Help Wanted!

The college is looking for a new alumni relations manager and assistant director of development. So I am asking you to think among your friends and colleagues, check your Rolodexes — if you still have them — if not, your Facebook friends, or polish up your resumes. You may be the best reference for the person who links you and our other alumni to our schools, college and USC.

Elaine Taylor, now newlywed Elaine Taylor Arnold and now newly on the development staff of the athletics department, held the position for seven-and-a-half years. Elaine, a 2003 public relations alumna, and the job both grew over those years. While we miss her effervescence in the office and her enthusiasm for all things Gamecock, we're proud of her accomplishments. She shaped our college alumni society, tripled membership in the Dean's Circle of giving, created the "street team" of student aides for college events. But it was about time we shared Elaine with the rest of the university.

We're looking for someone to join the other recent arrivals on our development team. Elizabeth Quackenbush became the college's senior director of development in August. Annie Lambert, a 2008 visual communications graduate, joined us as our administrative coordinator in May. We hope you'll get to know them both. It's a lot of change for our small staff in a short period of time. And it comes at a time when the university is in a capital campaign and the college has major fundraising goals for both schools.

So, we are looking for a colleague to continue building our alumni relations and development efforts. The job description is online at USCjobs.sc.edu. We expect to fill the position early in the new year. Thanks for any help you can provide in finding the right person for the job.

Elaine is one of 227 graduates of the college whom we have identified in positions across the university. There are strong cohorts, of course, in our School of Library and Information Science, School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the university libraries and communications staffs. But you'll find our grads in the administrative offices in Osborne, on the athletics and coaching staffs, in development and on the staffs of other colleges.

You'll read about some of them in the cover story of our Fall 2012 issue of InterCom, the college alumni magazine which is at the printer and on its way to you shortly. We'd always like to know more about how you are using your USC degree, wherever you may be. We rather like the idea that we are pervasive, like kudzu, but in a positive and productive way.

Charles Bierbauer

Follow @cjbsc

College News

Pardun Travels to Tbilisi, Georgia

Dr. Carol Pardun, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia, in November as part of a federal partnership grant headed by visual communications professor Dr. Keith Kenney. Pardun visited the Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management where she met with faculty and administrators, sat in on classes and assisted in the school's accreditation process.

Read more about the partnership grant

"The Mildly Attractive Men of SLIS" Calendars for Sale

The 2013 "Mildly Attractive Men of SLIS" calendar is now for sale. Produced by the Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA), the calendar features photos of the men of the School of Library and Information Science and are based on action movies.

The calendars are $15 each if they will be picked up in Davis College, or $19 each shipped. The proceeds will support LISSA members' attendance at state and national library conferences.

To purchase, contact Carolyn Delton at 803-777-3858 or delton@sc.edu.

Journalism Professor Receives Excellence in Teaching Award

Advertising professor Karen Mallia was presented with a Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching award during a ceremony on Nov. 1. Mallia was nominated for the honor by senior advertising student Claire Richard.

Each year, Mortar Board Honor Society members nominate professors that made a significant impact on them and who demonstrate a motivation to educate, enlighten and inspire their students. Thirty-six faculty members were honored at the ceremony, which took place in the Gressette Room of Harper College.

Students work with Curing Kids Cancer

Dr. Brooke McKeever's public relations writing students have spent the semester writing fact sheets, press releases, social media posts, newsletter articles and more. Instead of using a fictional client, they have been working for Curing Kids Cancer, an Atlanta-based charity founded by J-school alumnus Clay Owen and his wife Grainne. In November, the class assisted at the charity's fundraising event "Battle Kids Cancer with the Gamecocks." Read Anitra Hall's article and see photos and video of the event

"Gibbes" Cocky a Home

Cocky is finally getting a place to rest, kick up his feet and enjoy a good book. A variety of current and former student leaders are raising money to memorialize Cocky in bronze at the heart of campus on Gibbes Green. As a valuable part of USC's traditions, service projects, and school culture, Cocky is an exemplary icon for what it means to be a Gamecock. His work with Cocky's Reading Express™ has helped elementary school children across South Carolina gain access to quality books and literacy materials. Cocky's devotion to childhood literacy will be immortalized on the statue, which the university hopes to debut in 2013. For more information and to donate

Homecoming Week Events

Alumni Awards

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications honored five graduates at its Alumni Awards on Nov. 8. Read a recap of the event and see photos and video

Gamecocks on the Green

The college's annual Homecoming reception, Gamecocks on the Green, took place on Friday, Nov. 9 on Gibbes Green. More than 175 alumni, faculty, staff and students joined us to celebrate. See video and photos from the event

Remembering Hugh Munn

If you knew Hugh Munn, you know his love of teaching. You also know about his earlier careers in journalism and law enforcement. Each of his careers brought him great joy, and earned him the respect of colleagues far and wide.

The public relations sequence faculty in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina are establishing an award to honor his legacy. We wish to make annual monetary awards to deserving public relations students in his honor.

Hugh was a beloved instructor in the journalism school. A former student, Jesse Collin, said, "Mr. Munn was a great public relations professional and a great teacher, but he was an even better man. In class, he shared his life experiences and taught me the ins and outs of how to respond during a crisis. But Hugh Munn's greatest lesson was his life itself."

We have heard Jesse's sentiments echoed by many of Hugh's students, and that is why we can think of no better way to honor him than to make these awards to the students he so deeply cared about.

Please help us honor Hugh. Your tax-deductible gift of any amount will carry his legacy to future public relations students. Please make your check payable to USC Education Foundation and write "Hugh Munn Award" on the memo line. Mail it to:

Attn: Annie Lambert
School of Journalism and Mass Communications
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208

With deepest appreciation,

LINKS

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School of Journalism and Mass Communications

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Newsplex at the University of South Carolina

South Carolina Center for Children's Books and Literacy

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Convergence Newsletter Blog

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Buchheit Family Lecture Series
Jan. 23, 7 p.m., Gambrell Auditorium
"The Political Landscape after 2012"
Dan Balz, Washington Post political correspondent

Carolina Day at the State House
Feb. 6

For more information, contact Annie Lambert at lambert@sc.edu
or (803) 777-6791.

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PHOTOS

Gamecocks on the Green
Mentor Match Night
Scholarship Luncheon