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.
By 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!”
Ulster County Climate Corps is looking for applicants for their Summer 2025 Internship Program. This is a paid, project-based program where participants will be assigned to County departments to help implement the County’s climate and sustainability initiatives that work to meet the goals of the New York State Climate Act. Some examples of the projects entailed are creating outreach materials (flyers, infographics, organizational charts, etc.) for the Better Homes for All Program; designing fliers, social media graphics, and infographics for the Executive’s Office; or working with the Public Works Department to establish a formal relationship with a local compost facility.
Position: Part-Time Intern
Target Candidates: Students from SUNY New Paltz in Marketing, Communications, Events, and Theatre
Job Description:
Redeemer Lutheran Church is seeking a motivated and creative intern to join our team for the semester. This position is perfect for students looking to gain hands-on experience in marketing, communications, event planning, and theater.. The intern will work directly with our Communication and Development Coordinator and key leaders to support and enhance our communication and development efforts.
Responsibilities:
1. Communication Management:
2. Grant-Writing:
3. CommUNITY Spaces Support:
4. Building Operations Coordination:
Qualifications:
Hours and Compensation:
Application Process:
Interested candidates should submit the following:
Submit applications to: Heather Wydock, heather.wydock@redeemernewpaltz.org
Application Deadline: before the first day of the semester (BE SURE YOU are eligible to earn internship credits: tinyurl.com/npinternpacket)
Join us at Redeemer Lutheran Church and gain valuable experience while making a meaningful impact in our community!
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.
Please watch the video major overview for all Communication Studies concentrations:
Our department requires students to use the My Schedule Planner tool for creating their class schedule before meeting with their advisor. Please watch the tutorials: https://hawksites.newpaltz.edu/dmjnews/2020/03/09/use-my-schedule-planner/
Northwestern Mutual is seeking a hands-on intern in financial services and communication! The hands-on intern experience includes partnering with financial representatives who show you how it’s done through mentoring and joint-work programs. Like your colleagues in the network office, you have access to the resources of Northwestern Mutual, including:
Specifically, you’ll practice the personalized approach they use to offer financial solutions tailored to each client’s individual needs. You’ll follow these key steps in their process, working independently with guidance from experienced colleagues:
Application Process: Visit Financial Advisor & Corporate Careers | Northwestern Mutual where you can find your local office and start your application.
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Be sure to register by using the QR code or clicking here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiTglnmu6wA-uTUDTGI7urCabZPUb58XB2MEyYhEVpwBjVsw/viewform
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