So much to communicate:

Chair’s Column 2

COMM in Other Countries 3

Communication Days 4

Student Awards 5

Telling Stories 6

New Opportunities 7

Faculty News and Notes 8

InterAction 2015The Annual Newsletter of the CU Denver Department of Communication

clas.ucdenver.edu/communication

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Greetings all, and welcome to the 2015 Department of Communica-tion newsletter. We had another outstanding year on the downtown Denver campus, so I want to share some notes with our community of friends, families, students, staff, colleagues, alumni, and donors.

Launching the New Media Lab

Thanks to the hard work of Michelle Médal, James McNeil, Bryan Reckard, Lawrence Hass of the College of Arts and Media, and to the generous support of Dean Jansma of CLAS, our new Media Learning Lab opened for service in February, 2015. The Lab enables students to check-out kits consisting of professional video cameras and microphones, lights and cables, and tripods and carry-ing cases, which our students use to shoot footage in various Denver communities; then students use our state-of-the-art editing bays to polish their work into profes-sional grade materials. In just one semester of use, the Lab enabled students to produce social-justice-based videos supporting “Stand Up to Stigma,” a social justice project sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness; “I Can: Reduc-ing Infant Mortality in Colorado’s African American Community,” a service-learning project coordi-nated with the Colorado School of Public Health and the Families Forward Resource Center; and the Diabetes Prevention Program. While the Lab led Communication students to these social justice multimedia projects, it also served the learning needs of students and faculty from the departments of History, Integrated Learning Technologies, Education, Political Science, Math, Humanities, Arts

& Media, Public Affairs, and the Student Government.

Expanding Puksta Fellows and Social Justice Work

Founded in 2013, the Puksta Fel-lows Program is a collaboration between the Department of Com-munication and the Puksta Foun-dation, a Denver-based non-profit committed to empowering tomor-row’s civic leaders by merging college classes, community-based internships, and intense mentor-ing in civic engagement. Thanks to the generous support of the Puksta Foundation’s Director, John Mulstay, and Dean Pam Jansma of CLAS, we are thrilled to announce a new, five-year commitment with student support totaling $100,000. Better yet, whereas the program has served only communication students for the past two years, starting in the Fall of 2015, we will be adding five additional students from Ethnic Studies. For more on this project, please see page 7 of this newsletter.

Building International Partnerships

The Department of Communica-tion has been a proud, long-term cornerstone of the International College of Beijing program (ICB), where we now have over 100 majors and a robust slate of intern-ships and service-learning projects (please see more about the ICB program on p. 3 of this newslet-ter). To expand our partnerships in China, I was thrilled this past May to partner with the Communi-cation University of China (CUC) on “Communication, Media, and Governance in the Age of Glo-balization,” a conference jointly

hosted by the CUC, CU Denver, and the National Communication Association (NCA), on May 23-24, in Beijing, China. Featuring pre-sentations by scholars from around China, members of the Chinese media and government, and our own Drs. Bean, Dodge, and Kerän-en, the conference went so well that we are now planning an even larger event for June, 2016, thus creating new avenues for interna-tional collaboration.

There is much more to say but little space available here, so I will close by inviting everyone who reads this newsletter to drop by the office to say hello or to send us an email telling us about your triumphs and adventures. As Ben Franklin used to say at the close of his letters, I remain your humble servant, with all best wishes and high regards,

Stephen John Hartnett Professor and Chair Department of Communication University of Colorado Denver 1201 Larimer Street Denver, CO 80204 stephen.hartnett@ucdenver.edu 303.315.1914

Dr. Stephen John Hartnett

Chair’s Column

Greetings from the Chair

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The Department of Communica-tion offers students four opportu-nities to study abroad. Students may choose to travel to China, Guatemala, Italy, or Spain. The course in southern Italy focuses on global communication, intercultural awareness, and hands-on man-agement with a global mind-set. The course equips students with theoretical tools as they navigate contemporary Italy step by step, with all its natural beauty, cultural richness, and complex heritage.

One key exercise challenges par-ticipants to interview locals, there-by bringing invaluable empirical intercultural data into classroom assignments. With a home base in the charming town of Sorrento, nestled between the Amalfi coast and vibrant Naples, students ex-plore various aspects of Italian life, including the magnificent cuisine, the world of fashion and advertis-

ing, and important topics in Italian society such as the various facets of commu-nication, patriarchy, mas-culinity and femininity, and regional characteristics.

The class begins as a diverse and loose bunch but grows into a caring and effective unit, in a mirror image of a real familia Napolitana. All of this is accomplished by being keen intellectual learners, making the most out of the comprehensive theory researched and presented together in class, and taking Italian language classes offered by our hosts at Sorrento’s Sant’Anna Institute.

The aim of this course is to trans-form participants into culturally aware world citizens, with a height-ened comprehension of Italian-

national identity. The end product is a group of students ready for future cross-cultural exploration and the leadership challenges that the modern business world and globalized work environments will throw their way.

Beijing is an exciting place to teach and study. Despite constant change, the Communication Department lends stability to the ICB program with its traditions. We host a Dabao Daizou (take-away, carry-out) teaching and pedagogy series each semester, hold special events surrounding Earth Day, and celebrate CommUnity annu-ally. This year, “CommUnity Week” was renamed “CommUnity Days” with the intention of strengthening our connection to the 15-year tradition of the same name on the Denver campus. Our purpose is “unity through

communication.” During this year’s event, we hosted the sec-ond annual Documentary Film Festival and started a new tradi-tion with our “Festival of Scholars” event that drew more than 130 audience members. Senior Lin Zilun was honored with the Sonja K. Foss award for Academic Excellence, senior Zhu Yundi received the Robley Rhine Student Leadership Award, and junior Huang Julin took home the Lael Porter Community Service Award. The grand opening of the newly renovated ICB Media Lab rounded out a week of CommUnity Days events. In addition to hosting classes on video skills, the Lab is used for media writing, web design, and visual communication. The Lab’s renovations are the culmination of years of research and financial planning across two continents and two universities.

CommuniCaTion aCross CulTurEs

CU Denver students in Rome, Italy.

Managing Across Cultures in Italy

International College Beijing Going Strong!

ICB students and faculty at the Festival of Scholars.

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This year marked the 15th celebration of Communication Days, an annual event by which the Department high-lights the importance of communication in the world and recognizes those who are making significant contribu-tions to the Department and the larger community. Held April 6-10, 2015, the event featured 23 guest speakers in communication classes, giving students the opportunity to see communication at work in the world. Guest speak-ers shared their expertise from organizations such as Lockheed Martin Space Systems, the Colorado School of Public Health, Webolutions, the Center for Excellence in Digital Storytelling, Kaiser Permanente, FarmYard CSA, and the Denver County Courts.

The keynote presentation featured Dr. Phaedra C. Pezzullo, now an associate professor of rhetoric at the University of Colorado Boulder. In her presentation, “Communication in the Late Age of Fossil Fuels: Scientific Certainty, Cruel Ironies, and Imaginative Solutions,” Dr. Pezzullo asserted that Americans have a fossil-fuel addiction and that monumental change is required to end it. She linked environmental activism with concerns about race and class and suggested that certain communities are more adversely affected than others by toxicological assault. She concluded by calling for imaginative solutions to the problem and highlighted ways in which her undergraduate students had become involved in climate-justice activism.

The Department honored outstanding members of its community with several awards at the keynote presenta-tion. Yu (Kathy) Hua was awarded the Sonja K. Foss Award for Academic Excellence for her honors thesis, “The Visual Power of Contemporary War Photography to Motivate Public Awareness of War,” for which she was awarded summa cum laude honors. Kathy is a photographer herself, and she will be attending the mas-ter’s program in photography at Syracuse University this year.

The recipient of the Barbara J. Walkosz Distinguished Alumni Award was Natriece Bryant. Natriece graduated with her bachelor’s degree in communication from CU Denver in 2002. Learn more about her in the “Alumni

Spotlight” on page 5.

Dennis McGovern, who graduated in May, was the recipient of the Robley Rhine Student Leadership Award, which recognizes leadership in the Communica-tion Department. As an officer of Lambda Pi Eta, Dennis recruited new members and coordinated key events for the or-ganization.

Two students were the recipients of the Lael Porter Award for Community Service. Amanda Parker was recognized for her

commitment to families, children, and at-risk community groups. She volunteers with Family Homestead and the National Association of Counsel for Children. Her volunteer service also includes teaching public speaking and creative writing in two state correctional facilities.

CommuniCaTion Days & awarDs

Dr. Lisa Keränen and Keynote Speaker Dr. Phaedra C. Pezzullo.

15th Annual Celebration of Communication Days

Dr. Gordana Lazic, Dennis McGovern, Ian Dawe, Yu Hua, Amanda Parker Alex Landau, Dr. Stephen Hartnett, Natriece Bryant, and Dr. Barbara Walkosz.

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I remember attending college at the University of Colorado Denver back in 1999. I was so excited to be in college that I worked hard enough to earn my BA in communi-cation in 3 years! I was a Lambda Pi Eta honor society member as well and started my first job directly out of college as the Continuity Di-rector for Clear Channel Communi-cations in Denver. This job allowed me to utilize expertise I developed in school, but then I had a change of heart and wanted more educa-tion. I went back to school and earned three more degrees. I hold mas-ter’s degrees in sociology, criminal justice, and business administra-tion. Isn’t one MA enough? No, I loved learning. This drive to learn led me, in 2009, to research and write a book about stereotypes in the African American community through sitcom media. It was one of my largest accomplishments.

Then I found that what I really wanted was to help people.

I became a Victim Specialist in the Denver Attorney’s Office, primarily working with victims of domestic violence. After five years, I was promoted to work on the Elder Abuse Forensic Program, allowing several agencies to work with sen-ior citizens who were experiencing abuse in their lives. I then worked for the State of Colorado where I was the Communications Special-ist for the Marijuana Enforcement Division. During all this time, I also owned and operated a consult-ing company, Bryant Consulting Services, LLC., which continues to provide strategic planning, devel-opment, and media-strategy ser-vices to organizations such as the Denver Office of Drug Strategy.

In 2012, I was appointed by Mayor Hancock to serve on the Denver Advisory Commission on Youth. Currently, I am the Internal Com-munications Representative for Sierra Nevada Corporation, an aerospace company in charge of systems integration and innovative technological solutions. In addition,

I am currently teaching at Regis and Metro State Universities.

Where will I stop? I cannot answer that question. I can tell you that be-ginning my educational path in the Department of Communication led me to become an accomplished author, professor, and professional. The communication degree I ob-tained in 2002 has opened many doors, and I could not be more grateful.

CommuniCaTion Days & awarDs

Natriece Bryant, Distinguished Alumna

The second recipient of the Lael Porter Award was Alex Landau, a senior, a Puksta fellow, and an activist. He serves as the coordinator of the Colorado Progressive Coalition’s Racial and Civil Rights Program, is the founder and president of the Auraria Campus chapter of the NAACP, and has served as a keynote speaker at three Martin Luther King, Jr. marches in Denver. He has been nationally recognized for his survival narra-tive of police abuse, an experience that transformed him into a joyfully committed agent for social and cultural change.

The Department presented its Friend of the Department Award to John Sunnygard, executive director of International Affairs for CU Denver. John supports the Department’s international and travel-study programs, spearheads marketing programs to recruit students across the globe for our Department and for CU Denver; and frequently serves on search committees for faculty positions at our International Colleges. This award rec-ognizes an individual who has significantly enhanced the Department’s capacity to fulfil its mission, and John’s work is critical to the Department’s global connections around the world.

Alumni Spotlight: Natrice Bryant In her own words...

Student Awards Continued...

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Digital Health Storytelling Raises Awareness

During the spring 2015 semester, in an effort to foster engaged participation and change in the community, the Department of Communication began offering a Democratic Communica-tion Workshop at two Colorado Department of Corrections facilities under the guidance of longtime prison activist Dr. Stephen Hartnett. A group of committed faculty members, gradu-ate, and undergraduate students energized this work at The Colorado Corrections Center (CCC) and the Denver Reception and Diagnostic Center (DRDC). This group facilitated discussions and work in crea-tive writing and public speaking. Through the excep-

tional work of the incarcerated men and enthusiastic program tutors, the group has just published the 12th edition of Captured Words/Free Thoughts.

This anthology of writings from the incarcerated, and those working in solidarity with them, aims to foster changes in policy and public percep-tion of the prison system. Faculty members Stephen Hartnett and Ian Dawe worked alongside graduate students Adam Lauver, Jeremy Make, James McNeil, and Bryan Reckard, as well as exceptional undergraduate students Chris Chow, Kristina Malinauskaite, Amanda Parker, and Ciera Springer. We look forward to the continued growth and success of the program as we move into the upcoming semesters. If you have interest in working with these groups or would like to receive a copy of this year’s publi-cation, please contact Ian Dawe at ian.dawe@ucdenver.edu.

At the Colorado Black Health Collaborative’s summer summit, a public showing of student-created health pre-vention videos represented the culmination of months of hard work as part of a service–learning project in Dr. Lisa Keränen’s spring Digital Health Narratives class. The project involved a collaboration among the Colorado School of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Practice, the Collective Action Network, and the Families Forward Resource Center. It was facilitated by COMM’s new Media Learning Lab. Participants combined

narrative theory with digital production and editing skills to create videos that educate. Communication’s Madison Krall and Kelly Diehl created videos to reduce infant mortality and to promote safe sleep. Another group of public health students, including Ivonne Ramirez and Diana Flores, worked with community partners on a story-based video about the national Diabetes Prevention Program featuring Montbello librarian Larry Maynard and Mile High Fitness owner Kim Farmer.

Kelly Diehl remarked, “I learned how really difficult it is to put together a quality three-minute video. Between setting up micro-phones in just the right way to getting lights properly placed, to the time needed for editing, I gained a new appreciation for this pro-cess.” The class emphasized not only technical camera and editing

skills but also a narrative sensibility, from storyboarding through the ethics of storytelling. Throughout it all, the group was touched by the stories they heard. Madison Krall noted that, “It altered my perspective on how we communicate and made me proud to be an active member in the Department of Communication.” The videos are available online at the Department’s YouTube channel and will be distributed throughout Colorado.

morE Than onE way To TEll a sTory

Words Reveal a Different World

Dr. Lisa Keränen with students and community partners.

Spring 2015 writing class.

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ProgrEssivE lEarning oPPorTuniTiEs

Puksta Fellows Project UpdatePuksta Fellow Amanda Parker is working in the Democratic Communication Workshop at Denver prisons; Bryan Reckard is exploring ways to make socially conscious digital materials; Liu “Edward” Haoxing is tackling China’s one-child policy; Andrew Sturt is moving toward a career in LGBTQ legal studies; and Carly Fabian is partnering with local pro-adoption groups—this remarkable array of passions and commitments illustrates how our Puksta Fellows are merging communication and social justice by working hand-in-hand with community groups. This year, to support our Fellows’ academic growth, we have appointed Instructor Ian Dawe as the newest member of Team Puksta; one of our longstanding teachers and an activist in his own right, Ian will be serving as academic mentor and community-engagement liaison for our Fellows. As a happy sign of our growth, the Puksta Team is thrilled to welcome five additional Fellows from CU Denver’s Ethnic Studies program, including Mo-hamed Ahmed, addressing health disparities as influenced by economic class; Zeinab Ali, address-ing health disparities among international immigrants; Kianna Crow, working on educational access and equity in Denver Public Schools; William Mundo, exploring culturally responsible public health; and Akemi Tsutsui, tackling issues of immigration and labor. Congratulations to our Puksta Fellows for their good work in the classroom and with multiple communities!

New Certificate in Strategic CommunicationTransformations in digital communication and technology have forever changed how we produce and exchange information. In this evolving landscape, the need to communicate in engaging, effective, and ethical ways has never been greater. The Certificate in Strategic Communication (which replaces the Certificate in Public Relations) ensures that tomorrow’s media professionals will have the training and skills to gather, analyze, and synthesize information at the speed of news. The Certificate in Stra-tegic Communication will help reinvent journalism and communication at the cutting edge of change in part by studying the business practices needed to support sustainable models of digital journalism. More information about requirements and administrative processes is available on the Department website. A brief video about the Certificate in Strategic Communication can be viewed on the Depart-ment’s YouTube channel.

Puksta Scholars from Communication and Ethnic Studies, with faculty, friends, and family.

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The Communication Department is excited to host three visiting scholars from China this year: Dr. Yufang Zhang (Sarah) from the College of Foreign languag-es of the University of Shanghai and Dr. Ke Li (Rick) and Shukang Li (Tina) and their daughter Mei Mei from the School of Translation Studies of Shandong University in Weihai. The scholars are with us until the first of February and have been visiting classes, guest lecturing, and doing research related to rhetorical theory and criticism.

In fall, 2015, we warmly welcome Dr. Dongjing Kang to the International College Beijing program. Dongjing recently graduated from Ohio University, specializing in organizational communication, language and culture, and dialogue in international contexts. Her dissertation

research focused on language preservation and social change in Kham Tibetan com-munities. Besides being an ethnographer and educator, Dongjing is a documentary film maker and director who translates academic writing into visual narratives. This sum-mer, based on her dissertation research, Dongjing directed the documentary Intercon-

nection/Rising Interdependent Condition, which will be released at the end of this year.

At this year’s Communication Days awards ceremony, Dr. David Acker-man, who retired at the end of the spring semester, was honored for his 25 years of service to the Department. David taught the Multimedia Authoring course as well as other computer courses in the Department. The presenta-tion of his award was met with a standing ovation by the audience, evidence of how much he will be missed. Farewell, David, and may your next adven-tures be grand.

CommuniCaTion maTTErs

Welcome New Faces, Goodbye Old Friends

Dr. Hamilton Bean has taken on the role of Director of CU Denver’s International Studies Program.

Dr. Sarah Fields continued consulting on a grant from the Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention, which evaluates the effectiveness of state level laws regulating

when a youth athlete can return to play after a con-cussion. The study published an article on soccer and concussions in JAMA Pediatrics, which was cited in over 100 media outlets worldwide, including CNN.com. In fall, 2015, she will serve as Chair of the CLAS Council.

Dr. Stephen J. Hartnett served during 2015 as the Second Vice President of the National Communication Association and will serve in 2016 as the organization’s Vice President.

Dr. Lisa Keränen received the 2015 Dis-tinguished Teaching Award from the West-ern States Communication Association and became the Vice Chair and Conven-

tion Program Planner for the Public Address Division of the National Communication Association.

Drs. Stephen J. Hartnett and

David Ackerman

Faculty Awards and Leadership Positions

Yufang Zhang, Ke Li, Shukang Li, and Mei Mei.

Dr. Dongjing Kang

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FaCulTy & sTaFF haPPEnings

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. James Stratman Publishes New Book

Professor Brenda J. Allen is the Associate Vice Chancel-lor for Diversity and Inclusion at the CU Denver | Anschutz

Medical Campus. Her research and teaching encompass organizational communication, diversity, and critical pedagogy. She is the author of Differ-ence Matters: Communicating Social Identity.

Associate Professor and In-ternational Studies Program Director Hamilton Bean’s research focuses on the

intersection of communication, secu-rity, and organizing, and he teaches courses in strategic communication. He is the coordinator of the Depart-ment’s Certificate in Strategic Commu-nication. He also periodically teaches courses at the International College Beijing.

Instructor and Undergraduate Advisor Yvette Bueno Olson has taught for the CU Denver COMM department since

2009. This summer, she worked on the development of her second online

course, Health Communication, to be launched this fall. Yvette appreciates the family downtime that the summer break offers for her family of five and looks forward to interacting with stu-dents this coming year.

Over the last year, Ian Dawe has transitioned from a lec-turer to a full-time instructor to help the Department with

growing both its on-campus and online educational platforms. Ian volunteers teaching in one of Colorado’s correc-tional facilities. This work is a true joy! His son turned two in July and keeps him so busy that trips to Coors Field have been limited this summer.

Patrick Shaou-Whea Dodge is Associate Program Chair and Assistant Professor Clini-cal Track at ICB, where he

has taught since 2007. His research has led to extensive travel throughout China in search of “harmony” and, more recently, the “Chinese Dream.” This past academic year, he published one chapter in an edited book and one co-authored journal article. He con-

tinued work as CAU’s Editor-on-Duty for the journal URP Related Research and returned to Hong Kong in July to present his research on U.S.-China communication.

Associate Professor Larry Erbert continues his work in communication and sustaina-bility by focusing on the heal-

ing influences of deep engagement in the natural world. He explores the essential connection between humans and nature when we make decisions that avoid climate crisis and support environmental protection.

Associate Professor Sarah K. Fields taught courses on sport as well as law. She published several articles, co-

edited an anthology, and gave several invited lectures exploring the intersec-tions of sport and law, frequently dis-cussing the evolution of Title IX from a law about sport to a law about sexual misconduct.

Faculty & Staff Bios

Dr. Jim Stratman’s research and teaching focus on the intersection of technical and legal communication, with an underlying concern with empirical methods of discourse analysis and reading-comprehension research. His forthcoming book, A Forensic Linguistic Approach to Legal Disclosures: ERISA Cash Balance Conversion Cases and the Contextual Dynamics of Deception, to be published by Routledge later this year, is based upon his experiences over the last decade serving as an expert witness in federal pension-fraud cases under the Employment Retirement Income Securities Act of 1974 (ERISA). The book investigates how the principles of Gricean pragmatics and their recent elaboration in Informa-tion Manipulation Theory (IMT) can be of use to courts faced with deciding cases of allegedly fraudulent pension benefit disclosures. “While the legal rules under ERISA governing employers’ pension disclosures may ap-pear simple and straightforward, the application of these rules in particular cases can be very challenging,” Stratman says. “Sometimes courts looking

at contested disclosures can miss the forest for one or two trees: they may be looking for blatant ‘slam dunk’ lies, when fraudulent disclosures may use much more contextual and subtle linguistic tactics for misleading readers, tactics that only become manifest across multiple statements and even multiple documents.”

Dr. James Stratman

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Professor Sonja K. Foss revised two of her textbooks, Contemporary Perspectives

on Rhetoric (30th anniversary edition) and Destination Dissertation: A Trave-ler’s Guide to a Done Dissertation (2nd edition). She has been helping faculty members at various universities publish through the New Connections program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a scholars’ retreat for faculty at Augustana College in Illinois.

Instructor Kristy Frie cel-ebrates 10 years teaching at CU Denver this year. She

teaches both online and in the class-room. She serves as the CU Succeed Liaison and provides expert support for our many new online courses. She is excited to be the Internship Director in fall, 2015.

Professor and Chair Stephen John Hartnett spent the year learning his new National

Communication Association leadership role, which entailed multiple trips to Washington, D.C., followed by visits to The Sentencing Project, Amnesty In-ternational, and Human Rights Watch. This summer, he traveled to China and Hong Kong to study the Umbrella Revolution. With Anya (now 13), Melia (11), and Dr. Lisa, he enjoyed another year of skiing, kayaking, and hiking.

In the past year, Assistant Professor Amy Adele Ha-sinoff’s research has ap-

peared in Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies and the International Journal of Communication. In April, 2015, her book, Sexting Panic: Re-thinking Criminalization, Privacy, and Consent, was published by the University of Illinois Press. The book analyzes problems in the responses to sexting in mass media, law, and edu-cation and offers new ways of thinking about these issues.

Gordana Lazić is an Assis-tant Professor Clinical Track. She is on family leave this fall

as she welcomed a new son in July.

the department to offer an online BA degree.

Associate Professor Jim Stratman is busy putting final editorial touches on his book,

A Forensic Linguistic Approach to Le-gal Disclosures: ERISA Cash Balance Conversion Cases and the Contextual Dynamics of Deception, which is being published by Routledge later this year, in its Studies in Linguistics Series. He is also completing the Department’s Outcomes Assessment report for 2015 concerning students’ performance on both the Auraria campus and at the International College at Beijing.

Instructor Jared Woolly is entering his fourth year teach-ing communication at ICB in

Beijing. In addition to teaching media skills and production courses, Jared manages the ICB media lab, which gives students hands-on experience with various media technologies. He enjoys exploring Beijing during his off time and has travelled to numerous Asian countries during his time with ICB.

In addition to successfully completing her third year as faculty director for our winter-

im program “Food Fight” in Barcelona, Spain, Senior Instructor e.j. Yoder continues to develop and expand her Food as Communication course, COMM 4601, and is taking Intercultural Communication, COMM 4270, on-line in fall 2015. After an eventful summer gardening in Colorado, she is looking forward to another year as undergradu-ate advisor.

Associate Professor Lisa Keränen received the 2015 Distinguished Teaching Award

from the Western States Communica-tion Association, published several essays concerning the rhetoric of medicine and one about Chinese mu-seum exhibits, and taught a new class in digital health narratives. She held a baby tiger in Harbin and, from the beaches of Shenzhen to the Narrows at Zion National Park, enjoyed outdoor adventures with her family.

Instructor Kirsten Lindholm focuses on critical media studies and intercultural

communication. She is particularly interested in China, where she lives and teaches. Kirsten finished her MA in communication at CU Denver prior to moving to Beijing, where she has been teaching since 2012.

Instructor Diann Logan received her communication degrees from CU Denver with

special interest in diversity and public communication. She is engaged in the field of quiltmaking as an author and designer/creator and has contributed articles to industry magazines and journals. She recently released her second book, a personal memoir.

Program Assistant Michelle Médal has been with the department for five years this

August. It is amazing how quickly the time has gone. She now serves on the district board for Zonta International, where she is continuing her commit-ment to empowering women and girls. She also experienced her first cruise this year when she took a family vaca-tion to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and then sailed to the Caribbean.

2015 marked Instructor Kathy Pounder’s 20th anniversary teaching for the Department.

Her passion for educating students remains as fresh as it was on the first day. She continues to concentrate her efforts in online education and is very proud of her contributions that led

FaCulTy & sTaFF haPPEnings ConT.

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ThE yEar in PiCTurEs

Pictured clockwise from upper left: Annual ICB banquet in Beijing; Sarah Fields and Stephen Hartnett at Coors Field; prison activists Adam Lauver, Amanda Parker, and Bryan Reckard; 2014-15 graduate teaching assistants; COMM crew at the 2014 National Communication Association conference, Hamilton Bean and Friend of the Department John Sunnygard; Maymester in Barcelona; Michelle Médal with 2015 ICB graduates, COMM faculty with Hong Lei, Chinese Speaker of the Foreign Ministry in Beijing; students support journalist Austin Tice in COMM 2071; and Stephen Hartnett, Larry Erbert, and James McNeil share a smile.

INVEST IN OUR DEPARTMENT’S FUTUREIf you are particularly appreciative of how your communication degree prepared you to be a valued contributor

to your world and would like to ensure that others have the same opportunity, please mail your contribution to:

Office of Advancement University of Colorado Denver

1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 1325 Denver, CO 80204

Be sure to specify in the memo line that it is for CU Denver’s Communication Department and include the fund number 0321663. Many thanks for your support!

DEParTmEnT oF CommuniCaTion

univErsiTy oF ColoraDo DEnvEr

P.o. Box 173364, CamPus Box 176DEnvEr, Co 80217

rETurn sErviCE rEquEsTED

Want to receive an e-version of the newsletter? Need to update your mailing address? Send your updated information (with your email address and phone number) to michelle.medal@ucdenver.edu.

Contributors: Hamilton Bean, Natriece Bryant, Patrick Shaou-Whea Dodge, Sonja Foss, Stephen Hartnett, Julia Khrebtan, Lisa Keränen, and James Stratman

Photos: Lisa Keränen, Jeremy Make and Bryan ReckardLayout & Design: Michelle Médal

Department of CommunicationUniversity of Colorado Denver

Campus Box 176, P.O. Box 173364Denver, Colorado 80217

303.315.1919 clas.ucdenver.edu/communication

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