First Generation Alumni Support First Generation Students

Every year in late April, the Department of Communication Studies, with support from the College of Liberal Arts, has hosted a first-generation celebration for communication studies majors. Whether graduating in a few short weeks, or several years from earning a degree, all first-generation majors are invited. The event aims to help students build connections with their peers, department faculty, especially those who also identify as first generation, and first-generation alumni.   Prior to the […]

Alumni Panel Pivot

Each semester the Department of Communication Studies organizes a series of alumni panels for all Senior Capstone sections. Prior to the pandemic, panels occurred in-person at the Lory Student Center and featured alumni living in the Northern Colorado area. The opportunity to bring alumni back to campus to share stories and meet our soon-to-be-graduated-seniors has always been a highlight of the semester.   Once […]

We stand with Black Rams Matter and Black Lives Matter

Dear colleauges, students, alumni and friends: The Department of Communication Studies condemns the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Sean Reed, and the continued enactment of white privilege across the nation. These are moments when, for many of us, communication fails, words fall far short, and the sounds and images scrolling on […]

First Generation Conversations

Every year in late April we host a first generation CMST student reception and invite one or two first generation alumni to share some insights on life beyond CSU. Since we were unable to gather at the end of Spring 2020, but still wanted to make these important connections between students and alumni unfold, we […]

Speech Arts Alumna Finds Calling in Northern Malawi

This story originally appeared in the July 2019 edition of the CSU Alumni Association’s Alumline For more than 20 years Carol (B.A. Speech Arts, ’67) and Jim Nussbaumer (B.S. Electrical Engineering, ’67; M.S. Electrical Engineering, ’78; M.S. Computer Science, ’92) have traveled from their Estes Park, Colo., home to Embangweni, Malawi, for weeks at a […]

Familiar place. New purpose.

Walk around the hallways of the Department of Communication Studies and you’re likely to run into a few unfamiliar faces. This summer alone, three new administrative staff joined the department following the departure of several previous staff – Gloria Blumanhourst, Dawn McConkey, Carly Hennegan (now a CMST advisor in the college), and Lindsey Nielsen – who each left to […]

Jim Vidakovich ('69) joins ACT

By Carol Busch (’02) Jim Vidakovich (’69, speech arts) has garnered the reputation as one of the top media strategists in Hollywood. For the past 20 years he has worked on everything from THE OFFICE to BRAVO’s Real Housewives franchise, to The Voice and Mr. Robot. “I get to work with executive producers, show runners, writers, and talent […]

Mallory Sauer, '12

By Lindsay McNeish CSU Communication Studies alumna, Mallory Sauer and her blog, Sweet & Sauer, are on the rise. After Sauer graduated from CSU, she was a fashion designer and then picked up blogging and social media consulting. Alongside her work, Sauer has also had to deal with serious health issues. Recently featured in 303 […]