Alumni salute Beth Dickey
The following tributes from alumni were included
in a booklet given to Beth Dickey at
her retirement celebration.
I've
been spurned by an embarrassingly abundant
number of women, but few were as painful as Beth
Dickey's.
But
my loss -- she turned down job offers in at least two
of my newsrooms -- eventually was USC's gain.
When I returned
to South Carolina in the mid-90s I worked with Beth on several Scholastic Press
projects. I admired her commitment, ability and plain hard work in successfully
fanning the initial spark of journalistic interest in these students.
And I was grateful when I tracked some as they became journalism majors
and eventually joined our nation's newsrooms.
I'm also proud
that she and I have been friends since adolescence and are natives of
that bastion of journalism excellence, McCormick.
Bob Bentley, 1962
Immediate past chairman of the SMJC Partnership
Board,
former editor of six daily newspapers,
including the Greenwood Index-Journal
I've been lucky to have known Pat and Beth for more than 30
years, dating to the days when we all worked together at The
Columbia Record.
I've known them as co-workers, colleagues, repected educators
and as friends.
The problem is that I can't figure out how to sum up
30 years without coming across as overly sentimental or dispassionately
judgmental. I also can't tell any good stories without self-incrimination.
Their contributions to the school and to the hundreds,
maybe thousands of students whose lives they have touched need
no elaboration from me.
But I would be remiss if I did not let them both know
that I admire what they have done in their careers, value their
friendship and regard them as examples of what a college teacher
ought to be.
Jim Haney, 1970
instructor, USC School of Journalism and Mass
Communications
To Beth and Pat,
Wow!
How the years have flown! I was a USC student in the
mid 70s and have now been at my current newspaper, the New York Post for ... gasp ... 21 years. Incredible,
but I can't even recall whether I had either of you for any of my classes at
the j-school, but I do remember you. And I want to wish you the best of luck
as you take a well deserved rest from the teaching grind.
Bill Hoffmann, 1977
Senior Writer New York Post
Beth:
Do you have
any idea how intimidating it is to interview and then write about someone who
teaches in a journalism school of a major graduate research university? It's
not easy.
And yet, every
time I ever had occasion to work with you it was always an extraordinarily pleasant
one, owing to your unending professionalism and kindness.
Please accept my sincere thanks, and best wishes for all that lies ahead,
which I know will be every bit as exciting as your time with the University.
The best is
yet to come! Good luck,
Marshall Swanson, 1973
USC Publications
Congratulations to Professor Dickey on her upcoming
retirement!
Her course on
public relations campaigns provided a real-world and strategic approach
to communication plan development and implementation.
Brian Keeter, 2000
Associate Administrator for Public Affairs
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.
My
name is Sue McGill-Kauffman and I am a public
relations professional working in the field of
Consumer Travel at an agency in New York City. I graduated
in the Winter of 1998 from the School of Journalism and Mass
Communication and Professor Beth Dickey touched my life in
a way I can never repay.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mrs. Dickey
when I was in the midst of a quarter-life crisis and attempting
to transfer out of the School of Music in my
sophomore year. I was panicked and had no idea what I wanted
to do with my life. I only knew that I couldn’t be in music and that
a close friend advised me, “if you can write and
talk a good game, Public Relations might be the field
for you.”
Armed
with that knowledge I was introduced
to Mrs. Dickey. Between tears and tissues Mrs. Dickey took
the time out of her busy day and talked to me at length
and about my dilemma and options. Soon after, I was enrolled
in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications on
my way to an exciting career in PR.
Over
the years that followed, Mrs. Dickey became not only my Professor, but also my
friend. While she was not my advisor, she was the one I always went to
when I needed help, had any questions
or just felt like saying hello. She referred me to her colleagues and helped
me secure internships, she sat with me
and helped me write my resume and provided the much needed guidance that has
made my life what it is today.
I often
think back to my time in college and with the J-school and I am thankful for
Mrs. Dickey’s thoughtful
guidance, kind words and endless patience. Without
her help I never would have discovered this field that I am so passionate
about today.
Mrs.
Dickey is a credit to the University of South Carolina and the School of Journalism
and Mass Communications, but most of all to the students that have passed
through the doors of the J-school over the last 32-years. She has done
many wonderful things for many people and will
be greatly missed.
Congratulations
and thank you again for everything!
Sue McGill-Kauffman, 1998
Senior Account Executive
Richartz
Fliss Clark & Pope, New
York City, NY
It
was Beth Dickey's class where I learned the act
of creative procrastination. I was in one of her basic
PR writing classes, and I had procrastinated
and not completed an assignment.
Trying
to figure out what to do, I learned that actor Robby
Benson was not only going to be in town, but on campus.
I was a big Robby Benson fan and thought hey, maybe
I can interview him for a story, and turn it in as
my homework for Dickey's class......I knew a student
who was privy to Mr. Benson's schedule and he told
me where he was staying....so I called up, asked for
him, and said, "This is Jan Phillips from the
Governor's Office," which was not a lie because
I was interning for Gov. Carroll A. Campbell.....and
when I heard on the other line, "this is he," I
immediately explained that I was not with the
governor's office at all, but that I was a student
who wanted to interview him. He gave me the name
of the man handling his visit, and so I called him
and he said he could not guarantee me anything, but
to sit in my room and wait: if Mr. Benson had time,
he would call me to come immediately. Which he did!
I walked into the Faculty House, reporter's notebook
in hand, and waited to be taken back.
In
the meantime, a member of USC's Media Relations Office
tried to shoo me away by saying that I could not have
access to Mr. Benson because I did not have clearance
through their office — and about mid-sentence
we were interrupted with, "Miss Phillips, Robby
Benson will see you now."
And
the rest is history — I wrote an article, submitted
it along with my dramatic tale, and Dickey forgave
me for not actually doing the assignment. I can
remember her saying she was a newspaper woman
at heart, and was thrilled with my pursuit of
the story.
Thank
you Beth — your encouragement from this gave
me a great deal of confidence in my abilities as a
print major — through a PR class no less.
Jan Phillips Smoak, 1989
Assistant Director
USC Office of Fellowships and
Scholar Programs
Gosh, Beth doesn't seem old enough
to retire. Good for her. When I would go
to her with a concern or just to vent about
something she was always so receptive and, even if
she didn't have an actual solution to the problem,
I always felt so much better after I had spoken to
her. One thing in particular, she didn't force her
opinions on us; she allowed us to be creative.
Sheryl Hudgins, 2004
Everything
from laughing to crying is how I will remember my
Bateman semester with Mrs. Dickey. I wonderful supervisor, she was always
there to lend a tissue or share a laugh when we thought
the end was never near. For anyone who has
had the pleasure of being on a Bateman team, Mrs.
Dickey served as the perfect mediator. With
Bateman completed I would sit and tell Mrs. Dickey
my dreams of moving to New York City. She always
had a story on what an amazing place it was. A
month after graduation I ventured north and made
the Big Apple home. I have been here for 2
years now and had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Dickey
in the city only weeks ago. During a business
meeting she made the time to take my roommate and
me for a Saturday brunch in midtown. What satisfaction
to reminisce about the past and have someone who
encouraged me to follow my dreams, meet with me in
the city that we both love. The J-School has
been so lucky to have her. Good luck Mrs. Dickey!
Katie Alvadj, 2004
Client Services Director
Blue Wolf Group
|
