This story is featured in the Spring 2017 edition of the HPU Magazine. Discover below how HPU’s Nido R. Qubein School of Communication is preparing students to exceed industry standards.
Beginning With the End in Mind
Kate Hudson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and John Krasinski walk into a room.
It might sound like the beginning to a joke, but it’s actually a dream turned reality for High Point University alum Jodi Guglielmi.
A 2015 graduate, Guglielmi is a writer for People Magazine. Working in both digital and print, the Orlando, Florida native now lives in New York City and has held her position with the magazine for over a year.
In that time, her duties as a member of the editorial team have expanded greatly, affording her opportunities to meet and interview celebrities and attend exclusive events like the Toronto International Film Festival.
“While I was there, I helped out in our photo and video studio where numerous casts from the films premiering at the festival gathered to take portrait photos and record video interviews,” says Guglielmi. “I spent time escorting A-list stars including Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Jennifer Garner, Jason Sudiekis and more around the studio and even conducted a few of the video interviews.”
Even while attending Hollywood’s most exclusive affairs, Guglielmi often finds herself right back in Dr. Bobby Haye’s copy editing class in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. She finds herself going back to the fundamentals of journalism she gained at HPU.
As an undergraduate, Guglielmi was taught by industry professionals who prioritized experiential learning and real-world lessons, preparing her for the workforce.
“My professors really took a personal interest in making sure that I succeeded,” she says. “Whenever I had any questions they were always available to assist me.”
She catches herself referring to the Associated Press stylebook, a guide she practically memorized at HPU, and thinks of the times professors drilled her on grammar rules. She speaks to lawyers or consults court documents for a story, in her work for People, all the while recalling lessons she learned from her time as a court reporter—in Dr. Nahed Eltantawy’s convergent journalism class.
“I learned my most important writing lessons this way,” says Guglielmi. “I definitely wouldn’t be the writer I am today if it wasn’t for my time at HPU or the extraordinary instruction from my professors.”
Outcome-Based Learning
Guglielmi is an example of journalism success. Opportunities abound for student in a number of other concentrations too. That’s why two professors have recently created student-run organizations.
Professor John Mims, a public relations and marketing professional with 20 years of experience, teaches courses on public relations messaging and social media for strategic communication. He also advises Ascension336, HPU’s first student run public relations agency.
Ascension336 started in the fall semester with a group of 20 students in Mim’s class. It has grown to include over 64 additional students who “intern” for the agency, making Ascension336 the largest PR agency in the Triad.
The agency caters to 10 clients, all local non-profit organization. Students are divided into teams that consult with their client and asses the organization’s needs. From there, students build social media plans, create websites and blogs, determine branding strategies and create graphics.
Mims says that while he’s there as an adviser, he aims to let the student’s make the majority of decisions on their own, only offering advice or guidance when asked.
“Where they can do things, I want them to handle it,” says Mims. “I may lend my opinion at times, but they don’t have to take it. This organization is all theirs, from the name to the logo and website, they have built it from the ground up.”
Lauren Abbot, one of three co-directors for Ascension336, says the experience she’s gained from working on the agency is preparing her to make important career moves after she graduates.
“I am fortunate that High Point University professors encourage students to pursue their passions,” says Abbot. “Ascension336 allows students to experience the culture and atmosphere of a public relations agency right on campus.”
One Ascension336 client is housed nearby in the School of Communication—Triad News.
Triad News, a new student-produced newscast, is advised by Professor Steve Harvey, an Emmy Award winner with 35 years of experience in broadcast and photojournalism with WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio.
Harvey teaches studio production, TV production and multimedia reporting classes in the School of Communication. His goal as a professor and adviser is to bring out students’ passion and pass along the skills he’s learned over the years.
“I create an atmosphere for the students to understand how broadcast journalism is created, how they can produce quality content and find their own passion for the industry,” says Harvey. “My career has been a wonderful adventure, but now it is time to pay it forward by using my experience to coach the next generation of journalists.”
Learn from the Best to Become the Best
Another concentration, the Event Management track within the School of Communication, added in 2015, quickly established a reputable name for itself by earning international recognition as the best event management bachelor’s degree.
The Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Gold Award was presented to HPU’s Dr. Vern Biaett at the 61st Annual International Festival & Events Association Convention in the fall. The award recognizes the quality, excellence, creativity and achievement of the festival and event industry, including the top bachelor’s degree in event management education.
Students majoring in event management are uniquely positioned to land jobs in public, non-profit, or private event management and marketing organizations, run their own small event management company or attend graduate school.
This new concentration and others added in recent years – sports communication, documentary media and more – reflects the school’s focus to product outcomes-based results.
Students engage in real-world learning by participating in classes and programs that simulate industry expectations. They are led by experienced professionals and Ph.D. professors who aim at preparing their students for the career goals they hope to accomplish.
“At HPU we have attempted to create a unique, across-the-board type of event management major,” says Biaett. “It is the only event management major housed in a school of communication in the world, so it uniquely requires communication core courses. Rather than focusing on a specific subset of event management, such as meeting planning, tourism and hospitality, or community and cultural events, our major covers the entire industry with classes like marketing, sponsorship and experience design that address aspects pertinent to the entire field of event management.”
The major also includes a highly experiential practicum, internship opportunities and senior seminar classes led by faculty with impressive industry experience and academic qualifications. Biaett also contributed the success of the program to student interaction with the local community.
Event Management majors gain valuable experience by working community events throughout the year. They can be found at the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, the National Folk Festival or the High Point Furniture Market just to name a few.
“Our aim within the School of Communication is to prepare students to become leaders within the industry and the community,” says Dr. Wilfred Tremblay, dean of the School of Communication. “Receiving this award at the international level shows that the hard work of our faculty and students is paying off as we build the event management sequence and minor into a world-class educational offering.”