Department of Communication News
Tune in to 'Govs on the Go' to hear from Jandro! As a proud Clarksville native and alum of Sports Communication, Jandro has a deep love for all sports. He played soccer in high school and now coaches a soccer league, all while serving as Director of Recruitment and Orientation at Austin Peay.
We had the best Comm Cookout ❤️🤍🖤 Good luck on finals and graduation Govs! #apsucommdept #cookout #spring #apsu @apsucommdept
Students in our Social Media Minor train as Social Media Associates, Social Media Managers, Social Media Marketers, Social Media Directors, or Social Media Influencers.
We'd love to have you join us in the Department of Communication's Event Planning minor. This minor prepares you to assume leadership roles in the industry and offers in-depth knowledge of event planning, event execution, as well as, hands-on experience working with professionals.
Students take a closer look at 'The Girls of Summer' through Dr. Christina Hicks-Goldston's
innovative new class. Barbie, Beyonce and Taylor Swift have spent the past year shaping
the national conversation and driving the global economy. The course is based on Dr.HG's
research into the trio's influence on society.
The National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Student Chapter at APSU just completed its ninth year as a registered student organization on the APSU campus.
The APSU Department of Communication invites incoming freshman to find their people and their home at APSU. This event is designed to give our new COMM Govs a chance to meet each other, their faculty, and current students. We spend the day checking out ALL THINGS COMM!
Brought to you by Dr. Jessica Morris and our Event Planning Minor students!
Alumni Spotlight
Zoe Farren transferred to APSU in Spring 2022. The transition wasn’t always smooth but supportive professors and real-world experience made the difference. Working with Kara Zahn, CoALs' director of communications, Zoe networked with industry professionals while helping to plan and staff events, sparking her interest in sports public relations and event planning.
Alum Christian Hodges is an EVS operator for the National Football League (NFL) Network, where he builds in-game highlights, instant replays, video content playback and media packages. He demonstrates a great deal of grit and perseverance in his professional career. We commend his willingness to give back to current students. Read More
For Leah, leadership is more about what she does to help others rather than what she does for herself. “I believe in leadership through service,” she said. “When you set the example, and serve others, they will respect you more as someone they want to follow."
Alum Jennifer Lindahl pursued her passion for sports journalism despite balancing motherhood and the pandemic. Our supportive professors and a tight-knit community helped her thrive. She aims to write for a hockey organization, driven by her love to tell the human stories behind sports.
Alum Brittney Hitch finished her degree in 2016 before joining the Nashville Predators. Hitch praises Mike Dunn as her adviser, and talks about what it takes to be a college student.
“I just can’t thank everybody there enough for my time.”
Alum Lynsie Cook graduated from Austin Peay in 2018 in the Broadcast Media Concentration and was thoroughly involved in APSU-TV where shows are student-led and -created.
“The people I work with understand story in a way I could have never imagined,” Lynsie Cook said.
“The Austin Peay communication department provided me with real news set experience that helped me land a job in a Top 30 TV market,” LeJeune said. “I’m always thankful for the hands-on experience.”
APSU communication graduate alum Celeste Malone used her Twitter/X and news reporting skills for Periscope — a Twitter/X subsidiary — as an editorial intern in San Francisco, California. She was selected out of 65,000 applications for the position.
Eskildson put the skills she learned at Austin Peay to good use, interning with Free for Life International, an organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking in Nepal. Combining her passion for service with her skills as a writer, Eskildson interviewed survivors, telling their story across the group’s various platforms and raising awareness for their plight.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Baron's journey to academia was shaped by his early love for speech and debate. Hailing from Minnesota, he followed his passion, eventually coaching speech and debate. Now a digital rhetorician, his research delves into the intersection of technology and human communication, exploring topics such as social media dynamics, video games as cultural texts, and the evolution of indie gaming culture.
Gresham’s student sports productions at APSU have received eight different awards from the Ohio Valley Conference; twice named the Program of Excellence. His play-by-play broadcasts were honored three times with the OVC’s Professionalism in Announcing Award. Gresham has served as a play-by-play announcer for APSU, Western Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, Sirius Satellite Radio, Comcast Sports Southeast, ESPN3 and ESPN+.
Dr. Pam Gray's recent recognition as the recipient of the College of Arts and Letters' Excellence in Teaching Award speaks volumes about her commitment to education.
Learn about Dr. Gray's dynamic teaching approach, Study Abroad trips, and her show, Two Crazy Ladies on a Golf Cart featuring herself and Dr. Tracy Nichols.
Learn how Dr. Nichols came to teach at Austin Peay, how theatre impacted her life, the courses she teaches, service learning, and a shared passion project between herself, Mike Dunn, Rob Baron, and Jessica Morris: an in-house textbook free to all students on campus for the Public Speaking courses.
More Archived COMM Stories
Dr. David Von Palko first arrived at Austin Peay in 1983 to create the campus’ first radio station. On Oct. 1, 1984, 91.7 WAPX-FM – a 3,000-watt station – opened inside a “beat all to heck” portable building off Robb Avenue.
Establishing the connection between the university and community is “an integral part of how public humanities can succeed,” said the institute’s inaugural coordinator, APSU communication Professor Kathy Lee Heuston.
“I think that there needs to be a relationship there. You’re trying to create awareness and share your knowledge, your professional knowledge with the public.”
“Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition” highlights why alumni chose to attend Austin Peay and study in their areas.
The Austin Peay State University Department of Communication celebrated 10 years of incorporating service learning with a formal presentation for the Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service Learning in Franklin, Tennessee.
When a carpet installer working in a Music/Mass Communication Building TV studio found a playbill and ticket from a 1988 Austin Peay play. His actions quickly landed the “Arsenic and Old Lace” playbill in the hands of communication professor Dr. Tracy Nichols, who starred in the play 31 years ago.
A short documentary highlighting Clarksville in the 1930s took home one of the top honors at the 49th Annual Nashville Film Festival earlier this month. “Clarksville 1937,” directed by Austin Peay State University communication professors Karen Bullis and Kathy Lee Heuston, won the Tennessee First Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Short.