I hope that during these trying times听this email finds you well. As we prepare for the fall semester, I wanted to share some updates about our campus, as well as a few stories about the outstanding creative work and research our CMCI community continues to produce.听
Many of you have probably heard that in a few weeks students will return to campus for a mixture of in-person, remote and hybrid classes. We all know these aren鈥檛 typical times and this won鈥檛 be a typical semester. Our campus鈥� leadership team spent the summer consulting with epidemiologists and other health officials, facilities managers, professors and staff to ensure that, as we return to campus, we do it the right way鈥撯��in a way that prioritizes safety, and our ability to continue delivering an excellent education. They have my confidence, and if you鈥檇 like to learn more about their plans, you can visit the Roadmap to Fall 2020 as well as the Protect Our Herd public health campaign.听
Here鈥檚 something I鈥檝e been thinking about a lot this summer鈥撯�揳nd I鈥檝e spoken to CMCI professors who are thinking about this, too. Although听the situation we鈥檙e in presents challenges, this is also an incredible time to be doing the work that we do.听
We鈥檙e experiencing an historic moment, and the lessons our students learn will position them to emerge as adaptable leaders when the world needs them most. So many of you have demonstrated this鈥撯�揳s , as , as business leaders pivoting to meet the moment, as , and as . Thank you for this important work, and for showing our students what鈥檚 possible.听
It may be apropos that during this time of change we marked five years since the official launch of the College of Media, Communication and Information. When the college officially launched on July 1, 2015, it was created as a place to break out of the mold of traditional media schools and instead bring together entrepreneurial and innovative faculty and students from across disciplines to learn, create and analyze media and technology content in all its many forms.听
Shamika Goddard, who is earning her PhD in CMCI鈥檚 Department of Information Science with a focus on technology, social justice and spirituality, is one of the many CMCI students and faculty who exemplify these qualities. Read the story of how she launched the on June 19, 2020, a day to choose to commemorate both Juneteenth and her grandmother鈥檚 71st birthday. 鈥淲e use the best practices of pastoral care and chaplaincy to usher people through technological crises with dignity and grace,鈥� she says.
Also in this issue, read about students reporting from the field on COVID in their communities and others creating 3D models for the 抖阴旅行射 Museum that can be integrated into virtual and augmented reality experiences, a Q&A with the faculty member creating a new online master鈥檚 in corporate communication and a roundup of news stories about our faculty.
I hope you and your family are safe and well,
Lori Bergen, PhD
Founding Dean
College of Media, Communication and Information