2009 Celebrations to Commemorate 25 Years as the
Department of Communication

Get in on the action — Fill out the 25th Anniversary Alumni Survey

And check out the

2008 NCA party pictures

Special Events (see full descriptions below)

Rupe Conference: The Role of the Media in the Presidential Campaign and Election
Special Event for Former Undergrads and Current Undergrads!
Special Event for Graduate Student Alumni, Current-Former Faculty, and Visiting Scholars!

For more details on the conference, including participant biographies, relevant papers, directions, see http://www.cftnm.ucsb.edu/events/rupe2009

Rupe Conference: The Role of the Media in the Presidential Campaign and Election

Thursday, March 5, 2009

One of the year's events will be a discussion of the role of the media in the Presidential campaign and election. On Thursday March 5th, 2009, at Corwin Pavilion, there will be two debates in the afternoon, a dinner, and a public presentation in the evening.

2:00 – 3:15
Michael Stohl, Chair of the Department of Communication, will introduce the debaters and the topic: “The Media Played a New Role in Dealing with Race in the Presidential Campaign”. Dana Mastro of University of Arizona and Christopher McAuley of UC Santa Barbara will debate media coverage of race, the campaign and election. Melvin Oliver, Professor of Sociology, and SAGE Sara Miller McCune Dean of Social Sciences, will moderate.

3:30 – 4:45
Linda Putnam, Professor in the Department of Communication, will introduce the debaters and the topic: “Media Humor was Good for the Presidential Campaign”. Lance Bennett of University of Washington and Rod Hart of University of Texas will conduct an incredibly impressive and humorous debate on the role of political comedy. John Woolley, Chair of the Department of Political Science, will moderate.

5:30-7:00
Dinner at faculty club for conference participants, visiting Departmental alumni, Communication faculty, graduate students and staff. John Wiemann, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, will provide an overview of the Anniversary events and some history of the department.

8:00-9:30 - Keynote Address: Media Coverage and the Election - Did it Make Any Difference?
Ronald E. Rice, Arthur N. Rupe Professor in the Social Effects of Mass Communication, will introduce the presenter and the topic. Henry Yang, Chancellor of UC Santa Barbara, will provide welcoming comments. CBS senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield will discuss the roles of the media in the Presidential election. The main debate/discussion participants will ask follow-up questions. Anna Everett, former director of the Center for Black Studies, and former chair of the Department of Film and Media Studies, will moderate.

The conference will be co-sponsored by The Arthur N. Rupe Professor in the Social Effects of Mass Communication, and the Carsey-Wolf Center for Film, Television, and New Media. The evening event will be filmed and edited for cable and internet distribution through University of California TV.

For information on the Department of Communication
For information on the Carsey-Wolf Center
For a map of the campus with directions to Corwin Pavilion
For information about UC Santa Barbara
For information about lovely Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce or Santa Barbara CVB

Special Event for Former Undergrads and Current Undergrads!

What in the world have the graduates been up to? -->-->

Since graduating with a degree in Communication from UCSB . . .

“[I] Graduated from UCSB 5 years ago. I've been working in the NBA for the past 4 years about to enter my 5th season with the Golden State Warriors in Oakland.” -Jeff Barnett

“I have worked for Davies Public Affairs here in Santa Barbara for three years—started as an intern, have been promoted three times, and am now a Senior Project Coordinator working on Real Estate and Energy public affairs. . . . I was proud to have achieved High Honors, and was a part of the Honors Communication Department.” -Ashley Ruiz

“I head up marketing for a national magazine for tween girls, Discovery Girls. We provide a forum for girls to encourage and support each other during the transition from child to teen. - iParenting Award Winner - Parent's Choice Award Winner - #1 Tween Title in Canada - #4 Magazine at Barnes & Noble for Family and Children's titles - Top-selling magazine on Amazon.com. I've been in publishing for ten years now, transitioning from writing and editorial, to ad sales . . . to printing and now marketing for a magazine.” -Jennifer Clark

“I have been employed in the advertising/marketing industry my entire career. I’ve held positions as a Marketing Director, Marketing Communications Manager, Director of Internal Communications, Marketing Sales and had my own business as well.” -Annita Sharpe

“Immediately after graduation I started at J. Walter Thompson advertising agency in San Francisco. I moved up from administrative assistant, to media planner to media supervisor on accounts such as McDonald's, Chevron and Miller's Outpost. I also worked at Davis, Ball & Colombatto in Los Angeles as media supervisor.” - Karen McCrea

“I moved to Washington, D.C. shortly after graduation and have been working on Capitol Hill for 19 years and more recently running Governor Schwarzenegger's Washington, D.C. Office. In addition, I am the President of the California State Society.” -Linda Ulrich

“Have been employed at Google, Inc. for the past 6.5 years, a majority of which time I specialized in online advertising. Most recently I transitioned to our traditional media team and now specialize in TV advertising.” - Heather Wilburn

“I just entered into a position with Fox Sports doing advertising sales.” -Julien Sautot

“Until taking a faculty position at CSUN, I worked at the Los Angeles Daily News for 12 years, the last three as managing editor. My communication degree sharpened my critical thinking skills, which are essential in journalism. In addition, I attribute my success as a managing editor and now teaching student media to my understanding of group communication and dynamics.” -Melissa Lalum

“[I’m an] executive producer for a film and video production company in San Francisco. We have produced award-winning feature films as well as commercials, web videos, etc.” -Teri Heyman

“After graduation I spent two months touring Europe before joining the Peace Corps and heading to Zimbabwe, Africa. My service was cut short due to political unrest, and upon my return I began working for a start-up company in Reno, NV.” -Carrie Morrissey

“I graduated with Honors with a major in Communications and a minor in Black Studies. Despite economic hardships, I finished in 4 years while financially supporting myself and my mother.” -Marney Randle

Saturday, April 25, 2009 Gaucho Weekend 2009
Mosher Alumni House

Communication Department Open House & Reception see our latest research projects and achievements.
Networking Event and Mini Trade Show featuring our alumni.
Celebration Dinner with many prominent alumni sharing what they are doing with their communication degrees in the real world.

For more information contact Mary Hilligoss, Administrative Assistant: hilligoss@comm.ucsb.edu
OR
Karen Myers, Assistant Professor: myers@comm.ucsb.edu

Special Event for Graduate Student Alumni, Current-Former Faculty, and Visiting Scholars!

Friday, October 09, 2009

Annual Bradac Memorial Lecture featuring Jake Harwood as our Guest Speaker
Reception at the UCSB Art Museum.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Mini-conference with one-hour topics such as: "What I've done" presented by grad. Alumni; "What I've learned of interest for others" by past faculty and visitors; "An intellectual history of the Department"; and a panel of prominent alumni engaging topics of contemporary importance for our discipline.
Celebration Dinner at the new Mosher Alumni House on campus.