Universal Orlando Public Relations VP Lewellen
to address Communications Honors Banquet
Michael Lewellen (Jour ’83) will address the annual honors banquet April 9 for the College of Communications during ASU’s Convocation of Scholars celebration. The banquet will be at 6:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall in the Student Union.
Lewellen has 26 years of public relations, media strategies, reputation management and publicity experience. He is vice president of public relations at Universal Orlando Resort, a subsidiary of NBC Universal and General Electric. He supervises all of the company’s external media communications, theme park and attractions publicity and crisis management.
A native of Jonesboro, Lewellen is an internationally accredited public relations practitioner through the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Arkansas State University Foundation.
The National Black Public Relations Society honored Lewellen in 2005 with its highest honor – the Founders Award – for his achievements in the public relations profession. PR WEEK Magazine has recognized Lewellen as one of the country’s top African Americans in the field of public relations – first in 1999 and twice in 2003, including a spot on the coveted “In-House A-List” of the country’s best communications executives at major corporations.
Prior to joining Universal Orlando, Lewellen served for seven years as vice president and senior vice president of Corporate Communications for Black Entertainment Television (BET) on its corporate headquarters staff in Washington, D.C. He also has been vice president of media relations for FOX Sports Network in New York, director of public relations for Turner Sports in Atlanta and product line management positions during a five-year span at NIKE, Inc.’s world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. His career includes one year as North America Communications director for Amsterdam-based ING Group and six years in a range of public relations roles for SBC Communications (now AT&T).
Students in College of Communications selected
for four of the six Distinguished Services Awards
Four College of Communications students were among six students recognized with Distinguished Service Awards in April 7's 75th annual Student Honors Award ceremony at ASU. The four winners were these students:
Evette Allen of Arkadelphia is a communications studies major. She has been active for three years in the Student Activities Board and was vice president this year. She has served as president and vice president of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Other campus activities include the Future Alumni Network, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the NAACP and the Black Student Association. She has been an alumni ambassador and member of the Strong-Turner 3.0 Club since 2004. As a Global Student Leader in May 2007, she was one of five ASU students who traveled to Egypt and Africa. She was ASU’s Homecoming queen this past fall. Evette is the daughter of Roy Allen and Barbara Allen of Arkadelphia. Her adviser is Dr. Thomas Baglan.
Andrew Geswein of Huntington, Ind., is a radio-television major. His is a member of the National Broadcasting Society and the Honors College. He has been a resident assistant for three years and a volunteer for the American Red Cross following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society and the Miracle Rodeo. He also volunteered this past January for the United Cerebral Palsy telethon. Andrew was one of four communications students did a study trip to Kuwait. He has been among the most productive ASU-TV student staff members in its history, having served as a director, camera operator, editor and virtually every other crew position in more than 100 ASU-TV productions. Additionally, ESPN and ESPN regional production crews have requested his services during several events in this region, He is the son of Carl Geswein of Wynne in Cross County and Betty Freeman of Scott City, Missouri. His adviser is Mike Doyle.
Candice James of Bryant is a graphic communications major in the Department of Journalism. She is a collegiate athlete, having run ASU cross county, indoor and outdoor track since August 2003. She has been a volunteer for the ASU Track Community Youth Track meet for two consecutive summers; a member of Gamma Epsilon Tau, where she served as president during the 2006-07 school year; and has participated in the College Republicans and the ASU Newman Catholic Center. She has been named to the Chancellor’s list, the Sunbelt Conference Commissioner’s List, and the ASU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll each semester of her college career. She was a first-team selection for the ESPN magazine’s Academic All-Track and Cross Country Team in May 2007. She is the daughter of Sandy Miller of Bryant, and her adviser is Pradeep Mishra.
Andrew Wilson of Harrison is a radio-television major. He has been an active member of the ASU Herald newspaper for more than three years, where he has held positions as multimedia director, opinions editor, arts and features editor, sports editor and copy editor. Andrew was the Herald’s editor-in-chief in fall 2007. During spring, Andrew became the first student to incorporate video coverage into the Herald’s online edition. He has also been extensively involved in ASU-TV, having served as host and analyst on “Sports Talk,” analyst, co-producer and co-creator of “ASU Gameday” and a producer, anchor and reporter on “A-State News.” He has also been a member of the ASU Piano Society and the ASU Honors College Association. He has served as a big brother to area youth and performed clean-up work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Andrew was one of four communications students who did a study tour of Kuwait in he fall. He has represented ASU at numerous national and regional collegiate journalism conferences and has assisted in recruiting high school students to this university. He is the son of Douglas and Laurie Wilson of Harrison. His adviser is Dr. Mary Jackson-Pitts.
Carvell retirement reception planned
for April 16 in RTV department offices
The Department of Radio-Television and College of Communications will host a retirement reception noon-2p.m. April 16 for Richard Carvell, long-time chair of RTV and formerly station manager for KASU, the university's National Public Radio station.
The reception will be in the department offices (Comm/Ed Building 152). Parking for the reception will be in the visitor’s lot south of the Comm/Ed Building.
Wynne captures sweepstakes award
at ASU Journalism and Broadcasting Day
Wynne High School won the sweepstakes award April 5 at the 70th Annual Journalism and Broadcasting
Day at Arkansas State University.
Cabot captured second, Conway finished third and Nettleton was fourth.In newspaper competition the Wynne Yellowjacket was selected as the top paper. Cabot won first place in news video competition, and Wynne won the sports video competition.
In individual contests, winners were: Tanner Huffman of Wynne, news writing and advertising copy and layout; Clark Johnson of Conway,radio-TV announcing; Michelle Makool of Wynne, photography; Tom Norsworthy of Wynne, broadcast news writing; Zach Robertson of Nettleton, Web site design; Savanah Stewart of Buffalo Island Central, feature writing; Anthony Wilson of Stuttgart, sports writing; Jordan Wilkerson of Conway, editorial writing; Supagon Boonaphai of Stuttgart, writing radio-TV commercials; Todd Richard of Conway, public relations; Cheyenne Gerdes of Conway, editorial cartooning; Allison Grigsby of Cabot, headline writing; and Brooke Mason of Cabot, newspaper copy reading.
Awards were presented by College of Communications students representing student organizations. They were John Griffith of Jonesboro, Society of Professional Journalists; Amanda Grobmyer of Forrest City, National Broadcasting Society; Paige Hannahs of Bryant, National Press Photographers Association; Camelia Trahan of Oceanside, Calif., Association of Women in Communications; Nicole Jones of Wynne, American Advertising Federation; Brandon Morris of Pine Bluff, Public Relations Student Society of America; and Sara Guitar of Paragould, Undergraduate Student Research Association.
Roy Ockert, editor of The Jonesboro Sun and vice president of the Arkansas Press Association, made the sweepstakes plaque presentations.
Dr. Joel Gambill, chair of the Department of Journalism, was coordinator of Journalism and Broadcasting Day.
Fowler leads Journalism, RTV students
On educational tour of Kuwait media
Four College of Communications majors studied media outlets in Kuwait in November under the guidance of ASU-Jonesboro Journalism Prof. and Honors Associate Dean Gil Fowler.
Stephanie Fischer of Stuttgart, Sara Gay of Rogers, Andy Geswein of Huntington, Ind., and Andrew Wilson of Harrison were the media students making the trip to Kuwaits. Each was nominated by ASU communications faculty. You can find the story about their trip in this link to a news release from University Communications at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.
The students are sharing their experiences on the The ASU Herald Online site and on the ASU-TV video site. The students are returning from Kuwait City on Nov. 6.
Fowler and the students have received attention from the Kuwait News Agency and other media outlets. Check this link for the KNA story.
Celebrating 50 years of KASU during Homecoming
The Communications Alumni Seminar celebrated 50 years of instruction and public service at KASU during Homecoming in October.
KASU went on the air for the first time on May 17, 1957. A panel of alumni will celebrate the traditions of the station and the impact it has had on the students who learned broadcasting at the station. Panelists will be Richard Carvell and Charles Rasberry of Jonesboro, Horace Hinshaw of Pacifica, Calif., and Sherry Williford of Nacogdoches, Texas.
Al-Rasheed receives distinguished alumni award
Dr. Anas Al-Rasheed (Jour '91, MSMC '95) was one of four ASU alumni recognized with distinguished alumni awards during homecoming festivities Oct. 12-13. He is ASU's first international Distinguished Alumnus.
Under Dr. Al-Rasheed's leadership as minister of information, Kuwait approved a law giving the country the greatest press freedom in the Middle East. Dr. Al-Rasheed is a professor of journalism and media at Kuwait University and was named as media advisory to the Kuwait minister of education.
He served in the U.S. Army during the liberation of Kuwait during Operation Desert Story before returning to ASU to complete his degrees.
His wife, Munerah, also attended ASU. They three children, Fatima, Latifa and Ahmad.
AT&T grant awarded to Communications
for improving student journalism in Delta
The AT&T Foundation — the corporate philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. — has awarded a $325,000 grant to the Arkansas State University Foundation to support the establishment of two endowments honoring James W. Callaway, AT&T senior executive vice president-Executive Operations.
One of the two endowments establishes the James W. Callaway/AT&T Faculty Fellowship, which will focus on the state of journalism in the Lower Mississippi Delta. A faculty fellow will provide mentoring opportunities for ASU students and Delta high school students while enhancing the academic community through service and research. The funding proposal was based on a plan for a media academy in the Arkansas Delta. The plan was developed by Dr. Lillie Fears, associate professor in the Department of Journalism at ASU>
The other endowment — the James W. Callaway/AT&T Scholarship Endowment in Business — will provide needed scholarships to students who are from diverse backgrounds and have varied abilities.
Callaway earned a degree in business administration from ASU in 1968. The Little Rock native serves on the board of the ASU Foundation and, in September, was named a distinguished alumnus of the university. He joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., now AT&T, in 1968 and was appointed to his current position in May 2007.
Callaway studied journalism as well as business administration at ASU: “The business and communications skills I learned here prepared me for my first marketing position and have sustained me throughout my career with AT&T. It’s wonderful to know that others will be able to gain their own life skills through these endowments.”
Advertising student wins Arkansas ADDY
Advertising major Bryan Bristol won a silver ADDY on Feb. 16 at the annual Arkansas Advertising Federation awards ceremony. Bristol wrote and produced the award-winning radio spot in an advertising copy writing class taught by Dr. Myleea Hill, assistant professor of journalism. The ADDY competition is for professionals in advertising.
Soundscapes of Little Rock did the engineering and recruited the voice talent for the radio spot, which promoted student activities at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. Karen Crowley of Soundscapes made the arrangements for the spot to be produced and John Crowley of Soundscapes did the engineering.
Fears elected to Arkansas Humanities Council board of directors
Dr. Lillie Fears, associate professor of journalism, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of The Arkansas Humanities Council, an Arkansas not-for-profit corporation. There are 24-four directors, 18 elected by the board and six appointed by the Governor of Arkansas. AHC's purpose is to promote public understanding, appreciation and use of the humanities. Advertising student wins Arkansas ADDY
Zibluk selected for Scripps Howard leadership academy
Dr. Jack Zibluk, associate professor of journalism, has been chosen to participate in the 2008 Scripps Howard Leadership Academy June 1-5 at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
The Scripps Howard Academy provides a group of rising professionals and scholars with challenges and rewards related of leading an academic program in journalism and mass communication. The academy uses veteran administrators and leaders to share their insights with the prospective administrators.
Zibluk leads the photojournalism emphasis in the Department of Journalism at ASUJ and is vice president of the National Association of Press Photographers.
Greg Chance wins 12th School Bell Award
Greg Chance, news director at KASU, received his 12th School Bell Award in April for his coverage of education. The award was presented by the Arkansas Education Association in Little Rock.
Vickrey wins six ADDYs in AAF competition
Eric Vickrey, part-time instructor in ASU's College of Communications, was recognized during the 2008 Northeast Arkansas Advertising Federation Awards Banquet. EyeSpeak, a visual communications agency founded by Vickrey, was awarded six ADDYs, including two gold, two silver, a bronze and the coveted Best of Show ADDY award. Vickrey teaches desktop publishing and digital publishing in graphic communications and journalism at ASU.
Professional advisory committees offer advice,
assist Journalism, RTV with assessment
The Department of Journalism and Department of Radio-Television professional advisory committees convened in February to advise the departments on curriculum and opportunities and to assist with assessment of the programs.
Journalism advisory members participating were Roy Ockert, editor, Jonesboro Sun; Jennifer Winningham, instructional designer, ALLTEL; Gretchen Hunt, managing editor, Walnut Ridge Times Dispatch; Andrea Morrissey, public relations director for Little Rock law firm; Markham Howe, ASU director of university relations; Beth Smith, ASU alumni director; John Wallace, retired vice president for public affairs with Verizon; Charlie Cromwell, public relations practitioner in Atlanta; and Wendy Cromwell, public relations, Georgia Tech; Erica Goodwin, former PR practitioner in Little Rock, and David Keith, former editor, Log Cabin Democrat and now with cable company in Conway.
Working with RTV were Bobby Caldwell, owner/CEO , East Arkansas Broadcasters, Wynne; Pamela Andrews, Pam Andrews, TV/broadcast instructor, Green County Tech, Paragould; Tim Ingram, vice president and general manager, KAIT8, Jonesboro; Duane McElroy, broadcast manager, Wal-Mart Television, Bentonville; Blake Russell, vice president, marketing and operations, Nextstar Broadcast Group, Irvine, Texas; Chuck Maulden, news director at KTHV-TV, channel 11, in Little Rock.
Media and Diversity class produces two panels
for public and cablecast on ASU-TV Channel 18
The College of Communications’ 11th annual diversity panel focused on presidential politics in November in a televised program in the ASU-TV studio.
The panelists exploring the impact that U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are having on the face of and race for the presidency. The panel also discussed the changing of ASU’s mascot.
“Changing Images in Changing Times” was distributed on ASU-TV’s channel 18 on Jonesboro Cable. Panelists include Cyndy Hendershot, associate professor of English at ASU; Janis L. Kearney, former diarist for President Bill Clinton and ASU visiting scholar; Dean Lee, ASU athletic director; and Patrick Stewart, associate professor of public administration and co-director of the Center for Social Research (CSR) at ASU.
The panel is hosted by the College of Communications class, "Race, Gender and Media," which is taught by Dr. Lillie Fears, associate professor of journalism.
The class also hosted a panel in the TV studio on challenges women face in the communications industry – balancing career and family, wage disparities and negative portrays in advertising and music videos.
Members of the panel were Margarette Jacobs, announcer, KASU-FM, ASU’s public radio station; Janis Kearney, former diarist for President Bill Clinton, ASU visiting scholar and former editor & publisher of the Arkansas State Press; Audrey Watkins, editor and publisher of Occasions magazine & former newspaper reporter and Cari White, executive director, Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Two billboards, designed by members of public relations and advertising classes, were constructed on Stadium Boulevard during summer 2007.
APA names Thrasher Journalism Educator of the Year
The Arkansas Press Association recognized Bonnie Thrasher, instructor of Journalism, as its Journalism Educator of the Year. The award was announced in June at the APA convention in Fort Smith.
Thrasher is advisor to The Herald, ASUJ's student newspaper. She has led the staff to regional and national awards. She served as president of the Arkansas chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists during 2004-2006 and continues as secretary and a member of the board.
She worked during summer 2007 as associate editor of The Jonesboro Sun.
Baglan, Amienyi become chairs
In College of Communications
Dr. Osabuohien Amienyi and Dr. Thomas Baglan assumed department chair duties July 1 in the College of Communications at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro.
Amienyi replaced Richard Carvell as chair of the Department of Radio-Television. Carvell, RTV chair since 1988 and former station manager of KASU, continues as director of broadcasting and is serving on the RTV faculty.
Amienyi, who holds a doctorate from Bowling Green State University, was a film producer and videographer in Nigeria and worked in radio and television in the United States. He is a noted scholar and author in national development. He is author of a book on communicating national integration and has published in several national and international journals. He served a Fulbright Fellowship in Malawi in 2005.
Baglan replaced Dr. Dennis White as chair of the Department of Communication Studies. Baglan holds a doctorate from Florida State University. White retired at the end of June 2007.
Baglan teaches intercultural, nonverbal and interpersonal communication. His research and scholarship has taken him to several international settings for first-hand observations. He has published and presented his research to a variety of national audiences.
Shain explores new media careers
With Arkansas APME conference
Dean Russell Shain discussed with Arkansas APME's conference ASUJ's strategies for preparing graduates for careers in a changing news environment. The meeting was in May 2007 in Rogers.
Shain said that ASU's journalism and radio-television programs focus on fundamentals of gathering, analyzing, and communicating news across a variety of multimedia platforms. He noted that the Department of Journalism has a consistently higher placement rate for news-editorial and photojournalism graduates than the national average.
He shared the panelists' platform with heads of journalism from UALR and UAF.
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Updated 4-8-08
