Dear ComArtSci Community,
Campus is abuzz and our classrooms, hallways and labs are bustling with thousands of new and returning students preparing for impactful careers across our disciplines. This is among my favorite times of the year – you just can’t beat the energy and excitement that comes with the start of a new academic year at Michigan State.
New faces and spaces
Celebrating the first day of class alongside students.
I’m grateful to our amazing and dedicated faculty and staff who helped us welcome more than 4,000 students to ComArtSci over the last few weeks, especially those who joined me last week during our First Day of Class Celebration where we welcomed home returning students and more than 650 new and transfer students across our undergraduate and graduate programs. I loved seeing so many new faces these last few weeks and am encouraged by the number of students choosing our college to pursue their passions and prepare for their future careers. Their choice reflects the strength and relevance of our disciplines and the commitment of our faculty and staff to student success.
Speaking of new faces, 14 new faculty and staff members have recently joined our academic units, WKAR and student support areas. Each brings top-notch expertise to our college across their respective disciplines, and I’m excited to see the many ways they will contribute to the mission of our college.
And as students and faculty settle into the classroom, they’re returning to an overhauled, state-of-the-art production space: Studio E, part of our Digital Media Arts and Technology (DMAT) facilities. By learning systems that mirror those used in production studios across the industry, students – particularly those in our School of Journalism – are better prepared to be successful upon graduation. I hope you’ll check out this updated space next time you’re in our building.
If you’ve been near the south side of campus recently, you’ve likely seen another significant investment taking shape. Construction is underway on the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation, a $340 million interdisciplinary facility that will bring together digital learning, research and collaborative spaces. ComArtSci is among the six colleges involved in this university-wide effort, which will create new opportunities for integrative teaching, learning and research.
Helping students succeed
While we continue to improve the spaces where our students learn, I’m grateful to our alumni community who pour into the success of our college and its people in equally meaningful ways. That includes Spartans like Anne Wright (’83) and her husband, Tom, who recently made a $1 million gift to endow the Finish Line Fund they established in 2022. Their generosity continues to clear financial barriers for graduating ComArtSci seniors and becomes synonymous with our college’s student success initiatives. The fund exists to help students in their senior year overcome financial challenges that could affect their ability to graduate — or, “cross the finish line” of their college careers — on time.
I’m deeply inspired by their generosity and encourage you to read Anne and Tom’s uniquely Spartan story.
From left, Kari Schueller Lopez, associate dean for undergraduate education; Allison Shaw, director of student success and retention; and ComArtSci alumna Anne Wright discuss the college-wide effort to help students facing financial barriers stay on track toward graduation.
Just as our alumni invest in our students through philanthropy, they also give back by sharing their experiences, expertise and stories. This month, Journalism alumna Alysia Sofios (’00) is returning to campus to speak with students about her more than 20-year career in television journalism, documentary production and true crime storytelling, to provide advice to students on preparing for what comes next.
Excellence and impact
Indeed, the new academic year captures the spotlight, but our college’s work certainly didn’t pause during the summer months. Last month, amid preparations for a new semester, faculty from the Department of Advertising and Public Relations and the School of Journalism, alongside ComArtSci graduate students, traveled to New Orleans to present their research and discuss its impact at AEJMC. Their work ranged from examining why consumers connect with AI influencers, even when they know they aren’t real, to exploring diaspora journalism.
From left, Juan Mundel, associate dean for graduate studies and associate professor of advertising; Patricia Huddleston, professor of retailing; and Zheran Liu, doctoral student in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, present research examining visual attention to AI-generated and human-endorsed advertisements at this year’s AEJMC conference.
Particularly notable was Information and Media doctoral student Mahesha Withanalage receiving the Susanne A. Roschwalb International Research Grant from AEJMC’s Public Relations Division. The annual grant supports student research with the potential to advance public relations scholarship in an international context. Mahesha’s research examines how public relations practitioners across Asia navigate AI-mediated environments.
Closer to home, I’m looking forward to celebrating David Markowitz, associate professor in the Department of Communication, as he is recognized as a Red Cedar Distinguished Professor at MSU’s endowed faculty ceremony on Sept. 29. David is the first ComArtSci faculty member to receive the distinction. One of the university’s highest faculty honors, the professorship recognizes his scholarship at the intersection of language, technology and human behavior.
Our research is a core part of our excellence. So too is our commitment of outreach and impact, which is why I’m thrilled WKAR and ComArtSci are home to one of East Lansing’s early voting locations, serving as an early voting location for 14 consecutive days leading up to and including Election Day. We are proud to play a small part in helping students, faculty, staff and the community carry out this important civic duty.
Looking ahead
We’ve packed a lot into the first few weeks of the academic year, and I’m grateful to see our community together again.
There will be plenty of opportunities to keep that momentum going this fall. I’m looking forward to connecting with alumni and friends during upcoming CAS Momentum Tour stops in Chicago and New York City, where we’ll have a chance to share what’s happening at ComArtSci and hear from Spartans in both cities.
We’ll also have much to celebrate when MSU Homecoming returns Oct. 5-10. I’m especially proud that ComArtSci alumna Susan Packard will serve as this year’s grand marshal and that Katherine Goble, a communication leadership and strategy major with a minor in public relations, will represent our college on the Homecoming Court. I’m looking forward to welcoming many of you back to campus and reconnecting with alumni and friends throughout the week.
Until then, I wish you all my Spartan best.
Onward,
Heidi Hennink-Kaminski