Dr. Richard Morris

Dr. Richard Morris, professor in the School of Communication Science & Disorders (SCSD), has won a FSU Undergraduate Teaching Award for the second time.  He was also selected for this award in 2000-01.  Morris said, “I appreciate this award as it is initiated by the students and lets me know that they find value in what I teach in the classroom.”

Morris began working with the Communication Disorders department at FSU in August 1988.  He conducts research on the acoustics, physiology, and perception of voice and speech; teaches courses in anatomy and physiology, acoustics for speech and hearing, voice disorders, seminars on acoustics and voice/speech/ singing.  Morris also advises undergraduate students, and serves on university as well as other professional committees.  Since August 1994, he has been responsible for directing the School’s Speech and Voice Laboratory.

The FSU Teaching Awards program recognizes faculty for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching.  Recipients must be outstanding in many aspects of teaching which contribute to successful teaching and learning.  It is a student-oriented award with nominations submitted by students and alumni. Each recipient receives $2,000 along with the award.

Past and current award winners are listed by college at: provost.fsu.edu/faculty/awards/univ_teach

Dr. Arthur Raney

Dr. Arthur Raney, James E. Kirk Professor of Communication in the School of Communication, was recently interviewed by and quoted in The Guardian, one of the leading daily newspapers in Great Britain.

Raney, lead editor of The Handbook of Sports and Media, shared his perspective on how media coverage has made the NFL draft “the biggest non-sporting sports event.”  He also drew parallels between coverage of the draft and reality television.

Read the story published by The Guardian on April 22:
guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/apr/22/nfl-draft-2013-biggest-non-sport

Mark Rodin

Sports Video Group (SVG) selects Mark Rodin, executive director of Seminole Productions and professor at the Florida State University (FSU) School of Communication, for the 2013 SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award.  Since SVG started offering this prestigious acknowledgment in 2012, Rodin is only the second recipient chosen for his significant industry and academic media production contributions.   He will be recognized and presented with the award at this year’s SVG summit in Atlanta on May 29.

According to an SVG article about the selection, “In his 20+ years at FSU, Rodin has developed a reputation throughout the industry for being a forward thinking, risk-taker that is always on the cutting edge of broadcast technology and video production. […] Demonstrating his talent at a young age, Rodin, a 1987 graduate of FSU, earned a bachelor’s degree in media production and was named “Most Outstanding Media Production” student in both 1986 and 1987.”

CCI congratulates Rodin on this excellent accomplishment, appreciates his contributions at FSU, and feels proud he is a Seminole alumnus of the School of Communication!

Read SVG’s full story about how “Florida State’s Mark Rodin Named 2013 Recipient of the SVG College Sports Summit Pioneer Award” published on April 18, 2013 at:
sportsvideo.org/main/blog/2013/04/18/florida-states-mark-rodin-named-2013-recipient-of-the-svg-college-sports-summit-pioneer-award/

Find another SVG’s article mentioning how Rodin and ‘Florida State continues to see 3D differently’ from October 23, 2012:
sportsvideo.org/main/blog/2012/10/23/florida-state-continues-to-see-3d-differently

A story published on January 27, 2013 also commends how Rodin’s Seminole Productions provides CCI students with real-work media production experience:
news.cci.fsu.edu/comm-dis-faculty/seminole-productions-offers-real-work-experience

Mark Rodin 3D Filming at FSU Football Game. Photo credit to Sports Video Group.

The Florida State University has received a $573,554 grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for a collaborative project between the PALM Center at the School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) and the Autism Institute at the College of Medicine.

Project PALS (Panhandle Autism Library Services) is a two-year program to improve information services for rural library patrons who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

During the past two decades, ASD has become the largest growing disability in the U.S. with one in 88 children facing significant social, vocational and educational challenges. Those with ASD may have difficulties with social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, behavior and interests.

Because libraries are low stress, structured places that offer resources to participate in self-directed learning, connect with others and explore employment, they have been identified as excellent environments for those with ASD. However, there is no research and little information to ensure that this growing, underserved population will be successful in library settings.

Funded by the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program and led by faculty at two schools within the College of Communication & Information, Project PALS will develop and offer four research-based, professional development modules that will teach librarians how to better serve patrons with ASD.

Project co-directors Dr. Nancy Everhart (SLIS) and Dr. Juliann Woods (School of Communication Science & Disorders) are both national leaders in their respective fields, known for their research in the evaluation of programs.

Everhart, who is director of the PALM (Partnerships Advancing Library Media) Center, will lead the management and implementation of the project, which includes consultants and advisors at the FSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, the Panhandle Library Access Network, the Scotch Plains (New Jersey) Public Library’s “Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected” project, Syracuse University’s Project ENABLE, and others.

Woods, associate director for research to practice at the Autism Institute, will lend her expertise from the development of the Autism Navigator, a web-based early-detection tool that aids service providers in recognizing and serving children with ASD. She will be integrally involved in the development and field-testing of an Autism Navigator for Librarians to ensure its maximum effectiveness.

Three students will be supported to work on the project and at least 170 librarians will participate in the development and testing of the modules, which will be freely available to the general public.