Kennesaw State University - Department of Communications

With a special interest in the field of Communication, Emily Holler earned a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from The Institute of Public Health at Georgia State University in May 2008.

She presented two different papers at the annual conference of the Georgia Communication Association in February 2008. The first paper, "Facilitating better writing skills for communication majors: A pilot study, "written with Dr. Josh Azriel, examined grammar and punctuation skills of communication students. The second paper was presented with Melissa Weaver and was titled "Showing rather than saying: Redefining the communication classroom for visual learners."

By the end of 2008, Emily will have two articles published in The Journal of Learning Communities Research. She and Dr. Katherine Kinnick co-authored the article "Public speaking anxiety in first-year students: Do learning communities make a difference?" published in spring 2008. Also, in a faculty research group led by Dr. Keisha Hoerrner and Dr. Ruth Goldfine, Emily co-wrote "Assessing interdisciplinary learning in theme-based, one-semester communities." This article will appear in a special edition of the journal in December 2008.

At the upcoming National Communication Association convention to be held in San Diego, CA, in November 2008, she will speak on a panel discussing interdisciplinary relationships for the basic communication course. She and Dr. Katherine Kinnick also have a paper presentation accepted in the Basic Course Division titled, "Challenging assumptions about speaking anxiety and social support: A study comparing two learning conditions."

Jake McNeill, Lecturer of Media Studies

In 2008, McNeill was engaged in research with the A.L. Burruss institute and the Center for Conflict Management, producing and editing a documentary addressing the civil legal needs of the citizens of Georgia. The film, featuring ordinary citizens telling their stories, has been shown at various state-sponsored events, including the Supreme Court chambers in Atlanta for the Commission on Civil Justice.

Also in 2008, McNeill presented a conference paper for the Popular Culture Association entitled "Projection of Identity on Social Networking Sites" in San Francisco.

In Summer 2008, McNeill was elected Chair of the Owl Radio Executive Board, overseeing student management of the KSU Owl Radio Station.

During Spring 2008, McNeill pioneered our newest course, COM 3340, Digital Media Production, in the Department of Communication's Digital Media Lab and hopes to defend his Doctoral Dissertation in December, 2008.

Leonard Witt, Eminent Scholar and Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication, Associate Professor

Kennesaw State University received $500,000 from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to fund an eminent scholar in communication. Mr. Witt has been named the eminent scholar. This grant will help launch KSU to lead in citizen journalism, blogging, and research in new media.