E-ALERT - JUNE 8, 2007

FROM THE DEAN

Alumni and friends,

Warm greetings. It’s in the 90’s in Columbia this week. Summer is here and welcome. Are we sloughing off? Of course, not. Summer classes began this week. Fall planning is under way. Freshman orientation visits have started.

One set of parents, whose daughter will be a freshman journalism major come August, stopped by my office this week to see if I was who they thought I was. I am, or at least I was. The mother knew my wife when they were both working at the Pentagon where Susanne was the Associated Press military correspondent. We caught up on a number of mutual acquaintances and some of our alumni.

I was doing much the same thing in Washington just two weeks ago during our annual Maymester excursion. Thirteen students and I made the rounds, including the U.S. Supreme Court, the S.C. Congressional delegation, the White House, the political parties, the media. Journalism school alumni—Robin Roberts, Jack Claypoole, Mari Maseng Will, Jim Hoagland, Lindy Burch, Wendy Mathia (library school grad and a Maymester participant who caught Potomac fever and changed career course), Ed Chen, Bill Douglas, Maggie Fox, Tracey Robinson, Sally Cumberland and more—provided us access and perspective.

“One of the best parts about this trip, in my opinion, was being able to meet and talk with so many University of South Carolina graduates in a broad range of journalism positions who have been very successful in their careers,” Lauren Johnson wrote in her trip journal.

Perfect. It’s one of the messages we hope students leave us with, along with the tools and attitudes that will propel them to their own successes.

Thanks to all our alumni and friends who pitch in so eagerly when we ask them to meet with, talk to or mentor a student.

And when you hire them, you’re our heroes.

Sincerely,

Charles Bierbauer
Dean

COLLEGE NEWS

May is always a busy month in our college – and one main reason is due to the highlight of Maymester. Spring commencement just sets us in motion. Professor Cecile Holmes class traveled only the short distance to Newsplex and then as far as their creativity would take them in the form of Narrative Journalism.

Others had further flights of fancy. Professors Kent Sidel and Andrea Tanner took a group of broadcast and PR students to Munich to complete collaboration with Munich Film School students who had visited us in December.  A documentary production featuring both schools’ efforts will materialize later this summer.

Professor David Scott led the annual advertising adventure to New York, continuing the tradition started by the late Professor Jon Wardrip.

Professor emerita Beth Dickey was lured back by colleague Lisa Sisk to shepherd a busload of mostly public relations students to agencies and attractions—Coke, CNN, Turner Field and more—in Atlanta. Please see the attached pictures from our Atlanta trip.

And the Dean was in DC, as noted above.

In all cases, alumni and friends of the college make these trips successful by opening doors for us and exposing our students to the inside and insights of the professions.

These eye-opening courses are popular with students and successful. We’ll be doing them again, perhaps in other places. So if you would like to meet with our students next May to share some of your experiences, please e-mail Elaine Taylor at etaylor@sc.edu.

There are more than 250 new CMCIS alumni, following our May 11th spring commencement.

One SJMC graduate was Chris Roberts, now Dr. Chris Roberts, following his doctoral hooding ceremony. He is now an assistant professor in our journalism program.

And SLIS master's recipient Rae Kammerer Lovvorn, aka DEVGA III, has gone on to her new job as Librarian at ITT Technical Institute in Charlotte, NC. You've probably received communications from Rae over the past year or so. (Code crackers:  DEVGA is the e-mail login for our DEVelopment Graduate Assistant.)

DEVGA IV is Kim Harne. Kim joined our team last month and is a current SLIS student. Kim’s one person you will talk with if you contact us.

More DEVGA updates…our first DEVGA, Jennifer Rainman, is now working for Expedia in Seattle, WA and DEVGA II, Laura Jowdy, is now an archivist for the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in Charleston, SC.

ON OUR WEB SITE

Visit our Web site, www.sc.edu/cmcis.

Maymester class visits Washington – explores interactions of media, politics and government.   

Blog across America: J-School professors and students blog their May experiences – across the country, even across an ocean.

ALUMNI MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Dr. Curtis R. Rogers, SLIS alumnus and Director of the Division of Statewide Library Services at the South Carolina State Library, has been invited to join a study of German libraries that provide research and information services to the German government, the federal and state parliaments and non-governmental organizations. The tour will take place October 2 – 14, 2007.

“Boo” Major-Duncan, SJMC alumna and head coach, and South Carolina’s  equestrian team were honored on the floor of the SC House last month for winning the 2007 Varsity Equestrian National Championship. It’s the team’s second national title in three years. Two of our Public Relations majors are on the team—new graduate Cate Sands and senior Lisa Bourbonniere.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR ALUMNI

Join with School of Library and Information Science faculty at the ALA conference in Washington, DC for the LIS Cooperative Reunion on Sunday, June 24, 2007, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Colonial Room. Questions? E-mail Nonie Price at nonieprice@yahoo.com

If you have always wanted to see what the inside of the Strom Thurmond Wellness Center looks like, here’s your chance. Your Alumni Society is taking a tour of the facility on Friday, August 3 at 11:45 a.m. Plan to join us on your lunch hour to reconnect with alumni in your community. There’s no charge to attend.

Please plan to show your support to our newest alumni on Saturday, August 11, at one of our graduation receptions. The college’s Alumni Society, together with both schools, will host graduation receptions for graduates and their families immediately following the 10:30am commencement. The SJMC reception will take place in the Frank McGuire Room adjacent to the Coliseum, and the SLIS reception will take place in Davis College. RSVP to Elaine Taylor.

SAVE THE DATE - Homecoming 2007 is SEPTEMBER 28 – 29. Your Alumni Society will host events for you and your family during Homecoming weekend. Stay tuned for more details!

**If you would like to be a speaker for any student and/or alumni events, please contact Elaine Taylor at etaylor@sc.edu