Winter 2020
VCAN
IN THIS ISSUE: Faculty Spotlight Student Spotlight Student Documentary Success Alumni Spotlight Graduate Student Spotlight
Villanova Communication Alumni Network
Contents
2 | VCAN 2020
by Cassidy Taylor '21 MA
Welcoming Dr. Ashley Pattwell to the Communication Department
VCAN 2020
2 Faculty Spotlight Welcoming Ashley Pattwell, PhD 4 Student Spotlight Isabella Sanchez-Castaneda Shares Her Experience Abroad 7 Social Justice Documentary Sankofa Wins Gold at Student Academy Awards 10 Alumni Spotlight Lauren Dugan Shares How Villanova Has Shaped Her Journalism Career 13 Graduate Student Spotlight Riley Gerenda Shares Her Villanova On Set Experience
Growing up, the Department of Communication’s new Assistant Teaching Professor Ashley Pattwell, PhD, dreamed of taking her education and career out to sunny California. When it came time to choose where she would attend college, however, her search for a liberal arts-style school and her mother’s desire to have her close to home led Dr. Pattwell to Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. During her freshman year seminar in communication, Dr. Pattwell fell in love with the subject and decided to focus her studies there, with the addition of international business. Fast forward four years and Dr. Pattwell had graduated from Muhlenberg and entered into the executive training program of one of the world’s largest, privately-owned public relations agencies, Ruder Finn. Over the next two years, Dr. Pattwell advanced from the ranks of the executive training program into the issues management and crisis communications team at Ruder Finn. During her tenure on the latter, she gained practical, hands-on experience that allowed her to understand the balance between tactical PR execution and the theories behind what it means to communicate. Dr. Pattwell brings that balance into her classroom when she teaches assignments that ask students to put the theories and strategies they have learned into practice. "My hope is that the combination of theory, applied skills and critique allows students to feel like they are understanding how to actually practice PR, but when they go out and practice, they’re doing so ethically, thoughtfully and with a broader perspective.” Even during her time at a public relations firm, she was always drawn to the idea of further studying communications as a discipline, and so when it came time to begin thinking about where her career would take her next, she applied to a number of doctorate programs. Her acceptance to the then brand-new Communication, Culture and Media program at Drexel University was a natural fit due to its mix of cultural and communications studies. “I was really attracted to Drexel’s program because of that interdisciplinary nature,” said Dr. Pattwell. She went on to write her dissertation on the way people grieve celebrities online when they die, earning the nickname “Death Girl” from her advisor. Dr. Pattwell found that the grieving people do online for celebrities isn’t all that different from the mourning that happens online for friends and loved ones who have passed. “I tried to always remember that the feelings people were experiencing when they were mourning a celebrity were meaningful and had similarities in other kinds of grief,” she explained. “I didn’t want to be flippant about what they were saying or how they were saying things.” Joining us from a three-year residence at Rowan University, Dr. Pattwell is teaching several courses, including Public Relations and Advertising. When not teaching or attending to assignments and grading, she spends much of her free time with her husband and seven-month-old baby. Please join me in giving Dr. Pattwell a warm welcome to Villanova University.
Ashley Pattwell, PhD.
"...the combination of theory, applied skills and critique allows students to practice PR ethically, thoughtfully and with a broader perspective." - Dr. Ashley Pattwell
by Daisha Crooks '20 CLAS
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Student Spotlight: Isabella Sanchez-Castaneda
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Isabella in front of the Colosseum.
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"It helped me see a greater perspective and opened up my idea of what is possible for my life." - Isabella Sanchez-Castaneda
During her junior year at Villanova, Isabella Sanchez-Castaneda ‘20 CLAS had the unique opportunity of taking classes and completing an internship in Rome, Italy. Isabella, a Communication major specializing in journalism, was eligible to apply to the Waterhouse Family Institute (WFI) Rome Internships program as a sophomore. The WFI, which is housed within the communication department, proudly supports students who travel to Rome by providing financial assistance for their esteemed learning and internship experiences. From September 2018 through May 2019, Isabella worked at Rome Reports, a bilingual news agency that covers the Vatican, the Catholic Church and Rome. She relied heavily on her Spanish expertise throughout the internship, especially with responsibilities such as translating articles, preparing voice-overs and completing interviews. “One of my favorite things that I did during my time in Rome was called the ‘Vox Pop.’ Usually, every Tuesday morning, I would go out into St. Peter’s Square, right in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, and approach tourists who spoke English or Spanish and ask them the question of the week; I had to get at least four interviews in English and four interviews in Spanish,” said Isabella. Isabella believes that her time in the Communication department helped her excel in the internship. For example, classes in writing, journalism and media production prepared her for the type of work at Rome Reports. Courses in interpersonal and intercultural communication helped Isabella connect with others by learning about the power of language and different nationalities. Additionally, when she faced challenges throughout the internship, she reached out to the Communication department faculty who were available to offer encouragement and advice. In addition to her work experience, Isabella fully immersed herself in European culture. For instance, through a program called The Family Project, she spent time with an Italian family for one to two days per week. Her time spent with the family ultimately resulted in a cultural exchange in which she learned more about Italian culture and told them about her life back home in the United States. She also learned more about Rome through the unique classes that she took such as the Water Ways and Walls course, in which the students toured the city and learned about the architecture and history of various buildings and structures. Not only did Isabella spend time in Italy, but she also traveled to other places in Europe. For example, she visited Lisbon, Portugal and was there during the 2018 Brazilian general election, through which she was able to meet new people and discuss Brazilian politics. Overall, Isabella knows that her time spent abroad will help her in the future, especially due to having more confidence in her journalistic abilities and understanding the importance of embracing new cultures. “It helped me see a greater perspective and opened up my idea of what is possible for my life,” she said of her internship experience. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. 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5 | VCAN 2020
Pope Francis during a Papal audience, which takes place every Wednesday in St. Peter Square.
In Ghana market: man sanding down handcrafted artwork.
7 | VCAN 20120
Social Justice Documentary, Sankofa, Wins the Gold at Student Academy Awards
by Bowen Wiess '20 CLAS
Winning a Student Academy Award wasn’t always in the plan for Opeyemi Famakinwa ‘19 CLAS and Madiah Gant ‘19 CLAS. When Opeyemi and Madiah first came to Villanova, neither had any intention of doing anything with film, but enrolling in the Social Justice Documentary course set them down a path that would end in receiving the gold medal for their social justice documentary, Sankofa, at the 46th Student Academy Awards ceremony and recognition from the most prestigious institution in film. While reflecting on their Social Justice Documentary course experience, both commented on how diverse the class is. The course is open to students from all departments, allowing students of any school within Villanova to experience what it offers. Both credited the diversity among their peers as a key component to the success of Sankofa, along with the guidance provided by Hezekiah Lewis, MFA, assistant professor, Communication. “Professor Lewis gives hands-on experience, he takes a chance on his students,” said Opeyemi. Sankofa is a documentary produced by Professor Lewis, Madiah, Opeyemi and 16 other Villanova students in the Social Justice Documentary course. The documentary was shot on location in the United States and Ghana and focuses on the societal expectations of black men in Africa and the U.S., specifically in Philadelphia. The film elaborates on how centuries of mistreatment and mental slavery negatively impacts black males all over the world. Sankofa gets its title from the Twi language of Ghana, which essentially translates to “go back and get what was taken.” Opeyemi, Madiah and their classmates created Sankofa under the name Riptide Pictures during the fall of 2017, and the documentary debuted in May 2018. The work put in by Riptide Pictures has received high praise from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Sankofa was one of 16 winners from more than 1,600 entries around the world in the 2019 Student Academy Awards in the Documentary/Domestic Film Schools Category. This is the first time Villanova has won a Student Academy Award, though it is the fourth time a film from the University has been nominated. Past winners include esteemed filmmakers such as Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis and Cary Fukunaga. In addition to the Student Academy Awards, Sankofa won first place in the Student category at the 2019 San Francisco Black Film Festival. Opeyemi and Madiah fondly recalled filming and producing the film. They shared a memory from a night they spent with Godsway, one of the subjects in Sankofa. Early on in their trip abroad, before many of the classmates had gotten to know each other, Godsway opened up to them in a way that brought the class together. Opeyemi and Madiah also recalled spending many late nights in Garey Hall producing the film, playing music and dancing with their classmates. They both highly recommend the Social Justice Documentary course to anyone at Villanova. Sankofa collected its gold medal in the Documentary/Domestic Film Schools Category at the Student Academy Awards on October 17th, but Riptide Pictures’ run with the documentary is far from complete. Opeyemi and Madiah both expressed excitement over the future of their film, which include traveling to different film festivals. Currently, the production group is running a GoFundMe campaign to gain all that is needed to raise film festivals’ submission fees. Visit their website, https://riptidepictures.weebly.com/ if you’d like to donate or keep an eye on Sankofa’s progress. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. 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Lauren Dugan ‘16 CLAS, ‘19 MA began her journey at Villanova University in 2012 and although she is wrapping up her time here shortly, the impression that the Department of Communication has left on her – and she on it – is undeniable. After graduating from Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, Dugan decided that Villanova was the right place for her to become a critical thinker in communication – one that learns how to ask questions and be curious. The theory-based curriculum has provided her with skills she utilizes every day in the field of journalism. She reflects on her time at Villanova as building blocks surrounding her career as she looks forward to what may be next for her. As an undergraduate student, Dugan’s active role in the Villanova community is fundamental to her current work. She is a contributor and founder of ESPN U Campus Connection at Villanova, a channel that Dugan introduced and utilized to create content around sporting events on campus. She covered events such as the 2016 NCAA Final Four and National Championship, the Special Olympics and fan and team engagement. Dugan was the general manager of the on-campus television station, VTV17 and interned at NBC10, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic News Service and FOX29. She also interned at the Vatican through the Communication program and served as FOX’s Vatican correspondent before and during Pope Francis’s 2015 trip to Philadelphia, reporting local, national and international news. These experiences in journalism, fueled by a class she had taken with Emmy Award winning news anchor Keith Jones during her sophomore year, gave way to a job in Charlotte, North Carolina. While working at FOX46 Charlotte, Dugan learned that journalism is storytelling. Her passion for storytelling led her to explore situations to create a complete story. She reported on the international breaching of Charlotte’s county government – a series called “Hack Attack” that focused on how the county decided on not paying a ransom to two men overseas and how the community bounced back after the devastating financial blow. The series earned Dugan an Emmy nomination. She covered a range of stories, including riots and natural phenomena. Although her time in Charlotte is over, Dugan’s experiences continue to contribute and inform her studies in the Communication master’s program at Villanova today. After graduating and beginning her career, Dugan decided she wasn’t done at Villanova just yet. As her final semesters in the graduate program approach, she recounts how she applies what she is learning now to her work in the past and present. “The graduate classes really allow me to analyze the stories I’ve done, question how I could make those better, ask more questions and just reflect on where journalism is going and the impact that it has on the world,” said Dugan. Since moving back home to the area, she is looking for what is next. Her past, present and future are strongly shaped by Villanova and the lessons she has learned here, but the journey isn’t ending – it’s just beginning. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. 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Lauren Dugan Shares How Villanova Has Shaped Her Journalism Career
Sankofa crew interviewing a high school student in Ghana.
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by Riley Gerenda '20 MA
Lauren Dugan at the Fox46 studio in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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From Villanova to Hollywood: Riley Gerenda Shares her Villanova On Set Experience
"The grad classes have helped me analyze the stories I've done, question how I could make those better and just reflect on where journalism is going and the impact it has on the world."
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- Lauren Dugan
Lauren Dugan reporting in South Carolina after Hurricane Florence.
“Villanova On Set” is an immersive spring break experience for students interested in media production and the entertainment industry that provides a comprehensive, inside look at the world of Hollywood. Second-year student in Villanova’s Communication Master’s program, Riley Gerenda ‘20 MA, could not speak more highly about this acclaimed program in Los Angeles. Starting her academic career at Albright College majoring in English and Communication, Gerenda decided to look into graduate programs that would allow her to explore her professional aspirations. After speaking with graduate program director Tom Ksiazek, PhD, about Villanova’s graduate programs and “Villanova On Set,” Gerenda was hooked. She knew she had found her new home at Villanova University. On this jam-packed, one-week trip, Hezekiah Lewis, MFA, assistant professor, Communication, travels to Los Angeles, California with students to see the inner-workings of the Hollywood television and film industry firsthand. “Our days were filled with meetings, tours, panels and most importantly, experiences,” said Gerenda. “We had the pleasure of meeting with producers, music labels and even actors and we toured Hollywood, visiting Universal City, Warner Brothers, Disney and so much more.” For Gerenda, this trip highlighted the sheer amount of opportunity available to Villanova students thanks to its unparalleled alumni network. When asked about her coolest memories from this trip, Gerenda praised the Villanova alumni that met with and mentored the students along the way. One of her favorite experiences was meeting with Doug Deluca and Patrick Friend, two Villanova alumni who work on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, getting a tour of the facility with them and seeing a taping of the show. Students also had the unique chance to chat and network with executive vice president of production operations at Universal Television. For Gerenda, this experience meant more than just a week in Los Angeles. From it, she gained critical insight into her passion for media production and inspiration for her professional goals. To use her own words, “Villanova On Set has already opened so many doors for me and I am excited to see what’s next!” She could not express more gratitude to the Department of Communication at Villanova, the alumni and all of the organizations involved in developing such a unique program for young professionals like Gerenda. Below is a comprehensive list of all of the incredible places Gerenda and other Villanova students got to visit during their week in Los Angeles. HBO NBCUniversal Access Hollywood Warner Brothers Technicolor Artist Partner Group Sonar Entertainment Gunpowder and SKy UCLA Bochco Productions The Walt Disney Studios Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thunder Road Films Writer's Guild Library United Talent Agency The Echo Society Panavision
by Liam McCaffery '20 CLAS
Riley Gerenda at the set of Friends at Warner Bros. Studios.
"Villanova On Set has already opened so many doors for me and I am excited to see what's next."
Production
Credits
13 | VCAN 2020
- Riley Gerenda
Writers
Faculty Advisors
Dr. William Cowen Dr. Dron Mandhana Prof. James Parente Dr. Heidi Rose
Christina Buzzanco '20 CLAS
Daisha Crooks '20 CLAS Riley Gerenda '20 MA Liam McCaffery '20 CLAS Cassidy Taylor '21 MA Bowen Wiess '20 CLAS
Editors
Christina Buzzanco '20 CLAS Leen Hajjar '20 MA