One of the best things about being a Department Chair is that I get a good sense of the scope and quality of research, teaching, and service contributions by all of our faculty, staff and students. I can see much more of the full field of our activities than I could glimpse as an individual faculty member before becoming Chair. From this vista, here’s what I know: We have a group of truly superb and diverse people in our community.

I want to take a moment to share just one insight.

In the past couple months I have written letters in support of three departmental faculty for two
prestigious campus awards.

• Malcolm Parks was nominated for the Marsha Landolt Graduate Mentoring Award, which is given annually to a UW faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the education and guidance of graduate students.

• Matt McGarrity and Ralina Joseph were nominated for the Distinguished Teaching Award, which is given annually to a very small number of faculty who have made exceptional contributions to instruction and engagement of students.

The competition for these awards is very stiff. Nominations are usually put forward by students, and the nomination is an honor in itself, regardless of who ultimately receives the award. In my four-plus years as Chair, several other departmental faculty have been nominated for these honors as well — Valerie Manusov, Ralina Joseph, and Lisa Coutu for the Landolt Mentoring Award, and Randy Beam, Usha McFarling, and Laura McGarrity for the Distinguished Teaching Award. Over time, we have received a number of campus-wide awards (a list of the kinds of awards is here), and I believe Communication may have the most currently active recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award of any unit on campus.

Whenever we put forward nominations, I collect letters of support by students (current and former) and faculty colleagues, at UW and elsewhere. And I read the materials prepared by our nominees as part of their portfolios. We go through a pretty similar process when we hire, promote, and reappoint colleagues. In all instances, I get to read people’s descriptions of their work and thinking, and also to read others’ impressions of these folks.

Here is what I have learned: One of our core departmental principles is excellence through cultural and intellectual pluralism, and we have become exactly this kind of community.

Every day I see faculty colleagues who pursue distinct routes to being outstanding educators that
are vastly different in approach — and yet I see remarkably similar outcomes of educational pursuit and support, growth, and success for our students. Across social scientific and humanistic
approaches, with points of focus on a number of face to face and mediated contexts, and employing countless techniques of research and teaching and service, we provide a robust intellectual environment.

I see the same diversity of approaches with yet the same deep commitments among our staff.

Maybe I’m just feeling upbeat because we have seven — seven! — new faculty hires joining us in autumn. Or because we’re about to hire a “Department Storyteller” staff member who will focus 24/7 on the compelling things going on in the Department. Or because we raised $38,000 at our student fundraiser in April. Or because our new Communication Leadership master’s program and our academic Ph.D. program both received a stunning number of applications by potential students. Or because we’re creating a new Communication Commons gathering place in the building, to be unveiled in late summer.

That is a lot of good things, and there are many more. But here’s what I know: all of our successes are grounded, in some significant way, in the remarkable range of perspectives and approaches among faculty, staff, and students. To be both diverse and superb are uncompromise-able and intertwined goals for us.

Josh Henderson of Skillet and Hanson Hosein

Many exciting changes are underway for Four Peaks TV, created in conjunction with the MCDM. Dubbed a monthly current affairs show, Four Peaks TV connects to creatives, activists, entreprenuers, and storytellers from the Pacific Northwest. This year brings more student involvement, a change in format, and an exciting new partnership with Northwest Cable News.

This season’s first episode will premiere on Saturday, November 10th at 4 p.m. on NWCN. which is a sister station to Seattle’s KING 5. The show will be shown again no Sunday, November 11th at 5 p.m and is also featured on UWTV on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Previous episodes can also be found on their website.

The first episode will feature Josh Henderson of Skillet, a local food truck that turned into multiple Seattle restaurants famous for comfort food and bacon jam. In this episode, Four Peaks TV host Hanson Hosein will find out more about Henderson’s secret recipe for sucesss, including his effective use of social media.

Hosein is the director of the MCDM at the University of Washington, but in a previous life was a journalist for outlets including NBC News and MSNBC.com.

Skillet Seattle Center

The show started as Media Space in 2010 and focused specifically on media and technology. In 2011, the show got a facelift with a new name (Four Peaks), and a broader focus on innovation in the Pacific Northwest and its effect on the world. This season brought more twists, with new featured segments, including one called Teach Hanson where each guest shows him how to do something, and expanding the MCDM’s program offerings to bring in more student involvement through a production studio class.

The second episode of the season will air Saturday, November 17 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, November 18 at 5 p.m., with the third episode the following Saturday and Sunday at the same times respectively.

You can connect with Four Peaks TV on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Recent alumnus Brett Bowker (B.A., 2010) is bringing us his first film as a producer and cinematographer called “The Long Ride Home.” The film premiered last year at the Seattle International Film Festival earning a ‘Best of Fest’ selection, and also winning at the Santa Rosa International Film Festival VetsFest.

The special screening will take place in CMU 120 on Wednesday, May 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a Q&A session with Bowker and director Thomas Lee Wright immediately following the film.

Synopsis: In 2001, Kevin Mincio was an up-and-coming Goldman Sachs vice president with an office at 1 Liberty Plaza (next door to the World Trade Center) when the first plane hit the tower. In an instant, his life was transformed. He put his promising career on hold to enlist in the Army and was assigned at Fort Lewis, Washington, to America’s first Stryker Brigade. Deployed to Iraq, Mincio was assigned as a reconnaissance scout in the 5-20 Infantry Battalion. Though he would eventually come home, his Army buddy, Staff Sgt. Jesse Williams, would not be as fortunate. Sgt. Mincio made a vow to help care for Williams’ daughter and family, and later to do all he could for the families of fallen soldiers. With those goals in mind, he started the Team Jesse Foundation, and launched fundraising efforts like “The Ride,” a challenging bicycle trip of 4,200 miles over 95 days aiming to arrive at Ground Zero on the tenth anniversary of 9/11. “The Long Ride Home” is the story of that ride – and of Kevin Mincio’s personal quest to honor the sacred promise he made to a friend and fellow soldier.

Bios:

Brett Bowker earned his B.A. in journalism at the University of Washington in 2010. After graduation he traveled to Europe and China. Having worked in lacrosse reporting in Washington State for several years, he discovered the story of Team Jesse and spearheaded the transcontinental filming effort as producer and cinematographer. “The Long Ride Home” is his first film of the beginning of a promising career.

Thomas Lee Wright (director, producer, writer) has been making socially-conscious documentaries for more than 20 years, ranging from the definitive film “Trade Off” about the WTO protests in Seattle, which won the Golden Space Needle Award for Best Documentary at SIFF 2000 and toured with the International Human Rights Watch Festival, to an investigation of gangs during the 1992 LA riots called “Eight-Tray Gangster: The Making of a Crip,” which the Hollywood Reporter called “more sympathetic and frightening than any film on the subject.” It also premiered at the American Film Institute Festival and aired on the Discovery Channel.

Please register to attend this free event >>

The bulk of the Screen Summit will be an opportunity for our students to present their work on the screen of their choice, be it smart phone, tablet, or laptop. The work they present could be a particular project they are especially proud of, or a culminating portfolio of their best work from their time in the Communication Leadership program. The focus will be on mingling and networking with alumni, faculty, and community members, with each student presenter stationed at a table (think poster session with screens instead of posters).

Learn more by visiting our website: www.cl.uw.edu

Are you graduating soon? The Association for Women in Communications, Seattle Professional Chapter offers a peer mentoring group for specifically for those just starting out in the work force. You are welcome to attend our Emerging Professionals Affinity Group to network and learn from your peers are you begin to build your career. In this structured setting, the group will establish its own goals and ways to help each other measure their progress. Established AWC members will also drop by from time to time to present on topics relevant to career-building, networking, and professional growth. Meetings are held every third Monday at The Pine Box on Capitol Hill. Interested in finding out more? Contact Almeera Anwar, Group Facilitator, at almeerama@hotmail.com.

Throughout the year, AWC hosts events, webinars, and workshops by communication leaders to explore current trends, help members sharpen their skills, and provide valuable networking opportunities. Interested in joining? Learn more here and watch for our special membership drive this June! While founded as a women’s professional organization, AWC membership and events are open to anyone who is interested in networking with communications professionals and relevant professional development.

Welcome to our auction item listings for our 2013 Spring Fundraiser.  Below you’ll find descriptions for all of our silent and live items, updated weekly. If you are unable to attend the event but would like to place a bid on any of these items, please contact Victoria Sprang, our Alumni Relations Manager, at vsprang@uw.edu or 206-724-3580.

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS

101: Boutique Breweries Package
$330 Value
Imbibe on this tour of boutique Seattle breweries. Make the rounds at Elysian Brewing Company, Georgetown Brewing, Naked City Brewery, Urban Family Public House, and Outlander Brew. But maybe not all on one day.

-$155 certificate at Georgetown + T-shirt, pint glasses
-$25 certificate at Elysian
-$50 certificate at Naked City
-$50 certificate at Urban Family Public House
-$50 certificate at Outlander Brew + tour

102: Savor Seattle: Pike Place Tour for 2
$80 Value
It is impossible to visit Seattle as a tourist and avoid Pike Place Market. Take advantage of this award-winning food tour that explores the exciting history, culture, and food that makes Seattle a top culinary destination.

103: Lunch & Board Game with Seattle City Council Leader Jean Godden
Priceless
Jean Godden is a member of the Seattle City Council and is currently serving her third term. She chairs the Libraries, Utilities, and Center Committee, and the Special Committee on Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seawall Replacement Project and Central Waterfront Planning. Get the chance to pick her brain on what’s going on in the Emerald City. This includes a lunch and a board game at Two Bells.

104: Lunch with Seattle City Council President Sally Clark
Priceless
Have the opportunity to meet and chat with Seattle City Council President (and former Daily editor) Sally Clark! With a personal invitation to chew on civic affairs, city matters, and enjoy an amazing lunch, this is a great chance to speak to a direct source about our city!

105: Davenport Wine Tasting
$300 Value
Gather 11 of your friends for a wine tasting event at Davenport Cellars in Woodinville, a boutique winery committed to crafting quality wines at affordable prices. What are you waiting for?

106: LUCID Tasting Date
$70 Value
Join LUCID owner David Pierre Louis as he takes you through a journey that will make your taste buds squeal with delight. Experience five different cocktail tastes created with LUCID’s incredible homemade tonics and infused-vodkas, including an exclusive line of LUCID’s Bloody Mary products not yet available in stores! Learn firsthand about the art of mixology and how at LUCID every drink is truly is a work of art, made with love.

107: Truths Revealed: Salon of Shame
$48 Value
Bring 3 friends to enjoy an evening of watching others exploit their younger selves for your entertainment! The idea is simple: Seattleites stand and read from their worst adolescent writing, including middle school diaries, high school poetry, unsent letters, etc. This item includes a diary reading at the  Salon of Shame, where it’s cathartic for readers and hilarious for listeners.

108: Yakima Wine Weekend
$250 Value
Explore Yakima Valley wineries with a friend with two Spring Barrel Tasting Tickets. Afterward, take your $50 certificate to Second Street Grill, then enjoy an overnight stay at Oxford Suites. Perfect package for a quick weekend getaway.

109: Lake Tahoe: 4 Nights at The Ridge
$1000 Value
Make it a romantic getaway, an adventure in the wild with a four-night stay in a condominium suite at The Ridge Resorts at Lake Tahoe. Overlooking the breathtaking and beautiful Carson Valley, and nestled on a spectacular Sierra Nevada ridge above Lake Tahoe, this 11-acre hotel resort offers year-round vacation rentals with panoramic views and luxurious accommodations.

110: Rustic Cabin Vacation
$200 Value
Escape the city life for a relaxing, four-night stay in a rustic cabin, about 16 miles north of Ellensburg, up in the hills near Sun East. This cabin is at about 4,000 feet altitude and sleeps 4 comfortably. This lovely cabin comes with one large main room with a living room/kitchen combination and a loft. There is a new electric-light system powered by a small generator and sparkling clean outhouse. The cabin is also a short hike away from the southern edge of the Wenatchee National Forest, with lots of nearby hiking trails. We will warn you, it’s rustic, but you won’t regret a wonderful stay!

111: Portland Overnighter
$200 Value
Experience true Portland with a one night stay at Hotel Monaco. Centered in downtown Portland, near the Pearl District, Powell’s Books, Pioneer Square and the Willamette Riverfront, this boutique luxury hotel is as Portland as it gets.

112a: Communication Goodies
$35 Value
Victoria Sprang, UWComm Alumni Relations Manager, has whipped up some freshly baked paleo-friendly and gluten free goodies, straight from her kitchen just for you! She has a magical touch and a gift with baking so you don’t want to miss out! Also included is a Pro membership at allrecipes.com.

112b: Academic Yummies
$35 Value
Sweet treats like no other. Taste for yourself and you can experience the magical goodness! With this homemade apple pie , straight from the kitchen of Anita Verna Crofts, all of your problems seem to just melt away. Also included is a Pro membership at allrecipes.com.

113: Waikiki Beach Services
$80 Value
Headed to Hawaii? Stop by Waikiki Beach Services with this $80 certificate for lessons in surfing, canoe rentals, stand up paddle board lessons, and catamaran sailing.The Waikiki Beach Boys are a special group of water-men that are licensed in all levels of surf handling provided by the State of Hawaii.

114: PCC Natural Market Lifetime Membership
$62 Value
Enjoy a lifetime membership to PCC, the oldest natural food store in the region—and it’s nonprofit!  Wide range of organic and bulk foods.  Benefits include a 10% shopping discount one day every month—a day of the member’s choice, as well as 5% off every 15th and 16th of the month.

115: Lazy River Vineyard Wine Package
$336 Value
Everyone who drinks a glass of Lazy River Vineyard wine shares the product of a well-farmed vineyard and an expert winemaker. For a meal, the wine becomes your own. It is what the Lumpkin Family wants for its customers, a shared vision through a glass of wine be it Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris or Riesling. This package includes:

-6 bottles of 2009  Lazy River Vineyard Pinot Noir
-6 bottles of 2011 Lazy River Vineyard Pinot Gris

116: Fashion Fever
$350 Value
Let the pro work through your wardrobe at home, helping you to create stylish, effortless and modern outfits from the clothes you already have! This former Nordstrom representative brings the experience of feeling the closet frustration and finding solutions.

After your one-hour consultation at home, Wendy will provide a relaxed, fun yet informative two-hour shopping trip with you and your budget in mind. She’ll show you garments and accessories, chosen especially for you based on your tastes, personality, body shape and lifestyle, so all you have to do is enjoy being preened and pampered without having to worry about where to go or what to try next.

Also included is a $50 gift card to Nordstrom to help you look fabulous in no time.

117: Wink Lash Package
$265 Value
Feeling like your lashes need some uplifting? Then this is the perfect package for you! This certificate includes a full set of eyelash extensions, as well as a pedicure and shellac manicure. Indulge yourself!

118: Necklace
TBD

119: Exclusive Sounders Package
$390 Value
Come see our men in action! Here is your chance to snag an exclusive Sounders fan package which includes four Club seats, a new Sounders jersey autographed by star player Ozzie Alonso, and two Sounders scarves. Root on one of Seattle’s best sports teams with this awesome gear!

120: Seattle Mariners Memorabilia
$75 Value
Add this autographed Jesus Montero official league baseball to your sports collection. The young baseball star is doing well in pre-season games this year, and looking to rock it this season. He’s hitting .405 with 10 RBIs this spring – let’s hope this continues!

121: Husky Sports Package
TBD

122: Welcome Baby Dawg
$70 Value
Whether you know someone who is expecting, or you are personally, this Welcome Baby Dawg Diaper Cake is a great way to welcome the new bundle of joy! This basket includes a Little Britches Bakery diaper cake, with a bib, booties and a hat.

123: Woodland Park Zoo Family Pack
$61 Value
Want to spend some time with the family, but can’t decide where to go? Then this family pack of four tickets to the Woodland Park Zoo is for you! The zoo’s 92-acres and award-winning exhibits are home to more than 1,000 animals representing 300 species from around the world.

124: Movie Madness
$55 Value
A wonderful opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the evening. Take advantage of two tickets to your choice of show at the theater voted Seattle’s best in Seattle Magazine’s Best of 2011 Readers Choice Awards. A perfect way to celebrate any occasion with your significant other.

Make it a comfy movie night at home with this movie basket. Including the movies “The Karate Kid,” “Despicable Me,” “The Tourist” and “Soul Surfer”, along with some popcorn and candy, you’ll be a weekend hero!

126: Mohai Tickets
$56 Value
Spend a day at the Museum of History and Industry with three friends. With four tickets you can explore the museum’s many interesting exhibits including Maritime Seattle and True Northwest: The Seattle Journey.

127: Surf Ballard
$80 Value
Make your weekend interesting with an $80 gift certificate for two stand-up paddle rentals at Surf Ballard, Seattle’s premier surf and stand up paddle shop. Stand up paddle boarding is the fastest growing watersport in the world – but it’s far from a new craze. Find out how skilled you might (or might not) be at this sport!

128: Seattle Skyline Photo
$150 Value
Soak in Seattle’s beautiful skyline image as you wake up every day. This is a framed 12x36” photograph by Darrell Benedict, taken from West Seattle. It’s the perfect image of those very rare bright blue skies in Seattle. Hang it on your wall for rainy day reminders!

129a: Little Treasures Inuit Art
$150 Value
Seal carved from serpentine, which promotes healing and protection.
Stones, Bones and Stitches: Storytelling through Inuit Art (A Lord Museum Book)

129b: Little Treasures Inuit Art
$150 Value
Mother and child carved from soapstone.

130: One-of-a-kind table cloth and napkins
Priceless
Hand-embroidered table cloths and four napkins.

LIVE AUCTION ITEMS

201: Meet & Greet at SIC
$300 Value
Bring a friend to SIC 2013, a rare forum in which brands, businesses, creative leaders and consumers can directly share experiences with the digital trendsetters of today and the thought leaders of tomorrow.

-Two (2) tickets to Seattle Interactive Conference
-Tour & Meet-and-Greet with Communication Leadership faculty

202: Kayaking with the Professor & the Dean
$200 Value
Bring a friend to go kayaking on Lake Union and have lunch at China Harbour Restaurant with School of Public Health Dean, Howie Frumkin and UWComm Artist in Residence and NPR contributor, Joanne Silberner. No significant paddling experience needed, just the desire to meet and get to know some of UW’s finest!

203: Exclusive Media Training with Alex Stonehill
$200 Value
Join Alex Stonehill, Lecturer, for a 2-hour workshop, where you’ll learn how to unlock the advanced features in your digital camera, or just improve the composition of your iPhone or point-and-shoot photos. He can also give you recommendations for new equipment and software to invest in.

Alex Stonehill has worked as a photojournalist in over a dozen countries and had work published in the The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, Seattle PI, Pacific NW Magazine.

204: Premier Seattle Sports Package (a,b,c)

Saturday July 13, 2013 7:10pm Mariners vs. Angels; Sunday August 11, 2013 1:10pm Mariners vs. Brewers; Saturday June 8, 2013 7:30pm Sounders vs. Whitecaps FC

204A, $250 Value:  The Mariners beat the Brewers during pre-season in a come-from-behind 6-5 victory. Can they do it again?

-4 Mariners Charter Club tickets: August 9, 10 or 11

204B, $250 Value: Last season’s showdown between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels left much to be desired. Can the Mariners come back from that devastating series?

-4 Mariners Charter Club tickets: dates

204C, $200 Value: The Seattle Sounders will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps FC continuing the Cascadia Rivalry. Who will come out on top?

-4 Sounder Club level tickets: June 8

205: Visit with Brock Huard at 710 ESPN
$500 Value
Go behind the scenes with Brock Huard of KIRO 710 AM for a 1-hour live show. An exclusive job shadowing experience for a Seattle sports fan!

206: Fall Line Winery Experience
$1500 Value

Fall Line Winery, a local artisan winery known for its elegant Bordeaux-style blends, partners with Delicatus to offer this 4-course wine dinner for eight. Sit down with the winemakers and meet chef Aaron Willis. Four different wines will be served at dinner, and each guest will take home one bottle. Dinner is in The Kitchen by Delicatus, an event space, winery and experimental kitchen that offers a unique urban retreat in Seattle’s Historic Pioneer Square. The venue, along with its 20 ft ceilings and rustic brick walls has been restored to its original splendor showcasing the integrity of our Historical District.

207: Dinner by the Lake
$460 Value
Eat like an Italian with former board president Terry Tazioli, who is only partially a product of that ancestry. But he paid attention to his grandmother, so he can cook. You will be stuffed after several courses, including dessert. There should be six of you and you should bring some wine. He has some, too. You will dine lakeside at his condo in the sky – so it’s only on the fourth floor. Terry is also a member of the Communication Hall of Fame and host of TVW’s Well Read.

208: Improv Team-Building Workshop
$950 Value
A one-hour Corporate Team Building session for up to 20 people with Andrew McMasters, Artistic Director of Jet City Improv.

Jet City Improv has been one of the national leaders in Applied Improvisation for Business. Find out what schools like MIT, Harvard and Columbia have already figured out: That agile leaders use the skills and theories of Improvisation to make their business successful and innovative. Applied Improv Workshops can encompass a variety of topics based on your goals, and leave your group with tools to effectively change the way your team communicates and increase your group’s productivity.

Recent innovative workshop topics have included:  Communications,  Teambuilding,  Creativity and Innovation, · Customer Service,  Leadership Skills , Risk-taking,  New Business Group Orientations, and  Focus. And we can also tailor any workshop to the specific needs of your group.

You can also click here for a link to our brochure or a link to our introduction video.

• · A recent NPR article about Improv in business training – CLICK HERE
  · Andrew’s recent TED Discussion about improv and brain science – CLICK HERE

209: Tony Angell Experience
$1000 Value

The stories and the illustrative process behind the creation of his three books on crows: Ravens, Crows, Magpies and Jays (Univ. of Washington Press, 1978) In the Company of Crows and Ravens (Yale University Press 2005) and Gifts of the Crow (Simon and Schuster/Atria, 2012).

Join Angell at his studio for an intimate exploration of the unique world of the family of Corvids and learn first hand of the remarkable behavior of these species that make them so “human” in their wild world. The artist/author will share new information along with his strategies, tools and design considerations employed to illustrate these award winning books. Tony will also include some of his sculptural interpretations to make his case as all the secrets will be revealed. Following this experience you’ll never look at a crow again in the same way.

Tony will share, with drawings and discussion, a glimpse of his forthcoming book House of Owls with the emphasis on designing information in line and words that hopefully make for a compelling composition.

-Bidding starts for 2 spots in this group of 10 guests.

Mark you calendars! On Thursday, April 4, the Department of Communication is holding our 3rd annual Spring Fundraiser, this time at the brand new Husky Union Building. Register online to attend an evening of giving. We’ll have lots of exciting items in our silent and live auctions to bid on, great music from DJ Jeremy, and drinks and delicious food to munch on. You can even get your photo taken with Dubs, our UW Husky mascot!

Most importantly, every single dollar you donate will go to support transformational experiences for our students. Our students benefit from your generosity through programs like our Foreign Intrigue and Olympia reporting internships, scholarships, graduate research funding, and study abroad opportunities. Just take the first step in registering for your tickets at this link: tinyurl.com/UWCommAuction13

For details please see http://www.com.washington.edu/2012/05/transforming-communities-one-student-at-a-time/

Coming soon to a Communication student near you – mentor lunches, resume workshops, job site visits, internships, and some of Seattle’s coolest sharing their success secrets and cautionary tales gleaned on their journey to their current jobs. Communication Works! Is the umbrella term for a myriad of professional development events designed to help our students transition from the relatively safe haven of college to the unknown and sometimes very scary world known only as “…after I graduate.”  Communication Works! is a community of people who care about our students and it is a network of alumni and friends working together with faculty, staff and other students to  create opportunities for professional learning and growth. Check out our webportal and welcome to the community.

As Let’s face it. We’re in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of world right now. And, while most of us communicate in 140 characters or less via the comfort of our mobile devices, there’s still great power in the gathering of great minds. Together with the Seattle Chamber and 206, inc. the Comm Lead program hosted over 300 people to invoke news ideas, inspire creativity and thought leadership, inform participants about best practices, and instigate action. Read more on Flip the Media.