Texas State hosts 18th Annual Communication Week

Date of Release: 02/07/2006

SAN MARCOS—The Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University-San Marcos will host the 18th annual Communication Week beginning Feb. 27 and running through March 3. All presentations are free and open to the public.

The convocation address, “Hijacking the Good War: ‘Reading’ the World War II Memorial” will be presented March 2 at 3:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall room G01 by William Balthrop, professor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and former National Communication Association (NCA) president. Also during the March 2 convocation Richard Cheatham will present the Golden Apple Undergraduate Teaching Award and the Graduate Faculty Teaching Award. The department’s Outstanding Alumni Award will be presented to Ms. Nina Vaca, President, Pinnacle Technical Resources and National Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year.
There are two additional “Spotlight Events” scheduled as well. “How to Make the Most of Your Communication Studies Major” will be presented by the Communication Studies Advisory Council March 1 at 1 p.m. in Centellial Hall room G02, and a Communication Career Reception hosted by Texas State Career Services will follow at 2 p.m.

Steven Beebe, Chair of the Communication Studies Department, hailed this year’s Communication Week as one of the most exciting and informative to date. “Our students will certainly reap the benefits from listening to these gifted speakers as they offer advice, experiences and the challenges of today’s real-world communicators.”

Other guest speakers and topics include Karen Julian, assistant director for Experiential Learning, Career Services at Texas State presenting “How to Market Your Texas State Degree” Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. in Centennial Hall room 103. Events scheduled for Feb. 28 in Centennial Hall include Michael McCullough, adjunct professor, University of Texas-Austin, presenting “Communication and Social Change in the New South Africa” at 9:30 a.m. in room 103; Jeff Edwards, director and trainer, Auto H. Q. Sales, presenting “The Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Sales” at 9:30 a.m. in room 103; Kevin Manning, lecturer, communication disorders, Texas State, presenting “Order and Disorder in Communication” at 11 a.m. in room 410; Daryl Flemming, educator and professional storyteller, presenting “Communicating to Others Through the Power of Stories” at 11 a.m. in room 400; Jack Martin, president of Public Strategies, presenting “The State of Political Communication Today” Feb. at 12:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall room 402; and Sue Thornton, Asset Strategies Group, Austin, presenting “Interviewing: Getting People to Share Their Space, Time and Information” at 12:30 p.m. in room 103.

Events scheduled for March 1 in Centennial Hall include Ronnie McDonald, Bastrop County Judge, presenting “Persuasion in Politics” at noon in room 410; “Communication and Music: Articulating the Ineffable,” a panel discussion featuring Peter Bay, Austin Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor, Joseph Stussey, director of the Texas State School of Music, Russell Riepe, professor of the Texas State School of Music, Steven Beebe, chair and professor in the Texas State Department of Communication Studies at 3:30 p.m. in room G01; and "Organizational Change from Multiple Perspectives," a panel discussion featuring Nicole Laster, assistant instructor at the University of Texas-Austin, Philip Salem, professor at Texas State, and Keri Stephens, assistant professor at Texas State, at 7:15 p.m. in room 400.

Events scheduled for March 2 in Centennial Hall include “The Power of Your Voice: You Are How You Speak” presented by Nancy Critchfield-Jones, Texas State, retired, at 11 a.m. in room 410; “Your Resume: Keeping it Neat and Keeping it Real,” presented by Greg Hill, assistant director of Career Planning at Texas State and Susan Lorino, Texas State Career Services, at 12:30 p.m. in room 103; and “Talking the Talk: Communication, Homosexuality and the Family,” a panel discussion featuring Nick Patras, executive director, Metropolitan Community Church of Austin, Betty Lynn Mendl, Jennifer Puryear and Helen Robbins at 2 p.m. in room 103. "Doughnuts and Discussion with William Balthrop" wraps up Communication Week events at 9:30 a.m. March 3 in Centennial Hall room 206.
For a complete brochure of events, see the Communication Week 2006 link on the web page at www.finearts.txstate.edu/commstudies. All events are free and open to the public. Some events have limited seating capacity. Any teacher interested in bringing students from off-campus to the spotlight events should contact the Communication Week Committee by Friday, Feb. 24: c/o Dr. Marian L. Houser, 245-3137, mh53@txstate.edu.