Two communications faculty have seen their names grace two recently published works. Other faculty have had their research and scholarship published in articles.
Doug Swanson, professor and interim associate dean of the College of Communications, wrote “Real World Career Preparation: A Guide to Creating a University Student-Run Communications Agency.” The book, published by Peter Lang Publishing, highlights the University’s award-winning, student-run agency PRactical ADvantage Communications. Swanson said there are 158 student-run agencies in higher education, but no book had offered best practices or an outline for university teams to plan, launch and grow such an agency. The book offers best practices sections from 22 agencies across the United States.
Anthony Fellow, professor of communications, co-authored “Tweeting to Freedom: An Encyclopedia of Citizen Protests and Uprisings Around the World.” The book, published in June by ABC-CLIO Publishing, offers an analysis of how freedom-loving people in 34 countries around the world are harnessing the power of the Internet to push for greater liberties and promote their causes.
Siobhan Brooks, co-chair and associate professor of African American studies, published an article on “Black on Black Love: Black Lesbian and Bisexual Women, Marriage and Symbolic Meaning” in The Black Scholar: Journal of Black Studies and Research.
Zac Johnson, assistant professor of human communication studies, recently published his research on authentic teaching in the National Communication Association’s journal Communication Education. Johnson and Sara LaBelle of Chapman University polled 300 college students about their perceptions of teachers and determined that authentic instructors are approachable, passionate, attentive, knowledgeable and willing to share details of their life, make jokes and admit mistakes. Johnson added that students can tell when such actions are genuine or out of character for their instructor and that the authentic actions have lasting impact on students.
Heather Osborne-Thompson, associate professor of cinema and television arts, recently authored “Channeling Totie Fields: Female Stand-up Comedy on 1960s-1970s Television,” as part of “Feminist Media Histories,” published by UC Berkeley Press. Her interview with the journal’s editor can be heard on a podcast devoted to the issue.