Late last year, two outstanding undergraduate Communication Studies students—Nicole Taylor and Allison Slusar—were recognized for their high achievement with inductions into the National Communication Association’s (NCA’s) undergraduate honor society, Lambda Pi Eta. CSU is home to the Mu Sigma Chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, a prestigious organization that requires high academic marks and commitment to the field of communication of its student members as they pursue their Communication Studies major. 

In December, Taylor and Slusar were honored with a department induction ceremony run by CSU’s Lambda Pi Eta Faculty Advisor Karyl Sabbath, Ph.D. and a luncheon at the Aspen Grille. Director of Undergraduate Studies Nick Marx, Ph.D. and Professor Kari Anderson, Ph.D. also joined in the celebration. 

“In their time with the Department of Communication Studies,” Marx reflected, “Nicole and Allison have consistently thrived in the classroom, an effort that their induction into Lambda Pi Eta recognizes.  I look forward to being a part of their continued success, both here at CSU and beyond!” 

Meet our high-achieving students 

Two students stand holding their honor society certificates next to two faculty
From the left, Nicole Taylor, Dr. Nick Marx, Allison Slusar, and Dr. Karyl Sabbath celebrate at the Lambda Pi Eta induction ceremony in December 2021.

Nicole Taylor graduated from CSU last December with a BA in Communication Studies and a minor in Business Administration. “Being inducted into the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society was a very special moment for me,” Taylor said, and being “able to have lunch with my favorite professors during the induction ceremony… was a bittersweet moment in my final week as a CSU student.” 

Allison Slusar is set to graduate in 2023 with a BA in Communication Studies and a minor in Environmental Sustainability. “Being inducted into Lambda Pi Eta has helped me feel confident in what I’ve accomplished thus far as a Communication Studies student,” she said. “I’m excited to continue growing my communication knowledge through [Lambda Pi Eta], but also through my upcoming courses at CSU.” 

The Mu Sigma chapter 

For years, CSU faculty and graduate students in Communication Studies have had close ties to the NCA, including presenting at their annual conference, being recognized with NCA awards, and publishing articles in their 11 different academic journals. Now, thanks to Sabbath’s hard work to revitalize Lambda Pi Eta at CSU over the past year, high-achieving undergraduates are joining in, too. 

Of her role as the Faculty Advisor for CSU’s Mu Sigma chapter, Sabbath says, “I am committed to advancing resources for our honors students to prepare for the job market, assisting in their celebration of professionalism through growing communication competence, and sparking student interest for pursuing graduate school.” 

Spring deadline approaching 

Invitation to apply to Lambda Pi Eta

The Mu Sigma chapter is open to inducting more honors students this spring semester. The deadline for students to apply is March 11, 2022. Eligibility information and application materials can be found here. 

In addition to the department induction ceremony, student members of Lambda Pi Eta also receive a certificate and an honor cord at graduation. This semester’s induction ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, 2022. 

The Department of Communication Studies is proud of our students’ outstanding achievements, and we look forward to celebrating them in the years to come.