CCI at ECA and SSCA Conventions

The College of Communication and Information was recently represented at two conferences: the Eastern Communication Association (ECA) convention in Boston, Massachusetts, in late March and the Southern States Communication Association (SSCA) convention in Houston, Texas, in early April.

Betsy Crawford, CCI’s Development Coordinator, staffed a table at both conferences to introduce the College’s graduate programs to the students presenting posters and papers. “As undergraduate students who are actively engaged in research, they are the ideal candidates for graduate programs,” said Crawford.

At ECA, doctoral student Trayana Kaleycheva presented her research, “Attachment Style, Perceived Intimacy, and Risky Behavior in Online Dating,” which investigates how maladaptive attachment styles influence sexual behaviors and online dating practices and experiences with a focus on the role of online communication’s specifics in the process. It also examines the impact of these attachment styles on communication patterns, emotional outcomes related to online dating, and user satisfaction with their experiences on dating platforms.

Dr. Jaejin Lee presented “[Integrated Marketing Communication] Campaigns and Preventing Hazardous Behaviors” on the Applied Learning: IMC Projects and Community Impact panel. 

During the presentation, Lee introduced several projects she conducted with her students, including FSU Measure Up, an initiative regarding ethical sexual awareness and sexual violence, The Real Project, a social norm initiative to correct misperceptions about student alcohol use, and a marketing communication campaign for Seminole Dining aimed to enhance sustainable behavior on campus.

“I strongly believe that this type of partnership is mutually beneficial, allowing students to engage with and contribute to the community while also offering a sense of accomplishment from their coursework,” said Lee. “The organizations gain valuable insights into critical issues at FSU, demonstrating a win-win scenario for both students and the university.”

School of Communication alumna Christine Willingham also attended ECA. Crawford and Lee connected with her at Lee’s presentation. 

At SSCA, Graduate student Brooke Gagliano and faculty members Drs. Richard Waters and Patrick Merle co-authored a paper accepted, “The Emergence of Stewardship and Corporate Social Responsibility as Public Relations Strategies by United States’ Marathon Organizers.”

Kaleycheva also attended SSCA, where she presented “Burnout in Online Dating: What Factors Influence Emotional Exhaustion Among Online Daters” during a panel focused on the impact of technology on interpersonal communication at SSCA. “I would recommend to the Communication students interested in research to consider submitting their work to regional conferences like the ECA and SSCA,” said Kaleycheva. “These venues offer a more relaxed atmosphere for discussing research findings and provide greater opportunities for personal interaction with peers in the field.”

Congratulations to the students and faculty for all their hard work with their research and presentations!