WIU Department News

Career Preparation Day

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Plans are underway for the 3rd Annual Department of Communication’s Career Preparation Day.

This daylong conference will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 in the University Union on the campus of Western Illinois University. All communication majors, minors, and graduate students are encouraged to attend this event and learn from department alumni about interviewing, networking, job seeking, e-recruiting, transitioning from college student to full-time employee, resume writing, promoting your communication degree, and more. Invitational brochures will be distributed in November.

Alumni interested in presenting at Career Preparation Day should contact Cindy Ridle at CA-Ridle@wiu.edu or Stacey Macchi at SM-Macchi@wiu.edu by October 15th.

See clips from Communication Career Preparation Day 2010.

Ashley Gerkin Selected as Communication Department Scholar and COFAC College Scholar

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to Ashley!! Academic excellence, service to the WIU community, dedication and determination describe Ashley!! The Department of Communication is extremely proud of Ashley!!!

Rachel Bridgett, Alumnus, Shared Interviewing Tips with Communication Undergraduate Students

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Department of Communication Alumnus, Rachel Bridgett spent two days on the WIU campus (Oct. 25-Oct.26) sharing her insights of the interviewing process with students in Cynthia Ridle and Stacey's Macchi's COMM 305 interviewing courses. Rachel gave the students advice about interviewing which included first impression management and fielding difficult questions during the process. Rachel Bridgett is currently a Human Resource Manager for Cintas in Bloomington-Normal and Davenport. Thanks Rachel!

Thompson Professor Nathan Miczo

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Thompson Professor Nathan Miczo presented “Buttons, Dog Weddings and other Considerations: Humor Usage in Conversations” on October 20th.

Biography of Dr. Miczo

Dr. Miczo discussed the results of his study which examined how humor has been found to bring personal benefits, including enhanced coping abilities, as well as relational benefits, such as partner satisfaction. The department thanks Dr. Miczo for providing this information to the students, faculty and community.

Weclome Three New Teachers to Communication Department

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Jaime Bochantin, who will be teaching Qualitative Methods and Organizational Communication this fall. She comes to us from Texas A & M University and DePaul University in Chicago.

Chris Carpenter, who will be teaching Argumentation and Persuasive Campaigns this fall. He comes to us from Michigan State University.

Doshik Yun, who will be teaching Persuasion and Research Methods this fall. He comes to us from Michigan State University.

Stacey Macchi and Cindy Ridle receive top 10 G.I.F.T.S.

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Stacey Macchi and Cindy Ridle's G.I.F.T.S. (Great Idea for Teaching Speech) submission to the National Communication Association Conference has been designated as one of the top ten overall G.I.F.T.S submissions for this year's conference. Their submission, entitled "Who Done It - Connecting Murder Mysteries to the Communication Classroom" will be presented at the conference in San Fransisco this November.

Moniza Waheed will intern with the United Nations in NY

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Moniza served as a teaching assistant while completing her master's degree with the Department of Communication. Congratulations to Moniza on your 2010 internship at the United Nations!

Congratulations to Cindy Ridle

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The Department of Communication would like to congratulate Cindy Ridle who recently was awarded the Outstanding Associate Faculty Award by the College of Fine Arts and Communication.

Students commented that Cindy cares about the success of her students, engages her students, integrates multiple teaching approaches, keeps class active and interesting, is an amazing and great teacher. Congrats Cindy!! Well Done!!

Disney World/Spring Break/General Honors 301!!!

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

David Zanolla, Instructor of Communication, provided the opportunity for eight WIU students to participate in GH 301 course entitled Communication Around the “World” during spring break at Disney!

The first eight weeks were spent in the classroom at WIU and then the class traveled to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida over spring break. While in Orlando, they participated in numerous master classes and backstage tours with the goal of understanding how Walt Disney World serves as an ideal “case study” of communication. All of the class, from a student who had been to Walt Disney World 25 times to a student who was experiencing it for the first time, had their eyes opened to how well communication is understood around the theme parks and resorts of Disney.

The course focused on three areas of communication: nonverbal communication in the theme parks, organizational communication utilized by the company, and computer-mediated communication revolving around Walt Disney World.

Thanks to Dr. Peter Andersen

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dr. Peter Anderson presented "Sun Safety on the Slopes: A Health Communication Campaign on Sun Safety" on Monday, March 29th.

Dr. Peter Andersen is professor of Communication at San Diego State University and has degrees from University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois State University and Florida States University. He has done extensive research on Interpersonal Relationships, Persuasion and, and Nonverbal Communication, Much of his recent research focuses on cancer prevention, sun safety, helmet safety, tobacco control, and homeland security.

The communication faculty and students appreciated Dr. Andersen's presentation as well as the opportunity for him to share his experiences with them.