February 2005

The School of Communications Reaches Out to Alumni

Faculty Forum on Teaching Technologically Savvy Students

News From Salt Lake City

Bowl for Kids' Sake

News From Leiden

Kampus Kudos

St. Louis Calendar Highlight

Employees of the Month

Service Anniversaries

New Employees

The School of Communications Reaches Out to Alumni

In his article, “College Graduates Aren’t Ready for the Real World,” Mel Levine cites the difficulties encountered by many new college graduates as they transition from school to careers and life. Levine writes, “Some students can’t make up their minds where to go and what to do, while others find themselves stranded along a career trail about which they are grievously naïve and for which they lack broad preparation.” (“The Chronicle Review,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, Feb. 18, 05).

SOC alumni, faculty and staff at happy hour event.

The first of these was a happy hour at Schlafly Bottleworks on Feb. 17, sponsored by Webster’s Alumni Relations department and organized by Necole Powell, development officer, Alumni. The event provided an opportunity for new alums to meet and mingle with their more seasoned counterparts. A group of approximately 60 alumni, SOC faculty and staff attended the event described as upbeat and fun by Mindy Berkowitz, SOC internship coordinator. It was particularly rewarding for Berkowitz and SOC coordinator Sally Lorino—the two staff members who spearhead the new SOC program—to watch the new alumni mingle with older ones who are working in the communication field, writing books and creating films.

Lorino and Berkowitz teamed up last July to offer support to new SOC graduates as they search for jobs. “We have survey data from past alums which shows they are, for the most part, a very under-employed group, initially,” Berkowitz says. “It commonly takes them 18 months to three years to land a job in their media field.” Berkowitz says she began to notice that many of the students she had helped with internships would continue to keep in touch with her after they had graduated. They asked questions about how to make contacts and how to find jobs. Berkowitz says the question she and Lorino kept asking themselves was “What can we do to help them?’”

“One of the things we decided we could help them with is how to build a network, and that’s where Mindy and I started the whole process,” Lorino explains. Berkowitz adds: “We want to offer support and encouragement through the hard times and be there to celebrate the successes.”

Berkowitz and Lorino say they are still exploring ways to help graduates and that the program will continue to evolve over time. They firmly believe offering the resources of the University and the SOC faculty connections with the communications industry will greatly benefit the alums.

The next step in the program is the launch of SCAN (School of Communications Alumni Newsletter), an electronic newsletter scheduled to come out in March. That will be followed by a guest speaker who will talk about developing and managing a career in the communications field. The SOC program, in cooperation with the Alumni Relations office, will continue to reach out to alumni as each class graduates. The cycle of letter from the dean, social event, newsletter and speaker will repeat as the program continues to provides information, help and support to SOC alumni.

Faculty Forum on Teaching Technologically Savvy Students

How does a PC-challenged, 50-something university professor go about teaching today’s technologically advanced students? That was the topic of discussion at the Faculty Development Center (FDC) Friday Faculty Forum on Feb. 11.

Discussion leader Susan Stang, professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, focused primarily on faculty who teach subjects where the content is not technology, but where technology is a big part of the field. As a photography teacher, Stang said she had always assumed that her students expected her to be proficient with Adobe Photoshop, and she had been uncomfortable because she wasn’t. She put learning the program on hold for several reasons, including the fact that the computer she had at the time didn’t have enough memory. When the department provided her with a new computer two years ago, Stang decided it was time to learn Photoshop, and she also made another decision—to let her students in on her secret.

After trying to tackle the program on her own—a daunting task—Stang hired a student to tutor her over Christmas break that year. She chose well. Her tutor, Curt von Diest, is now an adjunct faculty member at Webster teaching photographic imaging. Stang said, “I knew he was a good teacher!” In addition to von Diest’s help, Stang also began to ask the students in her classes for help with the program. She said she was pleasantly surprised that they were not at all bothered that she needed their help; in fact, they were happy to oblige. “They seem to be accepting in a way that gives people older than them a lot of space to know less,” Stang said.

Other faculty members shared similar experiences. Steve Fuller, adjunct professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, said it’s good to remember that students are used to learning computer techniques from each other and are also used to helping their parents with computers. Fuller said he tells his students that he doesn’t necessarily know more than they do, but that they know different things.

“I think the kids are bright enough to know that technology is just a tool, and whatever the tool we’re using is, you should try to get the most out of it,” Fuller said. “I think most of us in the School of Communications take pride in the fact that we’re not a tech school. We’re not just teaching people how to press the right buttons, but as communicators, we want them to have something to communicate.”

This approach is key to how professors teach at Webster said Roy Tamashiro, professor, Multidisciplinary Studies. “It’s a very personalized approach, where we try to get to know students individually.”

“That is a part of our culture here that we really don’t acknowledge so much,” said Debra Carpenter, dean, School of Communications. “Webster is very different than other schools because we do worry about that relationship.”

“What gives a teacher authority in the class is an interesting philosophical question that I think people would answer in different ways,” Carpenter continued. “It’s about respect, but does the respect come from the authority of the information you know, or does it come as respect for you as a professional teacher who has had experiences they haven’t had? If what gives you authority is that you always have to be right, then you don’t have much of an engagement with the students. That doesn’t give you much leeway for an exchange of ideas.”

Jorge Oliver, assistant professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, said it’s more important to teach students about content development than about program tools, which will eventually be learned as they are needed.

“I am a strong proponent of technology, but technology is just a tool,” said Laura Rein, dean, Emerson Library. “We concentrate on the content because technology changes all the time.”

Jahna Kahrhoff, director, Academic Distance Learning Center and co-director, FDC, agreed, saying it’s important to remember that technology should apply to what you’re doing. “You start with a problem and then perhaps technology can help solve it,” Kahrhoff said.

For more information about FDC fellowship grants and programs, see Feb. 04 Inside Webster.

News From Salt Lake City

Jeanie Erekson, Salt Lake director is joined by Murray City and Salt Lake City officials at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for new campus location.

The entirely renovated-4,830-square-foot site includes an updated computer lab, spacious classrooms and open areas, providing the needed space for the MBA, master of arts in Human Resources Management, master of arts in Management and Leadership and master of arts in Computer Resources and Information Management degree programs.

The campus anticipates continued growth in the future with its new, easily accessible location. “We love our new building,” Erekson says. “It’s a great location —very visible from the main interstate.”

Bowl for Kids’ Sake

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

On April 2 at noon, Webster students, faculty and staff will hit the lanes at Tropicana Lanes on Clayton Road in the Bowl for Kids’ Sake program that benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Louis.

“It’s not about bowling skill,” says Ted Hoef, associate vice president and dean of students. “We have a ball—students, faculty and staff go out, have fun and help kids.”

Each bowler is expected to secure a minimum of $70 in pledges, with a goal of $80 per bowler. This is Webster’s 10th year participating in the program, and the University has raised more than $15,000 for the organization over the years. Spaces are reserved for 36 bowlers organized into six teams.

“I do enjoy bowling and I enjoy doing this for Big Brothers Big Sisters because I feel it’s a very worthwhile organization,” says Mary Birkenmeier, executive secretary to the President, who was a team leader last year. “And it’s a fun day—it’s fun bowling with students and different staff and faculty.”

Funds raised go directly toward matching children on the Big Brothers Big Sisters waiting list with volunteers to the organization. If you are interested in forming a team, contact Hoef at ext. 6980 or hoeftl@webster.edu. For more information on the program, check out http://www.bbbsemo.org.

News From Leiden

Len Even, director of Webster’s campus in Leiden, Netherlands, recently announced the appointment of the following new staff members:

• Jan-Albert Dop, director of Marketing

An independent communications consultant to top corporations, Dop previously worked for the Free University Amsterdam and for Leiden University. He is a Fulbright Scholar at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Penn., and a graduate of Leiden University with a Ph.D. in cultural history. As director of marketing, Dop’s responsibilities include positioning Webster in the Dutch higher education market and coordinating marketing, public relations, admissions and enrollment activities for the Leiden campus.

• Stephen Foster, department head, Business and Management

Foster brings a work background with the steel and electronics industries and service on the faculties of universities in Canada, Ireland, Germany and The Netherlands to his position with Webster. He has a Ph.D. in Education and Psychology from the University of Illinois. Foster will teach graduate and undergraduate business and management courses, coordinate and manage curriculum and advise students.

• Janet Inglis, department head, Behavioral and Social Sciences

Inglis began her career as a psychology teacher in her native Scotland. She worked as a government psychologist in England and also taught psychology for The British School in the Netherlands. She currently runs a freelance practice as a career counselor and provides corporate training courses. Inglis has an M.Ed. and a M.S. in Psychology from Edinburgh University. At Webster, she will teach psychology courses, coordinate and manage behavioral and social sciences curriculum and mentor students.

Editor’s Note: Each issue of Inside Webster includes 10 Kampus Kudos listings, which appear in the publication in the order they are received by the Office of University Communications. If your information is not in this issue, it will appear in a future issue.

Jeff Smith, adjunct faculty, Memphis Campus, was promoted to program manager in the General Education department of the High-Tech Institute. He oversees eight full-time instructors.

Calvin Smith, director, International Recruitment, served as an assistant tour director for the Council of International Schools Fall 2004 Latin American Recruitment Tour. In September, Smith led a group of 26 university admissions officers on a three-week undergraduate recruitment tour to secondary schools in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico. Smith also published an article on student recruitment in Latin America in the Spring 2005 edition of “Circular: A Newsletter for International Admissions and Guidance Professionals.”

Vickie Frederick, associate vice president, Finance, serves on the St. Louis Workshop Committee of the Central Association of College and University Business Officers (CACUBO). Representing chief business officers at more than 700 institutions throughout the North Central region of the United States, CACUBO’s goal is to plan, provide and encourage professional and personal development for all levels of management in the business and financial areas of higher education.

Barry Hufker, associate professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, served as recording engineer for the new compact disc featuring the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, “Songs of the Soul.” Hufker digitally recorded the disc at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in St. Louis, using an array of modern and vintage microphones.

Thomas Oberlechner, department head, Psychology, Vienna Campus, published the book, The Psychology of the Foreign Exchange Market (Wiley Trading Series).

Margaret Ridings, faculty coordinator/adjunct faculty, Memphis Campus, has been appointed to the State Workforce Development Board. She will help advise Gov. Phil Bredesen on workforce development strategy for Tennessee.

David Brennan, associate professor, Management, was runner-up in the contest, “Best of the Great Ideas in Teaching Marketing.” His entry, “It’s Not Funny Money,” will be published next year in Handbook for New Instructors: Getting Started with Great Ideas (Thomson/South Western). Brennan recently gave a presentation to St. Louis high school students involved in the Business Educational Scholarship Training program, “The Funny Side of International Business.” Brennan also provided comments on the nature of free trade agreements, the impact of the World Trade Organization and the recent success of the North American Free Trade Agreement to the World Market Outlook section in the Dec. 04 issue of the “Wire Journal International.”

Monte Hancock, adjunct professor, Computer Science, will present the paper “Exploring Human Cognition by Mining a Markov Random Field,” with co-author and fellow Essex scientist John Day at the International Augmented Cognition Conference in July.

Ali Shaykhian, mentor, Palm Bay Campus, had the paper, “Implementation of Business Policies Using Object Oriented Methodologies and Design Patterns,” accepted for the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference scheduled for July 2005.

Scott Imhoff, adjunct faculty, Denver Metropolitan Campus, was awarded a patent for a “fuzzy genetic learning automata classifier” that detects military signals.

Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.

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St. Louis Calendar Highlights

Carry It On—A History of the Civil Rights Movement

Wednesday, March 3, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Performers Charlie King and Karen Brandow.

A dramatic recreation depicts historic civil disobedience through song, stories and photos. Performers are Charlie King and Karen Brandow. The program is presented by the History, Politics and International Relations Department, the History and Politics Club and the Music Department. The program is in the Emerson Library Conference Room on the first floor. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Barb Ehnes at ext. 7174, or enhnesba@webster.edu

Webster Symphony Orchestra

Sunday, Mar. 20, 7 p.m.

The March concert, “An Apple for the Teacher,” salutes Herb Drury, one of the top jazz pianists in the country, considered by many to be the granddaddy of jazz pianists in St. Louis. Drury will perform, and his students will share the incredible influence he has had on their playing. The orchestra is conducted by Allen Carl Larson, professor, Music.

For more information or to reserve tickets, call the Fine Arts Hotline, 968-7128, or check the St. Louis Events Calendar located on the University’s Web site.

Employees of the Month

February 2005 Spotlight Award

FROM ROBYN GAETA, STUDENT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Rena Smith, administrative assistant, Academic Affairs, received the Employee Spotlight Award for February.

“I was pleasantly surprised and appreciative,” Rena says about winning the award. “I like the home-type atmosphere at Webster. I feel like it’s my second home.”

Rena says she really enjoys working with students and the staff in Academic Affairs, who contribute to the wonderful atmosphere. She also appreciates the variety of her job. “Every day is different,” she says. Rena also enjoys her job because it allows her to meet people from different walks of life and students from all over the world.

Rena’s nominator considers her to be the “go-to” person in Academic Affairs. “She pitches in on a million and one little tasks that are not necessarily in her job description.”

Rena has worked at Webster for 13 years. “It’s been a positive time here,” she says. “I really do enjoy working at Webster,” she says.

Rena chose a day off with pay as her prize.

Employees everywhere are eligible for the monthly Employee Spotlight Award. Using the nomination form is easy!

Service Anniversaries

The University extends its appreciation to the following individuals who have ably served the institution for many years:

February 2005

Sharon Dowell, representative, Graduate and Evening Student Admissions, 15 years

Terrie Snyder, accounting assistant, Business Office, 15 years

Beth Seelig, library technical services assistant, Emerson Library, 10 years

Sam Shiplett, director, Andrews Air Force Base, five years

Michael Williams, department secretary, Media Center, five years

New Employees

We extend warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:

Ann Bowersox, department associate, Center for Interdisciplinary Study, ext. 7703

Lisa Freeman, department associate, New River Center, N.C., 910-449-6997 or speed dial #6 084, replaces Mary Payne.

Nicole Herman, assistant softball coach, Athletics, ext. 6984

Patrick McSheehy, assistant soccer coach, Athletics, ext. 6984

Brian Propst, visiting lecturer, Electronic and Photographic Media, ext. 7637, replaces Jill Silverstein.

Sarah York, service clerk, Financial Aid, ext. 8070, replaces Cara Cluney.

Jean Yowell, library acquisitions clerk, Emerson Library, ext. 7808, replaces Karen Murphy.

To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.