UND Communication Department

Did you know that the UND Department of Communication offers an accelerated option to achieve your B.A. and M.A. in Communication together? Current and incoming undergraduate students can apply to work on both degrees at the same time with the Accelerated 4+1 Track!?????????#UNDproud #UNDcomm ? Visit the link here to learn more:?https://lnkd.in/gGWmBbT9

This week’s Alumni Appreciation features Tabitha Bartoe from Pain City, Ohio. Tabitha was a fully online student in our Communication Master’s Program. She graduated in May of 2024 with a M.A. in Communication and a Certificate in Communication Science. Tabitha currently works for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a Student Trainee in Communications under the Pathways Program, where she’s working toward her Ph.D. Tabitha is being trained to take on a permanent position as a Communication or Public Affairs Specialist at the NOAA. When asked what she enjoyed most about the Department of Communication, she said, “the professionalism, mentorship and support everyone provided to one another, as well as the well-rounded topics covered in the courses,” she shared. Tabitha explained she learned about the art of Communication from Dr. Ian Berry and Dr. Timothy Pasch, the science of Communication from Dr. Soojung Kim, and how to apply communication techniques to the real world from Dr. Emily Buteau. “With the help of the UND Communication department, they allowed me to grow as a communication scholar and launched me into the start of my dream career with NOAA!” #UNDcomm #UNDproud #UNDAlumniAppreciation #UNDCommunicationCorner

Congratulations to Dr. Joonghwa Lee for being selected as one of the UND CONNECT recipients! ?? Dr. Lee and the city of Grand Forks plan to archive unique stories of new Americans in North Dakota and showcase their journeys toward naturalization through photo and video exhibitions during the week of Constitution Day 2025, to welcome them to local and state communities. Dr. Lee was awarded $4,997 from UND CONNECT to carry out this project. Read more about UND CONNECT here: https://lnkd.in/g2563wzw #UNDproud #UNDcomm #ConstitutionDay

This week’s Spectacular Student is Maria Rahab from Moorhead, MN. She is majoring in Communication and Marketing and is expecting to graduate in 2026. This past summer, Maria was an intern with the Department of Communication for the Digital Storytelling Summit. Maria is interested in pursuing a career in media marketing in luxury fashion, and she currently works at Sephora as a beauty advisor showcasing her customer service skills and knowledge about skincare and beauty.? “I really appreciate the Communication Department’s faculty. They are extremely helpful and knowledgeable,” Maria shared. “My favorite class so far has been COMM 374: Principles of Strategic Communication with Dr. Joonghwa Lee last semester.” #UNDcomm #UNDproud #UNDSpectacularStudents #UNDCommunicationCorner

Rachael Eider, owner of RH Standard in downtown Grand Forks, stopped by COMM 102: Introduction to Communication (taught by Dr. Joonghwa Lee) to share valuable tips for dressing professionally. Thank you, Rachael, for your incredible community engagement! #UNDproud #UNDcomm

Last week, Emily Windjue, the Communication Specialist at Minnkota Power, visited the COMM 102 Introduction to Communication class. Emily is a #UNDcomm alum, and she shared examples of how her classes and experiences at UND have helped her to pursue her career in communication and public relations. Thank you, Emily!

This week’s Alumni Appreciation features Ellen Fontaine Venter from St. Paul, MN. She has lived in East Grand Forks, MN since graduating with a B.A. in Communication in 1995 and an M.A. in Communication in 1996. Ellen was also involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America at UND (PRSSA). “I’m grateful to my former?director, Lana Rakow, for the encouragement to pursue my master’s degree and provide me with a graduate assistantship position,” Ellen said. “My favorite professor was Dr. Pattijean Hooper, who was also the advisor for PRSSA.” Ellen currently works as a Contract Investigator for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency under the U.S. Department of Defense. She’s been in this position for the past 15 years. “We oversee the Security Clearance applications on jobs that impact national security and public trust, conducting background investigations interviewing, and reviewing records in order to make a suitability decision,” Ellen shared. “The public relations field prepared me to persuade people from all types of industries and backgrounds to cooperate by helping them to see the benefit to our nation and their own civic duty.”? #UNDcomm #UNDproud #UNDAlumniAppreciation #UNDCommunicationCorner?

This week’s Spectacular Student is Quinn Berg from Bismarck, ND. He is expected to graduate in 2026 with majors in Communication and Journalism and certificates in Digital News Production and Strategic Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations. Quinn is a member of the UND Communication Club and the Writing Club. His goal is to be a General Reporter for the Bismarck Tribune where he hopes to cover various stories and developments that impact the community of Bismarck.? “My favorite thing about the UND Communication Department is the sense of interconnectedness. Every one of my teachers and professors knows one another, and everything I'm learning in each class builds off the others in a way that I haven't seen outside of the department,” Quinn said. “One thing that stands out to me is how many guest presentations my professors have been able to arrange. Getting insight from various communication experts, many of them journalists with years of experience, has already been beneficial for me and my career goals.” #UNDcomm #UNDproud #UNDSpectacularStudents #UNDCommunicationCorner

Happy Veterans Day! We honor and express our gratitude today for the brave men and women who have served our country. As a reminder, there is no school today, Monday, November 11th. #UNDcomm #UNDproud #VeteransDay

Lights, camera, action! ??? Communication student, Quinn Berg, took center stage as a volunteer interviewee, experiencing life in front of the camera. A big shoutout to all the volunteers who have helped bring the UND Constitution Day Project to life! #UNDproud #UNDcomm #UNDConstitutionDay