Tenure Track Faculty position for Fall 2010

The Department of Communication at the University of Memphis seeks a tenure-track assistant professor, with appointment beginning August 2010.  The Department seeks an individual with a research specialization in media theory and new technologies and who also has teaching and research interests in one or more of the following areas: political communication, health communication, organizational communication, and critical/cultural studies.  Experience in some form of media production is desirable.  The position requires willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues in a department that places high value on research and teaching that cross areas of specialization.  PhD strongly preferred.

For more details about the Department, College, and University, see the Department’s web page http://www.memphis.edu/communication/

Applicants should apply at http://workforum.memphis.edu.  Applicants will be required to upload a letter of application, vita, evidence of teaching excellence and scholarly achievement, and contact information for at least three references.  Review of applications begins January 14, 2010 and may continue until the position is filled.

The University of Memphis is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

UM Communication Scholarship at TCA

Doctoral student Melody Lehn received the award for the top graduate student paper at the  2009 Tennessee Communication Association conference for her essay entitled “The Rhetoric of ‘Vote for my Mom:’ Chelsea as Speaker and the Employment of Localized Condensation Symbols in the 2008 Election.”

Scholarship from the department was well-represented at the conference. Five graduate students--Melody Lehn, Kimberly Johnson, Jennifer Jackson, Merci Decker, and Caroline Sawyer-Downes—presented papers and doctoral student Mittie Carey's paper was presented by fellow student Reggie Bell.

Assistant Professor Tony de Velasco was a panel respondent and two of our recent Ph.D. graduates, André Johnson and Sally Paulson, also presented papers.

Graduate Students Honored at Awards Luncheon

The Department of Communication's annual Award Luncheon was held on Friday, May 1, 2009. Dr. Mike Leff, department chair, recognized graduate student achievements and presented presented the John Angus Campbell Awards for Excellence in Teaching. The 2009 Campbell Awards were given to Melody Lehn, MA level and Sean T. Connable & Elizabeth Stephens, Ph.D. level.

The following graduate students were also recognized for their awards and honors:

Tesfa Alexander, Carolyn Block, and Melody Lehn were inducted into Phi Kappa Phi. Alexander was also awarded the Phi Kappa Phi scholarship for returning graduate students.

Mittie Carey has been awarded the University of Memphis First Generation Ph.D. Fellowship.

Rebecca Connor was selected for membership in the National Honors Society.

Leora Elli has been selected as co-researcher with Richard Frankel (principal investigator) on a three-year research project studying computerized medical records within three specific Veterans Hospital sites.

Morgan Ginther has been selected to attend the Oral History Institute at UC Berkeley in the summer 2009.

Amanda Gresens was awarded the ECA Centennial Scholarship for MA students to complete research on her master’s thesis on Eleanor Roosevelt’s campaign rhetoric.

Kimberly Johnson has been awarded the College of Communication & Fine Arts Robinson Fellowship.

Melody Lehn was selected for the “Women, Rhetoric and Political Agency” seminar of RSA, summer 2009.

Chris Oldenburg was awarded The University of Memphis Graduate Student Meritorious Teaching Award for 2008-2009.

Doctoral Student to Intern at National Cancer Institute

Tesfa Alexander, a second-year doctoral student in cross-cultural health communication, has been selected as a health communications intern at the National Cancer Institute for fall 2009. Alexander will work in the Communication Planning and Coordination Branch of the Office of Communications and Education. His responsibilities will include: using evidence-based strategies to plan for the effective dissemination of NCI's information to diverse audiences and coordinating cross-Divisional communications issues/activities related to special programs or initiatives.

Alexander came to Memphis with a professional background in global healthcare public relations and a passion for social justice. He is currently exploring barriers in the development and implementation of effective public health strategies that reduce socioeconomic health disparities domestically and abroad. Since his arrival in Memphis, Alexander has been involved in innovative research that ranges from working with health administrators at a local university hospital to develop a communication intervention that enhances relationship-centered care for patients suffering from co-morbidities, to conducting fieldwork in Southwest Uganda that bridges the communication gap between traditional and modern health practitioners to increase quality healthcare access for Ugandans living in rural communities. His advisor is Dr. Amanda J. Young.

Fifth Annual CSRAC Conference

The Department of Communication hosted “One Hundred Days of Rhetoric: The Beginning of the Obama Administration," the Fifth Annual Conference from the Center for the Study of Rhetoric & Applied Communication, April 16-17, 2009.

Featured speakers were:

Dr. James Darsey, Professor of Communication, Georgia State University; “Clarity v. Complexity: Barack Obama’s Rhetorical Dilemma”

Dr. Jean Goodwin, Associate Professor of English, Iowa State University; “Opening space for argument: Obama at the intersection between science and politics”

Dr. Craig R. Smith, Department Chair of Film and Electronic Arts and Professor of Communication Studies, California State University - Long Beach; “The First Hundred Days of the Obama Presidency: A Rhetorical Assessment”

Dr. Jean Goodwin, CSRAC 2009

Dr. Craig Smith, CSRAC 2009