Get ready for Communication Week
Central State University will host the 29th annual Communication Week from April 1-5. All events are held in the Mass Communications TV Studio, unless otherwise specified.
Communication Week schedule
Building Successful Careers in Communications: Beyond the 1974 Tornado
Monday, April 1
10-10:50 a.m. | Opening Program/Continental Breakfast (RSVP required)
Keynote speaker: Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd ’09
MCs: Alana Jones and Dora Lee Black
Byrd serves as vice president of Marketing and Promotions for Mastermind Productions LLC, is an award-winning international journalist and owner/creator of The Divah Filez. Byrd is also a corresponding writer for Sheen Magazine and Upscale Magazine and a writer for Ebony Magazine.
1-1:50 p.m. | Telling Your Story through Digital Marketing
Speakers: TiaMarshae Johnson, Marketing Development Coordinator, and Robin Davis, Interim Associate Director of Marketing, Division of Institutional Advancement, Central State University
Moderator: Mikayla Killings
2-2:50 p.m. | The Evolution of TV Production and News Gathering Technology (live drone demonstration, weather permitting)
Speakers: Mike Strotman, Production Manager and Maddy Schmidt, Photographer,
WCPO-TV, Cincinnati
Moderator: Elijah Harvey
3-3:50 p.m. | Moving Up the Chain of Command in the Industry
Speaker: Amber Tweedie, Executive Producer, NBC 5, Chicago (virtually)
Moderator: Damia Harris
Join on Zoom
4-4:50 p.m. | Looking Your Best in the Workplace: A Fashion Show
Presenter: New Age Models and Black Define
Moderator: Melissa Barbee
6:30 p.m. | Movie Night (followed by a discussion of image and reality)
Moderator: Damia Harris
Tuesday, April 2
9:30-10:45 a.m. | Storm Chasing
Speakers: Aaron Rigsby, Storm Chaser (virtually), Laci Graham, Storm Chaser (virtually)
Moderator: Melissa Barbee
Join on Zoom
12-12:50 p.m. | Videography Tools and Techniques
Speaker: Jeremy Glover, Creative Services Producer, WCPO-TV 9, Cincinnati, Ohio
Moderator: Damia Harris
1-2:15 p.m. | Journalism Toolbox for the 21st Century (live drone demonstration, weather permitting)
Speakers: Adam Aaro, News Anchor and Lee Furry, Chief Photographer, WKEF-TV and WRGT-TV
(Sinclair Broadcast Group, Dayton)
Moderator: Nya Brunson
3-3:45 p.m. | Minority Entrepreneurship: Finding Your Place in Media Ownership
Speaker: Skip Ross, Owner, WRCX TV 40, Dayton, Ohio
Moderator: Dennis Parker
4-4:45 p.m. | Social Media and YOU: Opportunities and Challenges
Speaker: Ofelia Patrick, Founder, Filosophy
Moderator: Alana Jones
Join on Zoom
Wednesday, April 3
10-10:50 a.m. | Making It as an Independent Producer
Speaker: Shantell Francher-Brown, Independent Producer, Atlanta (virtually)
Moderator: Alana Jones
Join on Zoom
11-11:50 a.m. | New Frontiers in Radio
Speakers: Kevin Washington, Promotions Director, WDHT, WROU, WGTZ, WCLI, WING-AM, Faith Daniels, Assistant Content Director, WDHT, Content Director/Community Affairs, Director/Afternoon Drive Personality; and Paul Lyons, Chief Engineer, Alpha Media
Moderator: Victoria Daniels
12-12:50 p.m. | Making the Pitch: Finding Your Niche in Advertising and Sales
Speaker: Dan Abercrombie, Vice President and General Manager, Radio One Stations
Moderator: Damia Harris
1:30-2:00 p.m. | Do You Know Where to Take Shelter?
CSU Police Campus-wide Tornado Drill
The drill will simulate communication and safety procedures in the event of a tornado on or near campus. You will receive alerts via Alertus.
3-3:50 p.m. | How Internships Can Advance Your Career
Speaker: Nancy Robinson, Director, Education Programs, Television Academy Foundation (virtually from Hollywood)
Moderator: Elijah Harvey
Join on Zoom
4:15-4:45 p.m. | Tornado Remembrance Memorial Service (Alumni Tower)*
Guests: Professor Robert Marcus and Nathan Bouldin ’74
*Inclement weather plan: Charles H. Wesley Arts and Science Building Auditorium, Room 112
Moderator: Professor Michael Gormley
5-5:40 p.m. | Artist Management & Content Development in the Recording Industry
Speaker: Michael “Blue” Williams, CEO and Founder, Family Tree Entertainment, featured on billboard.com (virtually)
Moderator: Timothy Gilbert
Join on Zoom
Thursday, April 4
9:30-10:45 a.m. | Survivors’ Panel
Speakers: Alma Brown, Lesa Taylor Devond, Victor Davis ’74, Obie Houston ’74, and Greta Winbush ‘76
Moderator: Brandon Peterson
12-12:50 p.m. | Forecasting and Preparedness: Then and Now
Speakers: Ethan Raby, Director, Greene County Emergency Management and Ashley Novak,
Meteorologist, National Weather Service
Moderator: Khamari Smith
Join on Zoom
1-1:30 p.m. | Are You Ready for Lights, Camera, and Action?
Speaker: Cierra Johnson, News Anchor, NBC4, Columbus, Ohio
Moderator: Mikayla Killings
1:35-2:20 p.m. | Alumni Power Panel: Life after College—Expectations and Reality
Speakers: Danyae Thomas ’11, Director, Programming and Strategic Partnerships, The Park Community Development Corporation; Tracie Potts ’97, Casting Producer, MTV Network; Bryant Perkins ’14 , Communications Manager, Urban Land Conservancy (virtually); Tyreese Burnett ’97, Screen Actors Guild actor and Producer, TyBu Studios (virtually); Kyra Shahid ’09, Director, Trotter Multicultural Center, University of Michigan (virtually); Travis Monford ’98, Terminal Operator, Buckeye Partners; Courtney Edwards ’12, Freelance TV Writer/Producer, CEO LiveWithCourt (virtually)
Moderator: Kymani Colquitt
Join on Zoom
4:30-5:30 p.m. | Alumni Tea Talk
Speakers: Angela Davis ’95, National Business Development Manager and Brandon Johnson ’11, Microsoft 365 Product Owner, Dallas Cowboys Panelists: Courtney Dove ’13, Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Kettering College; DaJon Humphrey ’08, AV Lead, I.A.S.T.E. /RoomLyric; Nike Seay ’20, Case Worker, Love in Action; C’Erra Wingo ’09, Learning Consultant, Dayforce; and Curtis Symonds ’78, Founder, HBCU GO/former BET Executive
Moderator: Kymani Colquitt
5:35-6:15 p.m. | Do’s and Don’ts of Podcasting
Speakers: Scot Kirk ’05, Multimedia Web Producer, (Gannett) The Columbus Dispatch and Amelia
Robinson, Opinion/Community Engagement Editor, (Gannett) The Columbus Dispatch
Moderator: Steven Key
6:30-8:00 p.m. | Student Poetry Open Mic
Moderator: William Abbott, Associate Professor of English
Friday, April 5
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Networking Luncheon (by invitation only)
Speaker: Ms. Terri Cope Walton ‘96, Vice President and General Manager, WJXT-TV/WCWJ-TV, Jacksonville, Florida
