Faculty Profile: Introducing Professor John Drew

Beginning in the Fall 2024 semester, the Communication Studies Department welcomed a new face to its faculty lineup: Assistant Professor John Drew. Drew specializes in Strategic Communication, having earned a BA in economics from Duke University, an MA in Media Studies from The New School, and an MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design. 

John Drew HeadshotBy incorporating a type of life coaching into his curriculum, meeting the students where they are and hearing their anxieties, Drew has found that he can connect those concerns with his teaching and provide real strategies to offer a way forward. He teaches his students the importance of developing a design-centered way of thinking that constructs various design systems as design opportunities.

“You just have to figure out what the parameters are and where the entry points are and where the opportunities are for your own benefit,” Drew said. This is a strategy Drew has had to use in his own life, altering his career path strategically based on changes in the marketplace, ultimately bringing him to Strategic Communication as a discipline.

Starting out as a print journalist in the early 2000s, Drew watched as legacy print establishments were going out of business and everything was moving online. He found his skill set lacking, leading him to determine he needed to adapt his skills to the changing times. This got him into a period of video journalism and filmmaking, as well as grant writing. Eventually he got on the track to grad school to develop more skills. Drew referred to this time as being transformative. It was in grad school where a mentor persuaded him to try teaching. Due to his strategic way of thinking and learning through the course of his life of how to pivot and carefully assess the marketplace and develop skills in response to it, Drew found himself in the world of academia teaching his students the same way of thinking.

Drew’s most recent research has been funded by the Mozilla Foundation through its Responsible Computing Challenge which, according to the Mozilla Foundation’s website,  “supports the conceptualization, development, and piloting of curricula that empowers students to think about the social and political context of computing.” To this end, Drew has already developed two new courses with collaborators at Adelphi University where Drew previously served as Associate Professor. These courses are to help Mozilla make computer science accessible and compelling to a more diverse student body, making them think about responsible tech, and ideally become responsible technologists themselves. 

At New Paltz this year Drew has taught Social Media and PR, Design and PR, Intro to Strategic Comm., and a grad class Organizational Writing and Design Across Media. Next year he will be teaching Design and PR, the Seminar in Strategic Comm., as well as another grad course, Environmental Communication, Organizations, and Sustainability.

Drew has enjoyed his time here at New Paltz so far. Already living in the Hudson Valley, he enjoys the area and is much happier to be closer to home. Additionally, Drew has found it refreshing being a part of the public university system. Having a diverse student body in many ways, the students at SUNY New Paltz have given him a fresh perspective with their eagerness to learn and desire to enrich their education to apply later in the future. 

“Teaching here has been a joy. I feel like the majority of my students thus far are engaged and responsive and I am learning a lot from them. I’m very grateful to be here, despite having to earn tenure all over again!”

Dutchess BOCES Looking for a Provisional Public Information Officer

Dutchess County BOCES currently has an opening for a provisional public information officer!

This position is suitable for those who…

  • Want to make an impact on children
  • Want to tell stories through writing, photography, and video
  • Are able to meet deadlines 
  • Can juggle multiple assignments 
  • Can handle communication during a crisis
  • Have experience with Adobe Creative Plus Suite 

Those who have questions and/or are interested should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to irwin.goldberg@dcboces.org

The 2025 NYWICI Scholarship Program is Now Open

We are excited to announce that the 2025 NYWICI Scholarship Program is officially open! This prestigious program provides financial support to students pursuing careers in communications, helping to nurture the next generation of industry leaders.
Before applying, please take a moment to review the eligibility requirements and obligations. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted by Friday, January 10, 2025No exceptions will be made.
For any questions, feel free to reach out to info@nywici.org. Apply today by clicking here to learn more.

Policy Research Job Opportunity with NYS Comptroller in Albany; Graduating Journalism and Comm Students and Recent Grads Urged to Apply!

A small policy research unit in the Office of the New York State Comptroller in Albany that specializes in local government finances and other issues affecting local governments is currently recruiting candidates for permanent entry-level positions. For these positions they are looking for people who are interested in policy research on local governments, who are comfortable working with data (cleaning, analyzing, presenting findings in charts and tables), and who also have excellent communication skills—especially writing. They are using the state’s “HELPS” process, which means that candidates do not have to have taken civil service exams or be on a civil service list to be hired. The positions they are looking to fill require a college degree, including some quantitative coursework. The link below has the details. These jobs are in Albany, New York.

StateJobsNY – Public Information: Review Vacancy

The job posting is set to expire on Friday, but they plan to extend the deadline until mid-October. They also expect to post a second position with the same qualifications and job duties in the near future. We encourage you to apply, even if you do not expect to graduate until the spring. Good luck!

Alumni Profile: A Thoughtful Interview with Alumna Maddy Shannon, Coordinator of SEFA and Subsequent Florida State University Grad Student

Interviewed by Jacob Graham-Bialer
Maddy Shannon is a SUNY New Paltz Strategic Communication graduate who has held numerous positions. She has been the cashier team leader at Bagels and Bites, front desk agent at Hasbrouck House, and Donor Development Intern and Coordinator at United Way of Dutchess and Orange counties. She hopes to earn a graduate degree in Integrated Marketing and Management Communications. Throughout her various occupations, Shannon has been a stalwart learner, and she excels in the field of communications—both written and verbal.

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Communication & DMJ Departments to Honor Best and Brightest at Honors Induction May 5 in CSB AUD

The Communication & DMJ Departments will host this year’s Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Association Honor Society induction ceremony on Sunday, May 5th, presented by our LPH Chapter President, Nancy Heiz, assisted by Associate Professor Megan Sperry, who serves as our LPH Faculty Advisor. Membership in the honor society is restricted to those who have earned a GPA of 3.5 in the communication-related major, and an overall GPA of 3.25. This year, we are thrilled to announce 51 students to be inducted (see list below). 

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Introducing a New Course: Asian Perspectives of the Self

The Department of Communication is pleased to offer a new 3-credit course that fulfills the GE/Humanities requirement — and is a nice elective! Please see the attached flyer and brief descriptions below. It is taught by Prof. Lauren Mark in Fall 2024, Tuesday/Friday 12:30 PM-1:45 PM.

CMM 275 Asian Perspectives of the Self: Understand how native language(s) and cultural expectations influence our perception and communication. Draw on relational dynamics in multiple Asian traditions to explore dynamic connection and mutual respect. Students conduct personal research and do partnered teaching.

Full Course Description: This course invites students to examine how our cultural norms such as our native language(s) and cultural expectations influence our perception and orientations toward one another. We will explore how to create opportunities for connection and mutual respect while communicating across cultures, drawing from relational dynamics from multiple Asian traditions, beginning our exploration with Chinese philosophers. By moving through intercultural communication in these ways, we will strive to expand our toolbox of interpersonal skills through conceptual and discursive knowing, via reflection journals, personal research, and partnered teaching.

Introducing the MA in Strategic Communication: Seniors Can Take Graduate Courses!

The Department of Communication is excited to announce the launch of its graduate degree, Master of Arts in Strategic Communication, beginning Spring 2024. This program caters to both traditional students and working professionals. The program is entirely new and still accepting students for the Spring 2024 semester! As a whole, it focuses on facilitating conversations, communication theory, conducting research, and most importantly, real-world application. graphic about grad program Continue reading

Introducing the MA in Strategic Communication: Seniors Can Take Graduate Courses!

The Department of Communication is excited to announce the launch of our new MA in Strategic Communication, beginning Spring 2024. This program caters to both traditional students and working professionals. We offer courses in two formats: asynchronous and hybrid.

  • Asynchronous classes are entirely online with no in-person meetings.
  • Hybrid courses primarily follow the asynchronous format but include three in-person sessions throughout the semester for discussions and collaborative projects.

For the upcoming spring semester, we are introducing three courses:

  • CMM501: Applied Communication Research Methods (asynchronous)
  • CMM705: Collaboration, Leadership, and Facilitation (hybrid)
  • CMM709:  Narrative, Identity and Community (hybrid)

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Don’t Miss the Grant Writing Workshop!

Join Steve Densmore and Briana Maloney from Choice Words for an informative session on writing grants! The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 12, from 3 – 4 p.m. in Old Main B125.

It is open to all students and faculty, priority for Communication Studies majors. Scan this QR code to register for the event:

If you have any special accessibility needs, please
contact Amanda Valentin at valentia@newpaltz.edu or
845-257-3450 as soon as possible prior to the event
to make appropriate accommodations.

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