Master s Program in Communication Incoming Graduate Students Spring 2016
Aryelle Rel Cook Interest Areas: Intercultural Communication, Media Production, Film Biography: I graduated with my B.A in Communication with a specialty track in Media Production in 2013 from Flagler College. It was my sophomore year in high school when I realized I wanted to be a part of the behind the scenes work in television and film. I took classes in broadcast and drama that changed my whole life. At Flagler, I completely immersed myself into all things filming, video editing and writing. My junior year at Flagler, I was asked to be a part of a project archiving the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine, FL. During this project I was able to meet civil rights leaders like Andrew Young and J.T. Johnson. For my final project I did a mini documentary called Curls that explored the topic of hair and how society has influences what different communities view as acceptable. I knew that this was what I was meant to do with my life. After graduating from Flagler, I had my daughter Ayla. I have spent almost two years, raising her while working full and part-time jobs. I said I was going to wait until she was one before applying for graduate school and I am thankful that I was able to find such a great program at ISU. It s nearby and the classes allow me to continue to work and keep providing for my family. I am very excited to be a part of the Redbird family! Brian Rohman Interest Areas: Instructional Communication, Organizational Communication, Political Communication Biography: I graduated from Illinois State University in May of 2014 with a B.A. in Communication Studies in the Teacher Education Track. During my student teaching experience, I was able to begin working on my graduate degree in communication at ISU. Upon graduation I taught for a year in East Moline, IL at United Township High School. I now work at University High School (the ISU Laboratory School) where I teach Oral Communication, Argumentation and Debate, and Contemporary Rhetoric. I also coach the Speech and Debate teams at UHigh. This is my seventh year of coaching forensics at the high school level. During my undergraduate career, I completed a research project that examined audience perceptions of forensics performances which combined my love of forensics with the academics of communication. That research project helped me earn the prestigious Robert G. Bone Scholarship. I also serve as the Newsletter Editor for the Illinois Communication and Theatre Association where I present at their annual conference. My research interests are primarily focused around the justification of a required Oral Communication course in the high school setting. I am looking forward to working towards my master s degree while continuing to work at my dream job.
Emma Lipka Interest Areas: Intercultural Communication, Family Communication, Communication in Romantic Relationships Biography: I was born in the small town of Peru, Illinois, where I lived for the first 20 years of my life. I came to ISU in 2012 after graduating with an Associates of Arts degree from Illinois Valley Community College. I completed my Bachelor s of Arts in May 2015, majoring in English and Public Relations. During my undergraduate career I was more passionate about my English courses than my communication courses, but through my internship and classroom experiences, I saw how complementary my two majors could be. I completed two internships as an undergrad; one with the College of Arts and Sciences writing an online news journal, and the other with the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development as their PR intern. I also worked for a semester as a teaching assistant for a required PR course. After completing my master s degree, I would like to leave Illinois (For where? I don t know yet!) and work for a public university. My academic interests are intercultural and family communication, as well as communication in romantic relationships. My non-academic interests include watching countless hours of the Food Network and practicing my own culinary abilities, perusing dog books and selecting my future perfect canine companion (first time pet owner!), and relaxing with a good book or movie. I also love going for walks or riding my bright yellow tandem bike and Zumba! Hannah Mesouani Interest Areas: Intercultural Communications, Representations of Gender and Race in the Media Biography: I was born and raised in Tangier, Morocco by my Moroccan father and Scottish mother who sent me to a tiny, private American school--so it's no surprise that intercultural communication has always been a huge part of my life. Growing up as an outsider in my own country has afforded me the distance to view media representations of culture, race and gender with a discerning eye. I received my B.A. in both Film Studies and Media & Communication from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA.I focused on the social construct of gender roles in both film and reality TV shows that both celebrate and shame what it is to be a woman of color in America. I have served on the board of one of Pennsylvania's largest LGBTQ activist organizations for 8 years and I approach all media as an activist and aspiring educator. I have taught English and assistant-taught Communications classes and continue to work in Higher Ed as an Assistant Residence Hall Coordinator here at ISU. I hope to continue to learn and grow and serve those communities who are viewed as outsiders by mainstream American media. I love spending my free time attempting gluten-free baking, watching sci-fi and Food Network with my husband and playing with my occasionally evil cat.
Ka Kei Victoria Cheong Interest Areas: Intercultural Communication, International Communication, Mass Communication Biography: I was born and raised in Macau, China. I graduated in Spring 2014 from the University of Macau majoring in Communications, and specialized in International Communication. I worked as an administrative manager, marketing assistant, PR executive in a media company, Show Media, whose headquarters is based in Las Vegas. I have learned so much during the year I worked in this incredible company but I am looking for another opportunity of being a teacher in the future. That s why I want to go back to school and get the best use out of these two years in ISU to reshape myself to a professional level. I hope I can start being a teaching assistant and find a teaching position in any community colleges or universities after I graduate. Kahla Standwich Interest Areas: Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, Sports Communication Biography: I received my undergraduate degree in Interpersonal Communication here at ISU in December of 2014. I have been fortunate enough to receive an assistantship through the ISU athletic office and will be working with them for most sporting events as a GA administrative/operational assistant. My research interests consist of superior and subordinate communication and how self-disclosure can affect these relationships. I became interested in this topic after choosing it at random for one of my undergraduate classes. I am still undecided on if I will be doing the 39 hour option or the thesis option for my graduate degree. If anyone could give me their opinions on which they think is best, I would greatly appreciate it. My interests outside of school consist of playing with my adorable puppy Oliver, hiking, and of course watching Netflix. In a perfect world, after I earn my Master s Degree, I hope to begin a career working for a well-known sports team. I am looking forward to this spring and meeting everyone in the SOC community!
Komal Nautiyal Interest Areas: Organizational Communication/Leadership, Training & Development, Public Relations, Intercultural Communication Biography: Namaste! I am a first-year graduate international student and I am from India. I hold a MBA degree (Human Resource Management and Marketing) and a Bachelor s degree (Commerce) from Delhi University, India. During the course of my graduation, I got inclined towards financial studies. With the same objective of getting into the financial sector, I decided to do my MBA program. However, during my tenure in B school, when I started getting involved in event designing, placement presentation, organizing events, student committees, and seminars, I realized that I have more people skills that I want to utilize in future. By the second year of my MBA program I decided to do my specialization in Human Resource and Marketing. I also did my first two months of summer internship in one of the leading hospital chains (Fortis Healthcare) as HR Generalist. I got my first campus placement in Deloitte as US Tax Consultant because of my commerce education and skills and developed domain expertise in finance. I worked with EXL Pvt LTD as tax auditor and with Grant Thornton as US Senior Tax Consultant. In 2014, I got married and moved with my husband to US. After working for 3 and half years in financial sector, I decided to take break from my work career and enjoy my new married life. After taking a well-deserved break, now I want to utilize my time in upgrading my knowledge in the area of my interest. In future, I want to have a position in Personnel or Human Resources Management, which will require me to apply my business experience and education to assist the company in the accomplishment of its goals. I want to combine my people skills with my financial skills. And that is the reason, which draws me towards the program of Masters in Communication at ISU. I have passion for travelling. I love seeing different parts of world with my husband. In past 1 and half years, I have planned many trips and explored almost all big cities in the US and hope to continue doing that in future. I look forward to meeting you all and begin my new journey here in ISU!