Welcome to the Department of Communication’s first online newsletter! We will use this new resource to keep you updated on various department initiatives, student and faculty accomplishments, and alumni successes. I took over as department chair on July 1, 2018, and now, as I conclude my first academic year in this role, I can say without question that the Department of Communication is clearly on the move. 

With graduation and the 2018-2019 academic year behind us, sighs of relief and cheers of joy are resonating throughout the department – from students and faculty alike! We recently wrapped up an academic year filled with tremendous activity and growth. In this newsletter, you will read many accomplishments, including:

Faculty members Gregory Cranmer and Darren Linvill received recognition for their research in sports communication and social media, respectively. 

Effective July 1, the university’s student media operation will transition to the Department of Communication. We are excited to welcome to the department The Tiger newspaper, WSBF-FM, Tigervision TV network, in addition to several student-run special interest publications. With guidance and mentoring from a full-time student media advisor, we are confident these organizations will continue to provide all students with transformational learning opportunities.

The Social Media Listening Center launched a partnership with Sports Illustrated for the NFL Draft. This partnership has yielded great learning experiences for our students. 

In April, I joined a delegation of faculty from Clemson’s College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences to travel to Washington, DC for an alumni reception at the residence of Haris Lalacos, the Ambassador of Greece to the United States. We enjoyed a lovely spring evening with Greek tastes and music and had an opportunity to connect with alumni. While in DC, I also had the chance to meet with Catherine Reynolds, a department alumnus who is senior producer for Face the Nation at CBS News. She is excited to connect with current Clemson students, and we look forward to welcoming Catherine back to campus soon!

I encourage you to remain engaged with the Department of Communication by following us on Facebook (@ClemsonCOMM), Twitter (@ClemsonCOMM), and Instagram (@clemson_comm). We always enjoy learning about your accomplishments and continued success. News from our alumni, feedback from friends, and support can help us refine and further develop our programs to remain among the best in the state, region, and nation. We are grateful for your generous support. We also welcome your questions, suggestions, and visits to the Department of Communication. We hope to see you soon.