“Communication Days” Will Spark Ideas, Build Community

By Molly Loughman

From March 20-21, the first-ever “Communication Days” will bring together ideas from across the communication spectrum as all undergraduate School of Communication classes converge into a series of innovative panels and activities geared to stimulate interdisciplinary discussion.

“By bringing students and professors from different courses, different departments, and different disciplines together, this event will also be an opportunity for us to build this community, which is the School of Communication,” said Dean of the School of Communication, Raul Reis.

“We are putting together panels that are cutting-edge and interesting by getting faculty to collaborate on topics they think are very timely – things they aren’t necessarily bringing into their classes.”

Communication Days: March 20-21

Developed by faculty from the departments of Communication Studies, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Journalism, and Marketing, as well as School of Communication staff, the two-day long event will feature internal and outside experts from various communication fields to discuss everything from learning to be a supportive communicator to the marketing tactics of the vaping industry.

With multiple concurrent panels and events taking place around campus throughout the two days, students will be able to customize their Communication Days experience and choose which sessions they want to attend.

Students also will have the opportunity to create and improve their resumes, cover letters and hone their interview skills during career readiness workshops, mentored by industry leaders.

In conjunction with the Student Government Association, students will also have the chance to share their feedback and ideas with SOC faculty and staff, as well as each other during a Student Forum.

As a closing event, the School of Communication will host Alyse Nelson ’96, Emerson alumna and president of Vital Voices Global Partnership, and the former prime minister of New Zealand, Jenny Shipley, for the Vital Voices Global Women’s Forum.

“Ultimately, we want the students to walk out of this event inspired and with a sense of purpose and a sense of having discovered something that is new to them,” Reis said. “We want this event to be part of this process of building a sense of community in the school.”