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Department of Communication News

ALUM Jandro Herrera
Alum Jandro Herrera's deep love for all things sports

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.

'Govs on the Go' with Jandro Herrera

Sports Communication
Waving Goodbye
Waving goodbye at the best spring semester

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.

Explore our Social Media Minor
Event Planning
Discover the art of Event Planning

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. 

Check out the Reel with Dr. Baron

Event Planning Minor
Event Planning
'The Girls of Summer' explores Barbie, Beyonce & Taylor Swift's cultural impact

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.

Read More about the course
National Sports Media Association Student Chapter
National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Student Chapter completes its ninth year

The National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Student Chapter at APSU just completed its ninth year as a registered student organization on the APSU campus. 

APSU's NSMA Student Chapter

Sports Communication
COMMunity Day
COMM-unity Day 2024

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!

Event Planning Minor
Leadership Clarksville 2024
Leadership Clarksville

Members of the 2024 Leadership Clarksville class stop by the Department of Communication WAPX-FM/Magic 91.9 and APSU-TV Studios to learn about the Broadcast Media program and talk about Community Leadership. Look closely. You'll see our very own Dean Buzz is part of the 2024 Leadership Clarksville class.

Watch podcast filmed at APSU-TV Studios

Explore Broadcast Media

Alumni Spotlight

Zoe Farren
Cape Cod to Clarksville

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.

Read More of Zoe's Story

Public Relations Concentration
Christian Hodges
Distinguished Alumni Award

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

'Govs on the Go' with Christian

Sports Communication
Alum Leah Grubb
Alum Leah Grubb

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."

Read more

Corporate Communication

 

Sports Journalism
Alum hones her passion for Sports Journalism

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.

Read More

Explore our Journalism Concentration
Brittney Hitch
Alum praises beloved Professor Mike Dunn

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.”

Watch 'Govs on the Go' with Brittney

Public Relations Concentration
Lynsie Cook
APSU Alumna has ‘Surreal’ experience at HBO’s ‘Euphoria’

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.

Read More

Explore Broadcast Media
Lynsie Cook
Alum Rachel LeJeune wins News Emmy

“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.”

Read More

Explore Broadcast Media
Alum Celeste Malone
Alum Celeste Malone

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.

Read more

Public Relations Concentration
Alum Sarah Eskildson
Alum Sarah Eskildson

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.

Read more

Explore our Journalism Concentration

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Rob Baron
Dr. Rob Baron, Chair

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.

"Govs on the Go" with Dr. Baron
Barry Gresham
Professor Barry Gresham

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+.

"Govs on the Go" with Barry Gresham
Barry Gresham
Dr. Pam Gray, Faculty Spotlight

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.

"Govs on the Go" with Dr. Pam Gray
Dr. Tracy Nichols
Dr. Tracy Nichols, Faculty Spotlight

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.

"Govs on the Go" with Dr. Tracy Nichols

More Archived COMM Stories

Dr. V
APSU’s radio station WAPX-FM

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.

Read More

Student Media at APSU
Institute of Public Humanities
Institute of Public Humanities (IPH) brings humanities to life

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.”

Read More About IPH
Govs on the Go
APSU College of Arts & Letters launches podcast to celebrate alumni stories

“Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition” highlights why alumni chose to attend Austin Peay and study in their areas.

Read More
Institute of Public Humanities
APSU Department of Communication celebrates 10 years of service learning

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.

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Playbill
31-year-old playbill falls out of reclaimed Trahern Theatre seat

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.

Read More
Clarksville 1937
APSU Communication professors’ documentary, “Clarksville 1937,” wins at Nashville Film Festival

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.

Read More