by Selene Aguirre '15
Communication Studies
Organizational Communication and Public Relations Option
05/01/2015
54th Honor Convocation
California State University, Los Angeles
Eagles Nest Gymnasium
April 24, 2015, 6:00 p.m.
Honors Convocation is a night dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of students. Undergraduate students who made the Dean’s list in 2014 by earning at least a 3.85 GPA and who rank in the top five percent in their college, are members of the Honors College, received special recognition at entrance to Cal State L.A., earned a scholarship, or were initiated into a honor society were all presented with certificates. Graduate students who received special recognition also were honored.
This year, President William A. Covino told the award winners “It is my privilege to congratulate this year’s honorees, as well as their families, friends, faculty, and staff here to support them and share in this important moment.” It was a moment that carried on with great gratitude throughout the night. The night consisted of a touching ceremony in the Eagles Nest Gymnasium filled with lively smiles of pride and happiness.
The program continued by disassembling into the various college venues. The walk from the Eagles Nest Gymnasium to the State Playhouse felt as if the circle on the College of Arts and Letters banner had come to life with an essence of harmony.
As families, friends, faculty, and staff made their way into the State Playhouse the students could not contain their excitement, remembering, no doubt, the experiences that got them to this particular point in their life. The students sat on the stage where the lights beamed on them.
Dean Peter McAllister welcomed everyone and gave a touching speech on how we all have something we can relate to in some way or another. He expressed how we may be first-generation, how we are the best at what we do, and how we only receive straight A’s. His speech was followed by the awarding of certificates by each of the departments within the College of Arts & Letters.
The students from the Communication Studies Department received a warm handshake from Dr. Kevin Baaske, the Acting Chair. As each student’s name was announced, Dr. Baaske would transmit a soothing aura with his soft smile that allowed each student to feel present.
The Communication Studies Department congratulated more than twenty recipients that night, both undergraduate and graduate students. This was the largest turnout of students by any department in the college. There were also more COMM faculty in attendance than any other department in the college.
Maria Sanchez, an undergraduate Communication Studies student expressed her feelings about that night, “It was a great experience! It feels amazing to have been part of such an incredible and intelligent group of students. We, who proudly represent the Communication Studies Department.”
04/17/2015
Prof. Kristina Ruiz-Mesa funding approval
“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” ~Diane Mariechild
This quote embodies perfectly who Professor Kristina Ruiz-Mesa represents.
Professor Ruiz-Mesa is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and serves as the Basic Course Director of COMM 150: Oral Communication at Cal State L.A. Prior to sharing her knowledge and talent with her Cal State L.A. students, Professor Ruiz-Mesa is a New Jersey native who attended Villanova University where she received her B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Latin American Studies and an M.A. in Strategic Communication. She made great contributions to her alma mater during her time there by working as a retention specialist, Assistant Director for the Center for Multicultural Affairs and founding the St. Thomas of Villanova Scholars (STOVS) program. Later attending University of Colorado at Boulder to pursue a Ph.D. in Communication, concentrating on issues of identity and higher education.
Recently, Professor Ruiz-Mesa was granted the CSU Chancellor’s Office Promising Course Redesign in the amount of $27,384. She states,
“This award will be used to incorporate video and audio capture technology into COMM 150 that will allow students to practice oral communication in interviewing skills, elevator speeches, and online presentations. The opportunity to practice oral communication skills both in class, and online will provide students experience with video technology that may serve to alleviate communication apprehension and anxiety in Skype job and internship interviews, as well as provide the opportunity to watch and critique their verbal and nonverbal communication. The goal of this grant is to better serve our students by providing additional modes of feedback and opportunities to practice interviewing and impromptu speaking skills.”
As the field of Communication Studies grows in importance with the ongoing shift in communication technology increasing the speed of connecting with people to become more involved with one another. Relationships are critical to everyone’s well-being, Prof. Ruiz-Mesa understands that concept and is creating a difference in the future growth of this field. Keeping us alive and whole. We need to be more aware of our global responsibilities by practicing our oral communication skills when we interact with and relate to others.
Professor Ruiz-Mesa, is well tuned to her identity as a leader and influencer. Therefore, she nurtures a positive attitude towards her students. She transforms how her students envision their possibilities for themselves in their future endeavors.
-Selene Aguirre04/10/2015
LPE 10th year anniversary
Ten years ago in 2005 a group of students and Dr. Bai, a tenured Professor of Communication Studies, decided to bring Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association’s official honor society to Cal State L.A. Activating a chapter, now known as Sigma Phi chapter.
Lambda Pi Eta, Sigma Phi chapter is one of Cal State L.A.’s honor societies that focuses on improving the quality of communication to better empower individuals. Based on the National Communication Association, “Lambda Pi Eta recognizes, fosters, and rewards outstanding scholastic achievement while stimulating interest in the communication discipline.”
For the past ten years, Lambda Pi Eta has become an essential college experience to many students. This honor society includes the stories, the history of each member, and where we are today. Several of our part-time faculty held board positions in Lambda Pi Eta and are now, excelling in the Communication Studies field (e.g. Chantel Solomon, lecturer of Communication Studies at Cal State L.A.)
In Lambda Pi Eta, we discuss, accept, embrace, celebrate, and go beyond to call ourselves a family. The following picture is a small portion of the 2014-2015 members.
04/10/2015
CSGS 2015 Annual Gender, Sexuality,
and Student Power Research Conference on May 12th
The Center for the Study of Genders and Sexualities (CSGS) at California State University, Los Angeles invited paper proposals for their one-day annual student research conference to be held on May 12, 2015. They welcomed papers that are inclusive of graduate and undergraduate work in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences that addresses issues of gender and sexuality. This annual conference is interested in work that takes an interdisciplinary approach and in work that considers gender and sexuality’s intersections with matters of race, ethnicity, disability, nation, class, and religion (CSGS, 2015).
Congratulating the Communication Studies Department and its three students whose research proposals were accepted and will be presenting for this year’s Annual Student Power Research Conference. These three students come from different walks of life.
Ashley Ravelo
Ashley Ravelo a U.S. born-citizen whose parents are Mexican and Cuban born. She is the first in her family to attend a four year university, embarking on a new plot line for herself majoring in Communication Studies with the option of Rhetoric and Social Change. Ashley’s path in academia has not been an easy transition, since she works full-time as a Marketing Creative Coordinator, a job she has worked hard for. Creating circular themes in her life from understanding, to learning, to empowering others. Contribution from her biggest aspiration Wonder Woman, Ashley says that she admires how strong, cool, and independent Wonder Woman is portrayed. However, Ashley always felt that comic books are assumed to attract males and found it difficult to express her interest in comic books. She states, “It can be difficult for females to express interest in comic books because of the boy’s club connotation they have and the negativity that is still commonplace towards females in this industry.” Her ultimate goal is to bring more attention to females interested in comics in hopes of starting a shift towards equality as well positive gender representation in the comic industry. Ultimately, proposing an exploration of the different portrayals of Wonder Woman during the Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Modern ages of comics. Expanding her origins which include backgrounds on her original author, William Marston. As a direct result from this, Ashley understood the ‘boy club connotation’ in comic books. However, she learned to write her own story. Beyond the pitfalls and struggles of gender representation, she has empowered the advantages of being a female. Allowing her to become the leading character in her life!
Aayushi Hingle
Aayushi Hingle is an international graduate student at Cal State L.A. She came into the United States in 2008 as a freshman to pursue a degree in Health Science. Her goal was to study medicine and go back to Botswana to help the community she grew up in. However, over the years she faced many difficult choices in an unfamiliar place. Assimilating to a new country didn’t stop Aayushi she graduated in winter 2013 with her bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a concentration in Community Health. This is when Aayushi sparked an interest in the field of Communication Studies. She realized that she thoroughly enjoyed Health Communication as a field and grew to love how wonderfully diverse it is. In the winter of 2014 she applied to the MA Program at Cal State LA and was accepted. She states, “I don’t think I have made a better decision in my life. It is extremely hard to live on another continent and go to school but the program makes every day worth it.” Ultimately, thanking her parents for their encouragement and support. She identifies the struggles as an international student and ultimately wants to create transitional workshops to help students adjust their life in the U.S. She wants to use her BS degree to research mental health and depression to break the stigmas associated with international student’s minds. Hence, this is why her interest influenced her research proposal in exploring the factors that influence the ideas about the LGBTQ community among international students when they move to the U.S. for this particular paper. She will concentrate on the Indian international student population in the Cal State L.A. campus and research what influences their perceptions of the LGBTQ community when they first move to America. The end goal is to help develop a theory that aids universities in the creation of communities on campus that are safe and inclusive for dialogues about gender and sexuality.
Selene Aguirre
Selene Aguirre is Mexican-born, but raised in the United States from the age of 3. Her life consisted of sunny rays of light from the Californian weather, her reality was another. No matter how gloomy the road ahead would be, she wants to shine a light on another individual. She anticipates her B.A. in Communication Studies and has been accepted to the Master Program at Cal State LA. Her roots were blurred through the course of her life, not feeling fully identifying with her birthplace and not fully being accepted in the place that raised her. She always admired women who were in academia and in the police force, therefore she obtained her AA in Administration of Justice, and then sought to obtain her AA in Communication Studies as her passion in academia grew. Selene has always been an advocate for women, whether at home or within the community, and has always wanted to increase awareness of female representation. When entering Cal State L.A. she realized that although the student population was primarily Hispanic/Latina(o), she found herself not being accurately represented in the classroom by her professors. Although she states, “each professor has brought something to the classroom that I will take with me in my future prosperities and I admire each professor because they are advocates of people too, but I can’t help and notice that I don’t look like any of them. It would be a great day to find someone standing in front of the classroom that looks like you.” Therefore, she proposes to study Latinas in higher education, analyzing three strains that seem to impact the formation of an individual’s identity: family history based on ethnic identification, personal views and experiences, and the contributions of first-generation scholars.
These three young ladies are a great representation of what life in the United States is like and what chasing the American dream signifies. Regardless of being a U.S. born-citizen, an international student, and a Mexican-born California raised individual, the walks of life have several oppressions and privileges. They thank their great mentor, Prof. Ruiz-Mesa, for her guidance and her support to each of these ladies. They exclaimed the great appreciation they have for her and without her confidence in them this conference wouldn’t have been a reality! Prof. Ruiz-Mesa, you have touched us on a very personal level. Thank you!
-Selene Aguirre04/03/2015
Dr. Beryl Bellman, Professor; Ph.D., U.C. Irvine
Organizational and Intercultural Communication, New Technologies
This book is filled with practice questions, examples, and illustrations that cover a range of exam topics, including: enterprise architecture concepts, planning, implementing, and disseminating the EA, and more.
Dr. Bellman was the co-founder and Academic Director of the FEAC™ Institute and continues to be a tenured Professor of Communication Studies at Cal State L.A. Dr. Bellman has devoted himself to teaching, granting him a total of 45 years, in which 25 of those years have been at his alma mater Cal State L.A. His list of publications, presentations, awards, research experience, and teaching experience continues to grow.
Dr. Bellman does a wonderful job of acknowledging the hardships and happiness his student’s face, therefore connecting with them and their stories. Profoundly encouraging them, by stating, “In a time of great opportunity and challenge you should take advantage of that. What you’ve learned in Communication and your degree gives you enormous advantage in the world we live today.”
His students who come from different ethnic, cultural, privileged to non-privileged backgrounds have laughed and have had their breath taken away with an ‘ah’ in his classroom. Cruz William Castillo speaks out,
“Bellman is the man. Not only am I impressed by his ability to maintain that awesome mustache, I’m impressed by his love of what he teaches. The guy is amazingly well accomplished and knows a lot about a lot. He’s made me want to go get my Masters in Anthropology. It’s been an honor to be in his class and I’m looking forward to taking him for COMM 463.”
Chris McKeehan adds,
“It has been a great honor to sit in your class and be taught by someone with your experience and knowledge. Your passion for teaching, and dedication to the field of study, makes you an asset to the communication department and Cal State L.A. Thank you Dr. Bellman for not only being a great professor, but offering to be my friend if I needed someone to talk to.”
Dr. Bellman will continue to help his students create their own image!
-Selene Aguirre
04/03/2015
Dr. Chunsheng Bai’s 20th year anniversary
Dr. Bai undergraduate studies were in the People’s Republic of China. He was granted a scholarship to come to the United States of America in 1986 and pursue his MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany. Without a guarantee that his journey will be easy, he consistently achieved success.
Dr. Bai remains researching in the realms of globalization, intercultural communication, and so forth. Proudly, he has co-authored a book in Chinese (mandarin language) on globalization and media. Beyond his extensive knowledge and passion towards this field, Dr. Bai has made a great impact on many students’ lives.
His student’s speak out! April Perez, Communication Studies student thanks Dr. Bai,
“Thank you Dr. Bai you are a great professor who believes in all of us and gives us that extra push to finish strong and continues our educational success!”
Lydia Grachyova, Communication Studies student says,
“Dr. Bai brings energy and passion to his classes! Plus, he is a super interesting man to talk to!”
In addition, Dr. Bai along with a group of students ten years ago brought Lambda Pi Eta, Sigma Phi chapter to Cal State L.A. An honor society that would be a meaningful experience to the students by preparing them with essential tools for success. Dr. Bai is considered the founding father of Lambda Pi Eta, Sigma Phi chapter.
-Selene Aguirre
03/13/2015
Winter Quarter 2015
Public Speaking Showcase
Congratulating Virisa Yong, as the 1st place winner of winter quarter 2015 with her instructor, Victor Cornejo.
Last winter’s champion, Dani Soibelman with her former instructor, Frances Chee and Dr. Olsen, Department chair.
Dr. Olsen writes, “Participating in the Communication 150 Public Speaking Showcase was an incredible experience, giving me the opportunity to express my opinions of on-campus issues in an academic setting, as well as listening to what others find important. Winning the showcase changed my whole college career; it gave me the idea to change my major to Communication Studies and the courage to join the Forensic Speech and Debate Team, which is, without a doubt, my favorite college activity."
If you missed this quarter’s Public Speaking Showcase don’t deny yourself the experience next quarter!
Spotlight
03/09/2015
Cal State L.A. COMS Colloquium
On Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Early Entrance Program and Cal State L.A. Communication Studies alumna’s spoke about their academic experiences after graduate school to inspire higher education advocates.
Dr. Jennie Wong, Speech Communication B.A. (1991), took part in the elite Early Entrance Program (EEP) exclusively for young highly gifted students. EEP allowed her the opportunity to enroll and excel at the university level. Today Dr. Wong publically speaks about her academic and personal successes as the CEO and co-founder of www.ABorC.com, an interactive content platform for ecommerce.
Ms. Jillian Kwong, Communication Studies M.A. (2012), an inspiring instructor in the Communication Studies Department who has recently been accepted to numerous top-ranked Communication PhD programs. She speaks profoundly of Cal State L.A.’s Communication Studies MA program and the vast support she has received from the faculty. Her speech transcended her life experiences as unexpected, but rewarding.
The event was a success with their inspiring stories of breaking through challenging barriers.
-Selene AguirreSpotlight
03/09/2015
Western States Communication Association (WSCA) Annual Conference
03/04/2015
Mabely Molina
Master of Arts in Communication Studies
California State University, Los Angeles
The decisions that Mabely Molina has made over the course of her life always answered the question of, “will my decision bring me closer or further me from my goal?” Beyond the struggles and pitfalls, she had to choose her own path. By doing so, she has accomplished phenomenal things. She states, “We all need a little bit of insanity to do great things.” In 2013-2014 she held the position of Vice-President, Lambda Pi Eta Sigma Phi Chapter, the National Communication Honor Society.
In spring 2014, she graduated with her B.A. in Communication Studies, Organizational Communication and Public Relations Option. Along with receiving an acceptance letter for the Master of Arts Program in Communication Studies at Cal State L.A. This program has become unconditionally rewarding to the growth and various possibilities she will obtain during and after receiving her M.A. in Communication Studies.
Mabely’s conviction allows her to simultaneously manage the life of a graduate student and a Marketing/Promotions Internship with iHeartMedia, Inc. Her experience in the entertainment industry has granted her the opportunity to work for eight radio stations; five FM’s and three AM’s. She mainly works with KIIS and myFM, in the promotional department under the most popular projects. Some of these projects are KISS pays your bills, Jingle Ball, Valentine in the Morning show, iheartFiesta Latina, and more.
Enthusiastically Mabely says, “My iHeartMedia, Inc. internship has changed my whole outlook on the way I thought of radio and the entertainment industry. It has showed me a completely new side to Public Relations.” Mabely Molina’s actions are allocating her closer to her goals.
-Selene AguirreSpotlight
02/20/2015
Isabel Casillas
Communication Studies Undergraduate
Organizational Communication and Public Relations Option
Isabel Casillas is the first in her family to chase a college career path. In Spring 2015 she will walk across the stage, and into her future prosperities. Until that day, she is preparing herself academically by understanding and researching deeper theories that can connect with social media; i.e. the Social Drama Theory. Her passion for understanding the Public Relations world, had her seek for internships that will open doors and give her the proper tools for success. She is now working in Sony Pictures, in an extended branch CINE Sony. CINE Sony is a spanish speaking channel that display well-known translated Hollywood films for their latino/hispanic audience. Her bilingual abilities to speak, write, read, and comprehend another language has her actively involved in all areas of social media and promotions. Her job description entitles her to help create compelling content, research film trivias, choose and write posts, brainstorm new and innovating ways to form possible promotional partners. As Isabel manages her academic and work life, she takes on the role of being part of the Marketing Subcommittee for Lambda Pi Eta Sigma Phi Chapter, the National Communication Honor Society. As President William Covino states, “I am deeply committed to providing opportunities for our students to achieve academic, personal, and professional success. I also want to help our students develop a high regard for the intellectual and cultural diversity that distinguishes Cal State L.A.” Isabel Casillas, is an example of that.
02/13/2015
Mylen Fe Yamamoto
Lecturer, Communication Studies Department
California State University, Los Angeles
Mylen Fe Yamamoto is a woman of determination and a proud alumna of Cal State L.A. Her eight year residence at Cal State L.A. gave her the proper tools to knock on the doors of success. She graduated in Fall 2008, receiving her B.A. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Interpersonal Communication. Then in Fall 2011, she obtained her M.A. in Communication Studies; without knowing she would become one of the most influential lecturers in the Communication Studies Department.
While lecturing at Cal State L.A., Mylen set goals for herself and her students that most would say are far fetched. For example, she proposed the idea of bringing the first ever Startup Weekend powered by Google to a CSU. To date, Cal State L.A. has now hosted two Startup Weekends where one launches a startup in 54 hours. (See Summer 2014 and Fall 2014).
Mylen is also the founder of a digital media creative agency, CliqueNow which began in a Starbucks in Aiea, Hawaii. CliqueNow provides contemporary marketing strategies for various brands and agencies by creating partnerships with top digital influencers. The company’s client list includes but not limited to McDonald’s USA, Comcast, Verizon, 99 Ranch Market, and top online celebrities.
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What inspires Mylen’s philosophy and work ethic? “ It comes from my background, where I’m from, Hawaii. That’s a spirit of Aloha- what that means is think about others before you think about yourself and genuinely look for the best in others. That’s how communities ‘Clique’.”
The Communication Studies Department would like to wish Mylen the best in her new chapter and congratulates her on her well deserved position. Mylen will be leaving Cal State L.A. at the end of the Winter Quarter 2015 because she received a full-time offer at Loyola Marymount University as the Assistant Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship where she will teach and manage the program. On behalf of all her students, peers, and supervisors she will be greatly missed. The Communication Studies Department community wishes her the best in her new chapter and congratulates her on her well deserved position.
-Selene Aguirre