Department Takes Initiative for Future Growth and Success

The CSUDH Communications Department is currently making some significant changes to its programs, including pursuing accreditation, securing new facilities, and hiring more full-time faculty.

This dynamic period of transition and expansion is to keep pace with growing enrollment, increasing student demand for classes, transformations throughout the media industries, and the effects of technological innovation spurred by the digital revolution.

The first significant development includes the Communications Department’s Journalism and Advertising/Public Relations options pursuing program accreditation through the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC), an ongoing review process that takes several years but, if earned, will elevate the CSUDH Communications programs to among only a few other accredited CSU programs in the discipline.

Another recognizable change to the Communications Department in the past year was that it moved from its old location in the South Academic Complex (SAC1) bungalows to the fifth floor of the University Library. This new department location offers more spacious and permanent offices, allowing for the flow of more students to visit faculty and a more pleasant visiting experience. It is also hoped that with this move new facilities will eventually be made available to accommodate the rapidly growing Communications programs, including a possible newsroom and film screening room.

However, one of the most important enhancements the Communications Department has taken is the hiring of four new, full-time, tenure-track faculty members in the past two years, doubling the size from its previous four to eight full-time faculty members. In addition to Department Chair Dr. Nancy Cheever, Dr. Sharon Sharp, Dr. Ryan Bowles Eagle, and Dr. Brant Burkey, the four newly hired faculty in the past two years are Dr. Keunyeong (Karina) Kim, Virginia (Toddy) Burton, Dr. John Vanderhoef, and Dr. Linda Dam.

Dr. Kim, who joined the faculty in fall 2015, is an Assistant Professor of Communications specializing in the areas of media psychology, media effects, and persuasion. Some of the courses she teaches at CSUDH include: Advertising Strategy and Writing, Introduction to Public Relations, Communication Theory and Research Methods, and Senior Seminar.

Dr. Kim received her B.A. in Economics and Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Ajou University in the Republic of South Korea. She then came to the United States and got her M.A. from Kansas State University and Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Kim is a participating member of several primary organizations in the Communications field, such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), International Communication Association (ICA), National Communication Association (NCA), and Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). Dr. Kim also serves as the faculty advisor for the CSUDH chapter of the national organization, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

In terms of the Department’s current and future improvement, she believes the changes are a must to adjust to the growing student body for the department.

“I think this growth is necessary,” Dr. Kim said of the growing popularity of the Communications major. “The student body has been growing and students keep coming to the department.”

Assistant Professor Burton became a full-time faculty member in the Fall of 2016 at CSUDH, where she now teaches Screenwriting, Creative Producing, TV Writing, and other subjects.

Burton studied filmmaking at Brown University as an undergrad, then pursued her M.F.A. at the University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to CSUDH, her academic experience included having taught as an adjunct instructor as a graduate student, four and a half years as an Assistant Professor at Gordon College (located outside of Boston), and a semester at Occidental College in the spring of 2016.

Some of Burton’s professional career includes being a former independent film producer, whose films have been showcased at the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and Tribeca.

“I think it’s very exciting,” Burton said of the steps the department is taking towards expanding and planning for future success. “I think the hiring of me and my colleagues was a part of the casting of that vision and I’m excited to bring my skills to bear on the new opportunities for students.”

Dr. Vanderhoef was also hired in the fall of 2016 as a full-time, tenure-track faculty member. Dr. Vanderhoef, who received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, specializes in media industries and emerging media topics, with a strong focus on video games, video game development, and gaming culture.

Since joining the CSUDH Communications faculty, he has taught such courses as Emerging Media History, Emerging Media Writing, Introduction to Film, and the Senior Seminar focusing on Indie media culture, including films, television shows, music, and video games.

Dr. Vanderhoef is very excited to join the department as he has made the transition from an adjunct instructor to being a full-time faculty member.

“What’s good about joining [the department] during this time is that I get to be a part of this expansion of the department across all of the three options,” Vanderhoef stated.

Along with this, Vanderhoef is excited to bring his expertise in game studies, Indie media studies, and emerging media studies to existing classes. In the future, he wants to work with students to develop an extracurricular student organization that’s built specifically around game development.

“I want to gather invested students who can form a community and support each other as they pursue their creative careers,” Vanderhoef said.

Dr. Linda Dam was the final full-time, tenure-track faculty hire in the fall of 2016. Dr. Dam received her B.A. degrees in English and History from the University of California, Irvine; her M.A. degree in Mass Communications from California State University, Fullerton; and lastly, her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Dam currently teaches Integrated Marketing Communication, Ad Writing and Strategies, and Senior Seminar. Previous courses she has taught include Introduction to Public Relations, Research Methods, Media and Society, Gender and Communication, Public Relations, and Intro to Communications.

With six years of professional experience in marketing and communication and six years of teaching, her goal is to showcase to students the skills and knowledge needed to work in this field.

“In the classroom, my lectures revolve around real-world examples, allowing students to apply the coursework material, ensuring that students are actively involved in the information and can demonstrate more than simple memorization of concepts,” explained Dr. Dam. “Furthermore, my unique background allows me to integrate multicultural perspectives into my lectures and foster diversity within the learning environment.”

Dr. Dam considers herself fortunate to be a part of the many changes the Communications Department is moving toward and she hopes her teaching and research expertise will continue to be a great addition to the department.

Combined, the CSUDH Communications Department is developing a new look and feel as it establishes a solid foundation for its programs’ future growth and success. In addition to these preliminary changes, Communications majors and alumni can expect to see the introduction of further innovations and initiatives as the department continues to expand and meet the challenges of the new media landscape.