italy, the photos she might add to her family’s scrapbooks will look familiar.

Coutré’s mother, Rita, backpacked across Europe in 1982. She traveled to cities like Pisa, Rome, Venice and Interlaken, and Coutré wants to see literally the same sights as her mother.

Coutré’s mother brought back carousels of 35mm slides from her trip. Coutré originally saw the slides when she was working on a fifth grade project about Italy. She said she’s been captivated ever since.

Before Coutré left the United States, she spent hours converting many of the slides to files on her computer. She plans to visit the same cities as her mother and retake some of the slides 30 years later.

“I got the idea to do my ‘30 Years Later’ project last summer while I was working one of my three jobs to save money to get here,” she said. “I mentioned it to my mom, and she loved the idea.”

Coutré said her map is marked with some of the spots she needs to visit, but she plans to get directions from the Kent State Florence staff for more elusive locations.

“I knew I wanted to go sometime in my life, but I never even dreamed that I would get to spend four months here,” Coutré said. “When I found out Kent State had a program for it, my only questions were ‘What semester am I going?’ and ‘Should I sell my car to get there?’”

A group of Kent State University students studying abroad in Florence, Italy, pose for a photo. Thirty years later, Lydia Coutre (back row, third from left), a junior newspaper journalism major, is visiting the same sights her mother traveled to, retaking pictures of the same landmarks and blogging about her experience.

The Kent State Florence program is housed in a 13th century palace located in the city center. Students live in apartments near the building, and they have the support of a fully English-speaking staff.

Even though her classes in Florence get her full Kent State credit, Coutré’s apartment is fully furnished, and she gets to eat amazing Italian cuisine, the most exciting part of the semester for her is to visit Venice, just as her mother did.

“Everyone says that studying abroad will change you,” she said. “You’ll come back a completely new, and all-in-all better person. Not only am I getting to know myself, but I think this trip is giving me an entirely new way to get to know my mom.”

Coutré is blogging about her experience and posting the “30 Years Later” retaken photos as she travels athttp://lydiaislost.blogspot.com. Her first retaken shot was of Florence’s cathedral, the Duomo.

At the end of her semester in May, Coutré hopes to have 40 to 50 retaken pictures.

For more information on Kent State study abroad opportunities, visit the Office of Global Education’s website atwww.kent.edu/globaleducation.

For more information on the College of Communication and Information’s program in Florence, Italy, visit www.kent.edu/ccistudyabroad.

 

JMC Students Sit In On Dimora Trial

By Meghan Caprez

The media has been buzzing about former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s trial. Kent journalism students found themselves sitting in the media room next to professional reporters, writing on the same topics.

The trial, which is currently taking place in the Akron federal courthouse, sees Dimora facing 36 corruption-related charges, generating public interest in surrounding counties.

Sue Valerian, a part-time journalism professor, saw the trial as an opportunity for her Reporting Public Affairs students to receive experience in the field. As a class assignment, each student was required to sit in on the trial at least once.

“I hope they gain some kind of comfort and understanding in just being in a court room,” Valerian said. “It’s pretty intimidating doing anything for the first time.”

Senior Britni Williams was the first of Valerian’s students to go to the courthouse. Williams sat in on Jan. 21, then returned Jan. 28.

“Just walking into the building alone was overwhelming,” Williams said. “Having to go through the security check, figuring out where the clerk’s office was so I could get a media pass, finding out where the media room was to begin with was an experience.”

But when Williams walked into the media room, she realized that she had a distinct disadvantage. Those involved in the trial wanted to avoid a “media circus,” so no electronic devices were allowed in the main courtroom or in the public overflow room. Williams thought this also applied to the media room.

“I finally get in there and I feel like an idiot because I’m holding a pencil and a piece of paper and everyone’s got their laptops, iPads, cell phones, smart phones,” Williams said. “I said ‘Alright, let’s do this.’”

Though challenging at first, Williams did find the experience worthwhile. She was able to network with WKYC reporter Kim Wendel, who she still has contact with. Wendel helped Williams by sharing notes and opinions on reporting the events of the day.

She was also able to accomplish what Valerian hoped for all of her students; Williams went away from the experience with a story to tell. The story was posted to kentwired.com later that day.

Williams was also contacted by WKYC the following Monday for an interview about her experience. News anchor Eric Mansfield broadcasted a story on her time in the courthouse.

“It was exhilarating being side-by-side with all of these professionals,” Williams said. “I definitely have less reservations about walking into a federal courthouse now. Going in I was a little timid because I went in by myself not knowing what I was doing. After feeling it out on my own, I’m much more comfortable doing it now.”

The Great Summer Internship Search: How to Find your Perfect Summer Internship!

By Britany Ruby

I know what you’re thinking.  It’s February why do I need to think about my summer plans? The answer is simple, there are a lot of early birds out there who have already eaten the worm. There are college students all over the world who have already landed their summer dream job. Now it’s your turn!

These key steps should help you get an awesome summer internship:

1.  Search high and low- There are a lot of companies out there in desperate need of hard-working summer interns. The only problem is, the companies are waiting on potential interns to find them. Take the initiative & really search for an internship that fits you and your strengths. After all, if you put maximum effort into searching and applying for a job, it will show when you actually begin working there. Check out the websites below for listings in various communicati0n fields. You can also contact your advisor and professors for leads on internships. Don’t forget to check out the companies website, as well.

-ED2010

-Internprogram360

-Linkedin

-Internqueen

-FreeFashionInternships

2. Prepare, prepare, prepare-Once you have your list of positions you want to apply for, it’s time to start preparing your application packets. Each position calls for a custom resume and cover letter. For instance if you are applying for a public relations job at a university and at a theater company, you would cater each resume for each position.  Also different companies may call for different resume supplements; some may call for writing samples, some may just want a resume/cover letter and list of references.

3. Set up a timeline- You should have a calendar with all of your application deadlines on it. The calendar should also have the date you actually applied, as well as a follow up deadline. If you are contacted  about the position, put the date you were contacted as well as the day you had your interview. It allows you to make sure you follow up and send thank you notes in a timely fashion.

4. Apply- It’s never too late to apply for a summer internship. In fact even in May or June companies are normally still looking for students to fill its positions. However, it is best to start searching and applying for internships as early as possible. This allows you to make all the revisions and changes to your resume, contact your references and even practice your interviewing skills.

Remember, no matter how early you start applying for summer internships, the most important thing to show an employer is that you are organized and hard-working. What better way to show these traits then during the application and interview process? Take this advice, build on it and find the internship you’ve been waiting for!

Britany is a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information. *Britany also has held four past internships*

Communication students film from Florence, Italy

By Anne Dudley and Nicole Gennarelli

While studying in Florence, Italy, this semester, Chris Heiman decided that he would put together a video series that showed future students the study abroad experience. He hopes his videos, Flashes of Florence, will encourage more students to study abroad. We interviewed Chris to get the details on the making behind his video series.

What is your major, year, expected graduation date and hometown?

Major: Electronic Media Production in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Year: 5th year senior
Graduation Date: December 17th, 2011
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, OH

According to Deborah Davis, Coordinator of International Programs for the College of Communication and Information, this project is not for course credit. What made you want to do it?

Correct, this project is not a course credit. I was all set to graduate after a summer course in July. However, I felt that I wanted to take advantage of one more semester as an undergrad before taking the next step in my adult life. That is why I decided to postpone graduation and come to Italy instead. That being said, I did not want to feel like I was wasting my time in Italy on a four month holiday. The classes I was enrolled in were nice, but in my opinion they were not going to help me improve my resume, and more importantly, my film reel. That is where Flashes of Florence came in. I wanted to do something that would be help me improve my video and editing skills, so that I had more material to show potential employers in the near future.

In addition, I noticed that there was not a lot of information about what studying in Italy was really all about. Being a communications major, I felt it was almost my duty to put together some videos that future students could look at and get really excited and familiar with Florence before they came. I know that if I would have been able to watch the Flashes of Florence videos before I came, I would have felt much more knowledgeable and ready to come. Hopefully, these videos will encourage future students to take a semester to study abroad, because it is truly an amazing experience.

What benefit do you hope the project will have?

This kind of ties in with my answer to the first question. Again, I am improving my video and editing skills. I can edit a video together in less than a day now, whereas a year ago it probably would have taken me two or three days to complete the same type of video. And again, I really want other kids to have the same experience abroad that I have got. It’s well worth it.

How are the other students getting involved?

Two other students, Monique Zappa and Jen Bellissimo feel the same way that I do about adding material to their reel. They both want to go into the broadcasting field, and so the Flashes videos were right up their ally. Both are hoping to use these videos as a part of their experience to show people in the future what they have done and what
their potential is.

The other students are just eager to be interviewed. They like showing the videos to their friends and families back home.

How do you think this project will help you in your career/job aspirations?

I think this project will show video producers that I can handle a camera and edit my way through just about anything. I think it will show people that I know how to make content interesting and exciting. I am hoping to start making money in the video production field right after school, whether it is working on a film set, creating promotional and commercial videos, or filming events/parties. Anything I can do that involves filming, and mainly editing, I will be satisfied with for the time being. Eventually if I want to continue to pursue my dreams of becoming a film maker, I will need to make the move out to L.A or New York. I can see that happening at some point in the future, but for now, I would just like to continue improving my work, my skill and my knowledge in the film industry.

Check out some of Chris’ videos below!

Apartments

Vicolo dei Cerchi

Night Life

Anne Dudley is a second-year master’s student of public relations and graduate assistant in the Dean’s Office of the College of Communication and Information. Nicole Gennarelli is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

VCD Welcomes Two International Graduate Students

By Nicole Gennarelli

Two international students have come to Kent State University to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design.

Luis Brito Telles from El Salvador and Penina Acayo from Kampala, Uganda, have always had a passion for art and design. In 2007, Acayo came to the United States and obtained her bachelor’s degree in art with a concentration in pre-architecture and graphic design from Goshen College in Indiana. Telles obtained his undergraduate degree at the Matías Delgado University in El Salvador.

“When I was 12 years old, my math teacher in primary school thought I would make a great architect,” Acayo said. “I have always had a passion for math and fine art. All through high school, I studied towards becoming an architect until I got to college in the United States, and then I took a digital design class out of curiosity and loved it.”

In her sophomore year, one of Acayo’s teachers encouraged her to take more classes in the graphic design field. Anne Berry, who is an alumna of the Kent State VCD graduate program, took over the graphic design program at Goshen College and has since been her mentor.

“Because of my love for architecture and design, I was thrilled to find a happy medium between design and architecture — environmental graphic design,” she said. “I know that through design I can impact my society in a positive way through designing for the social good.”

During his junior year of high school was when Telles knew he was going to study graphic design. Ever since he was a child he had a designer’s way of thinking, he said.

“I was a rebel, always wanting to do things differently and getting into trouble all the time,” he said. “I love how you can help all industries, organizations and companies in this profession.”

Acayo chose Kent State to complete her graduate degree because it was in line with her interests. She appreciates the fact that the professors here are well experienced in the various disciplines they teach.

“I also really enjoy the emphasis on design research because I believe that there is more to being a designer than just having the skill sets to make artifacts,” she said. “From the get go, we are being equipped with the skill sets we need to carry out independent research with [faculty] guidance. We are treated with a different level of respect because we are no longer undergraduate students. We can hold conversations with our professors on a more level playing field and are also getting hands-on experience when it comes to teaching.

“Besides being assigned different classes to assistant teach, we actually get to sit down and share these experiences in class while also getting feedback on various questions we might have regarding the class room setting,”she added.

Coming to a different country was a bit of an adjustment for Acayo, but Telles settled in just fine.

“I love the people,” he said. “They are very similar to Salvadorians —  homey, inviting, kind and wise. I encourage any student to study abroad. The experiences that you will acquire are priceless, and the opportunity to learn from others is gratifying knowing that you are also making a difference in their lives.”

Do not be afraid to take chances, Acayo said. The past four years studying in the United States has been the most exciting and adventurous moments of her life.

“I took a step of faith when I decided to further my education in the United States,” she said. “My way of thinking is a lot more global now that I have been able to experience another culture. It has been a worthwhile journey thus far, and I would encourage other international students to take a step of faith because you will never know what is on the other side if you don’t take a chance and find out for yourself.”

Nicole is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Meet the cast of Research the Musical-Otto

By Britany Ruby

On the surface, Otto is a clown. He is a 22-year-old goofball, always good for a laugh. Though he is suave, slick, sexy and generally awesome, he is a mama’s boy at heart. His mother still packs his lunches with cute, loving notes tucked inside. He does his work but always makes it fun. Consequently, no one really takes him seriously. He is lovable but seemingly ineffectual. This frustrates Otto. He wants to be respected and recognized for his work, but nobody believes he actually has talent. Toward the end of the movie, he will prove in a small or big way that he deserves the respect of his colleagues.

*Poster courtesy of Melinda Yoho*

Britany is a senior applied communication studies major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Students Relate Health Informatics to Careers

By Nicole Gennarelli

Students in the health informatics program at Kent State University are seeing the long-term benefits it can have on their career.

Health informatics is a new concentration in the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM) program in the School of Library and Information Science.

According to the IAKM website, “Health informatics (HI) is the science that defines how health information is captured, analyzed, transmitted and managed. It focuses on information systems, informatics principles and information technology as it is applied to the continuum of health care delivery. This integrated discipline features specialty domains in management science, management engineering principles, health care delivery and public health, patient safety, information science and computer technology.”

Rachel Helbing

Rachel Helbing, who obtained a Master of Library Science (M.L.I.S) from Kent State in 2007, said health informatics seemed like a perfect fit for her background.

“I worked in community mental health for two years after earning a degree in psychology from Miami University. I am currently the community health librarian for Barberton Public Library’s branch at Summa Barberton Hospital. Health informatics brings together my major interests of mental health and information,” she said. Helbing recently completed Professor Michael Bice’s Health Informatics Management class.

Health Information Management, one of the first courses in the health informatics sequence, covers planning, selection, deployment, management of electronic medical records (EMR), management decision-support and tracking systems (DSS) and other health information technologies (HIT).

Charles Trunick

Chuck Trunick, clinical research informaticist at a large local health system, is also in the Health Informatics Management class. He said this course has provided him with a broad view of the healthcare landscape and how it is evolving every day.

“I have been a successful information sciences and implementation professional with many industries for more than 30 years,” Trunick said. “I desired a formal education to learn about other perspectives of health informatics in addition to my current experiences.  I believe this program will provide me with updated skills and help me learn other methods and approaches, achieve academic credentialsrecognized by the healthcare industry and open doors to other institutions to contribute to my ‘know-how’ learned and experienced over time.”

Joan King

Joan King, a registered nurse for more than 30 years, said the health informatics program is “phenomenal.” She loves that she can advance her career by getting a health informatics certificate with 18 graduate hours, and then go on to obtain a master’s degree using 12 of those hours. The certificate allows her to get into the field sooner as she continues her school work.

“The past five to 10 years of change regarding the impact of health information technology has fascinated me,” King said. “This is the first online class I have taken, and I was concerned about classroom interaction, but our class discussions are phenomenal. I have learned so much through the lectures, readings and discussions. The government involvement with electronic health records is so encompassing. Through the discussions, it’s interesting to see how the government’sinvolvement will impact the adoption of the EHR either negatively or positively. This class has expanded my concept of what the EHR means to institutions, physician offices, clinicians, the patient and the delivery of health care.”

Michael Bice

Michael O. Bice, Kent State professor and former health care executive, leads the HI program. He said the program appeals mainly to physicians, nurses and other professionals already working in health care.

“One look at the headlines will tell you that health informatics professionals are in great demand across the country, and will continue to be needed as Federal initiatives for electronic health information networks are implemented,” Bice said.

Bice added that the demographics of the first class are impressive: 58 percent have an RN degree; the average health care experience is 15 years; and most of the students are direct care givers or middle managers. Two students are in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and three are MSN/MBA students. The largest contingent of students is from the Cleveland Clinic, followed by the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center and Akron General Medical Center.

For more information, visit www.kent.edu/healthIT.

Nicole is a senior public relations major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Meet the Cast of Research The Musical- Adam

By Britany Ruby

Adam played by Jacob Fagan,  is the slacker of the Hope Falls Stem Research Lab.   Adam came to Hope Falls, with hopes of following in his Uncle’s foot steps and become a world-renowned scientist.

Adam has a devil-may care attitude when it comes to lot’s of things. This shows in the fact that he lives off of his college refund check instead of getting a job on his own.  Yet, somehow he still manages to support his weekend bar hopping habits. While Adam just seems like the average slouch, you’d be surprised to find that he is actually very cultured. He traveled to many places with his Uncle including Europe. He is also very well read and enjoys watching independent films. Adam’s inherent culture, mixed with his relaxed personality will definitely shake things up around Hope Falls Stem Cell Research Lab.

*Poster courtesy of Melinda Yoho*

Britany is a senior applied communication studies major and a marketing assistant for the College of Communication and Information.

Through Our Lenses: CCI Students Document Their Studies Abroad

CCI student photos from study abroad trips hang in the first floor of the main library in Kent

 Through Our Lenses: CCI Students Document Their Studies Abroad

A juried photo exhibit spotlighting study abroad students in the College of Communication and Information (CCI) is now on display in the Kent State University Main Library.

Forty remarkable photos were selected to provide a glimpse of how CCI study abroad students see the world, and included are images from all over Europe and Asia.

CCI student study abroad photos

“These photographs, all taken by College of Communication and Information students while studying abroad, show just a fraction of the depth of talent our CCI students possess and the range of experiences they’ve had around the world,” said Deborah Davis, coordinator of international programs for the College.

Adding an extraordinary dimension to the photos and the experiences they represent is the fact that it’s not uncommon for CCI study abroad students to be the first in their families to even own a passport.

“Many of our students have no family history of international travel and no easy way to finance such a thing,” Davis said. “But they have been determined to see and understand the world, and they have returned with a global perspective that will permanently change who they are and dramatically increase the contributions they will make to their workplaces and their communities as they move through life.”

CCI student photos hang in the first floor of the Kent Campus library

“They are quite impressive, and as the photos show, they are curious, adventurous, perceptive, and so talented.”

Information design major Chloe Makarick echoed many students’ reflections on their experiences abroad when describing her own:

“There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by since I’ve returned that I haven’t been reminded of my experiences while studying abroad,” Makarick said.

“The world is a much smaller place to me now; we’re all connected, and it’s important to be more aware of the people around you. I went on study abroad hoping to learn more about other places and other cultures, but I came home and realized how much I learned about myself.”

Exhibit photos will hang in the quiet study area behind the circulation desk as well as in the computer lab area near the reference desk through the end of the semester. The student photographers, along with family and guests, will celebrate the exhibit’s opening at a private reception on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the Library.

CCI offers a range of study abroad options to meet the academic and personal goals of the College’s students, including short, faculty-led courses and semester-long programs.

To see more work of CCI study abroad students and to learn more about our programs, visit www.kent.edu/ccistudyabroad

Special thanks to the CCI Kent marketing team, Jennifer Kramer, Melinda Yoho, Nicole Gennarelli and Britany Ruby for their efforts in preparing the exhibit. AnnMarie LeBlanc was integral in developing the framing process. Justin Parsons and Anne Dudley hung the photos and captions.