Hovering over a stormwater management pond behind 麻豆视频’s Schar Center, an agricultural drone demonstrated how unmanned aircraft are changing the way farmers manage their fields.

Capable of carrying more than 10 gallons of liquid, the aircraft was presented by Preston Cave of PAC Aerial Applications during the 2026 麻豆视频 Drone Day on Oct. 30. From crop spraying and fertilizer applications to autonomous navigation powered by artificial intelligence, the annual gathering highlighted the diverse uses of drone technology.

Nearly 160 people registered for the School of Communications event, which brought together industry professionals, educators, students and drone enthusiasts for presentations, demonstrations and networking.

Since 2021, 麻豆视频 Drone Day has become an annual gathering for North Carolina’s drone community. Organized by Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Randy Piland in partnership with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), the event welcomed representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, North Carolina Department of Transportation, several universities and private companies.

This year’s program emphasized artificial intelligence, with Sambit Bhattacharya, professor of computer science and director of the Intelligent Systems Lab at Fayetteville State University, delivering the keynote address, 鈥淧reflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us 麻豆视频 Trustworthy AI.鈥�

Bhattacharya explained that aviation’s emphasis on safety, testing and accountability offers lessons for the responsible development of AI. Drawing on research involving autonomous navigation, confined-space inspections and wildfire detection, he demonstrated how intelligent machines can perform complex tasks without direct human control, while cautioning that these advances require rigorous testing and human oversight.

鈥淎viation did not get saved by building the perfect aircraft,鈥� Bhattacharya said. 鈥淚t got saved by assuming things will fail, and it builds a culture 鈥� checklists, recorders, investigations, reporting 鈥� that learns from every failure.鈥�

He also highlighted 麻豆视频’s 鈥�Human Wisdom for the Age of AI鈥� initiative, emphasizing that human judgment remains essential for evaluating evidence, verifying results and ensuring accountability.

Beyond the keynote, a panel featuring Cave, Maddy Gastler and Seth Nagy examined agricultural applications, including crop spraying, seeding and multispectral imaging. Other presentations addressed drone mapping for disaster response, invasive plant species detection, and advances in flight planning technology.

Afternoon demonstrations behind Schar Center gave attendees an opportunity to see the technology in action. Among the three participating organizations was Raven Advisory, a Fayetteville-based company specializing in drone training, testing and autonomous technologies.

Wearing first-person-view (FPV) goggles and gripping a handheld controller, Raven Advisory operator James Stougaard piloted a drone at seemingly warp speed. The goggles provided a live video feed from the aircraft’s camera, allowing him to navigate from the drone’s perspective.

The event also featured a drone soccer demonstration by students from Asheboro City Schools, who showcased their piloting skills during the fast-paced competition.

This year’s participants ranged from FAA-certified drone operators to newcomers with no previous drone experience. Students from Hillside High School in Durham and Asheboro High School joined representatives from 麻豆视频, Fayetteville State University, Guilford Technical Community College, N.C. A&T State University, N.C. State University and Wake Technical Community College.

鈥淲hat makes 麻豆视频 Drone Day special is the diversity of people it brings together,鈥� Piland said. 鈥淲e had everyone from experienced commercial pilots to students just beginning to explore drone technology, all sharing ideas and learning from one another. Seeing that kind of enthusiasm and collaboration is exactly what this event is about.鈥�

Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory offered a candid assessment of modern political campaigns and President Donald Trump’s influence on the Republican Party during an Oct. 27 conversation with students in Assistant Professor Israel Balderas‘ Politics and Mass Media class.

The virtual classroom discussion came just two days after McCrory appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” giving students an opportunity to continue a national political conversation with a former governor who has spent more than two decades in elected office.

Drawing on that experience, including seven terms as Charlotte’s mayor and one term as governor, McCrory criticized candidates from both major political parties for emphasizing campaign promises while avoiding substantive discussions about the issues they would confront in office. He pointed to North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, arguing that Republican Michael Whatley and Democrat Roy Cooper have focused on issues outside a senator’s direct responsibilities rather than outlining their positions on foreign policy, Social Security and other federal matters.

“What you do as a politician now to get the votes is you state what the problem is over and over, and then you say you’re going to solve it, or you say I’m going to have a plan to fix it without giving any of the details of the plan,” McCrory said.

The criticism prompted a question from Miri Pottebaum 鈥�27, a visual communication major, who asked whether candidates could capture voters’ attention by discussing substantive national issues rather than familiar campaign themes. McCrory reasoned that candidates deliberately avoid taking positions on difficult issues because doing so could alienate independent voters and provide ammunition for political opponents.

No president, no presidential candidate in ’28, Republican or Democrat, will tell you what they plan to do on Social Security. Mark my word.

鈥撀燜ormer North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory

For Pottebaum, the exchange reinforced the importance of engaging with differing political perspectives, a central theme of the course.

鈥淲hile he didn鈥檛 change my opinion on anything, I feel it鈥檚 always important to be in conversation with people who share different opinions,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 appreciated that he was open with us and criticized both parties.鈥�

The former governor also reflected on his complicated relationship with Trump, whom he accompanied on the campaign trail in 2016. Responding to a question about Trump鈥檚 impact on the reputation of the Republican Party, McCrory credited the president with attracting blue-collar voters who historically supported Democrats. But he also criticized Trump’s confrontational style, contrasting it with the approach of earlier Republican leaders.

“Where he’s hurt the Republican Party is his crassness and his principles,” McCrory said, describing himself as more of a Reagan Republican. “He brought in a crassness that we’ve seen in politics, but never at the presidential level.”

Despite those criticisms, McCrory acknowledged Trump’s personal appeal and recalled finding him surprisingly courteous and attentive during private conversations. He also described how Trump’s endorsement of Ted Budd dramatically altered the trajectory of McCrory’s unsuccessful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign, illustrating the president’s considerable influence.

For Balderas, who previously covered McCrory as a television journalist for FOX Charlotte, the Zoom visit offered students an opportunity to examine the complexities of political communication beyond headlines and campaign sound bites. He structured the conversation like a gubernatorial news conference, asking each of his 12 students to develop a substantive question for the former governor.

“Whether students agree or disagree with a political figure, there is tremendous educational value in hearing directly from someone who has governed, made difficult decisions, navigated political controversies and experienced the scrutiny of the news media,” Balderas said.

Balderas praised the students for their thoughtful questions and willingness to engage directly with difficult political issues.

“They weren’t simply asking questions to fulfill an assignment,” he said. “They were genuinely engaging with some of the most consequential issues facing American politics today. These students approached that responsibility with confidence and intellectual curiosity.”

In an age when people are bombarded with messages competing for their attention, students at 麻豆视频 and Queens University of Charlotte recently faced a challenge: How do you create something that makes people stop, take notice and, ultimately, decide to vote?

For students in the universities鈥� respective visual communication and graphic design programs, the answer came through a shared assignment encouraging civic engagement ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The collaboration, which brought together students and faculty from both institutions to create nonpartisan Get Out the Vote posters, marks the School of Communications鈥� first academic partnership with Queens since the universities announced their intention to merge.

The initiative was sparked last spring by Melissa Gamez, associate professor of design and director of graphic design and studio art at Queens, who contacted Ben Hannam, associate professor and chair of 麻豆视频’s Department of Visual Communication, with an idea.

鈥淲hen I learned that we were merging with 麻豆视频, I wanted to reach out and see if there was a way for us to get to know each other and collaborate,鈥� Gamez said. 鈥淎IGA’s Get Out the Vote campaign seemed like the perfect vehicle for this.鈥�

The American Institute of Graphic Arts’ nationwide voting campaign encourages designers to use their creative talents to promote participation in the electoral process without endorsing political parties or candidates.

Hannam embraced the opportunity, incorporating the project into his Visual Communication II: Studio Practices in Design course. At Queens, Gamez introduced the assignment in her Typography course.

While the students worked from their respective campuses, they shared a common objective: creating visually compelling messages that could cut through the noise of everyday life.

鈥淚n my class we talked about how difficult it is to get someone鈥檚 attention and that we鈥檙e living in the age of the attention economy,鈥� Hannam said. 鈥淭he average person is bombarded by messages and designers are always looking for ways to break through the clutter and noise.鈥�

With that in mind, Hannam encouraged students to look beyond visual appeal and carefully consider the concepts and tone behind their work. Some posters emphasized civic responsibility, while others addressed the consequences of not voting or the importance of selecting representatives who reflect voters’ priorities.

Gamez emphasized similar considerations at Queens, where students explored how creative typography could capture attention in public spaces and connect with a campus community.

One standout example was a poster by Queens student Leslie De La Cruz-Guzman 鈥�29, who incorporated bold colors and a playful reference to vintage Calvin Klein jeans advertisements to connect with her intended audience.

At 麻豆视频, Hannam highlighted the work of Elise Whitaker 鈥�27, whose poster involved constructing a patriotic outfit and staging a carefully composed photo shoot to communicate pride in personal identity.

Together, the universities produced nearly three dozen distinct voting concepts, offering different perspectives on a shared civic message.

鈥淲hat I like most about this project is that we have 35 different approaches to encouraging people to vote,鈥� Hannam said. 鈥淎s you walk through the exhibition in Schar Hall, you’re bound to find a message that resonates with you.鈥�

Those varied approaches were showcased in 鈥淐ivic Health: Midterms Matter,鈥� an exhibition featured on both campuses. At Queens, the posters were displayed in the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement from Oct. 19-25, while 麻豆视频’s exhibition is housed on the second floor of Dwight C. Schar Hall.

The posters have also been accepted into 麻豆视频鈥檚 , extending their reach beyond the physical exhibitions.

Other posters on display

The School of Communications will host its annual 麻豆视频 Drone Day on Friday, Oct. 30, bringing together recreational and commercial pilots, industry professionals, educators and students for a day of presentations, demonstrations and networking in Turner Theater and Snow Family Grand Atrium. The free event, organized in partnership with the North Carolina chapter of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (NC AUVSI), is open to the public, but registration is required.

This year’s program will place a particular emphasis on AI, with Sambit Bhattacharya, a professor at Fayetteville State University, delivering the keynote address, “Preflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us 麻豆视频 Trustworthy AI.”

Bhattacharya’s presentation will explore how the aviation industry’s emphasis on safety, testing and accountability can inform the development of trustworthy AI systems. Drawing on research from , he will examine how autonomous drones make decisions, the challenges of deploying AI in real-world environments, and the importance of ensuring that emerging technologies operate reliably.

Teaching Professor of Visual Communication Randy Piland, who organizes 麻豆视频 Drone Day, said the keynote reflects both the growing role of artificial intelligence in drone technology and 麻豆视频’s broader efforts to encourage conversations about AI across academic disciplines.

“It’s been percolating in my mind for several months about how we can tie into 麻豆视频’s effort to broaden the AI arena or broaden the discussion of AI in programs that we have,鈥� Piland said. “So many of the new autonomous drones rely on AI to make it work.鈥�

That interest led Piland to Bhattacharya, whose research at Fayetteville State focuses on the application of artificial intelligence in unmanned aerial systems. Shortly after Bhattacharya accepted the invitation, Piland learned that to expand its work involving AI and unmanned aerial systems.

Beyond the keynote, the program will highlight the expanding applications of drone technology across several industries.

A panel featuring Preston Cave, Matt Solomon and Seth Nagy will examine the use of drones in agriculture, including crop spraying, seeding and multispectral imaging, which helps farmers assess crop conditions and make more informed decisions about their fields.

Other presentations will address low-cost, open-source drone mapping for disaster response, the use of unmanned aircraft to detect and manage invasive plant species in parks, and updates on drone flight planning and management technology.

The day will kick off with a drone soccer demonstration by Asheboro City Schools, as well as a vendor showcase. In the afternoon, attendees will take in flight demonstrations in the parking area behind Schar Center.

Established in 2021, 麻豆视频 Drone Day has developed into an annual gathering for individuals interested in the evolving drone industry. The event welcomed a record 185 attendees, vendors and volunteers in 2025.

Piland said that despite the industry’s rapid evolution, the event’s original mission has remained unchanged.

鈥淲e want to provide an opportunity for local drone enthusiasts and professionals to come together to exchange knowledge and network, so that they can have an outlet to improve and find solutions to things they’re trying to do,” he said.

2026 麻豆视频 Drone Day Program

8鈥�8:45 AM
Vendor Setup

8:45 鈥� 9:10 AM
Atrium Welcome & Vendor Show
Coffee and pastries (Provided by Blue Ridge Mountain Drone Education, WING & ELON AI)

Asheboro City Schools 鈥� Drone Soccer Demo
Wendy Graham (Center, Snow Atrium)

9:20 AM
Welcome by Associate Dean Tony Weaver (Turner Theatre)

9:25 AM
鈥楶reflight Checks for Intelligent Machines: What Drones Can Teach Us 麻豆视频 Trustworthy AI鈥� 鈥� Dr. Sambit Bhattacharya (Turner Theatre)

10:10 AM
Low-Cost, Open-Source Drone Mapping for Disaster Response in Resource-Constrained Settings 鈥� Michael Berryann, NCCU (Turner Theatre)

10:40 AM
Drones in Agriculture Panel 鈥� Preston Cave, Matt Solomon, Seth Nagy (Turner Theatre)

11:25 AM
Leveraging UAS for Invasive Species Detection and Treatment in Parks 鈥� Al Cire, Raptor Drone Services (Turner Theatre)

Noon
ALOFT | Drone Sense | Versaterm Update 鈥� Kevin Teen, Allen Yanow (Turner Theatre)

Lunch
Move to Schar Center Rear Parking for Lunch and Demos

Demos
Raven Advisory (Schar Center Parking)
Pac Aerial App (Schar Center Parking)
Wilstair Drone Eng Solutions (Schar Center Parking)

Vendors/Supporters

For award-winning journalist , that disconnect raises a troubling question: Why has a humanitarian catastrophe of such magnitude received so little attention?

During an Oct. 20 lecture at 麻豆视频, Neiman shared firsthand accounts from her recent reporting trip to Sudan鈥檚 Nuba Mountains, where she documented the experiences of civilians, fighters and medical workers caught in the conflict.

鈥淓ven before my departure, I was overwhelmed, frankly, by the scale of loss in Sudan,鈥� Neiman said. 鈥淵et, this crisis received limited space and attention in our newspapers and television programs.鈥�

Her lecture, 鈥淢edia Matters: Covering Sudan鈥檚 Civil War,鈥� was co-presented by the Pulitzer Center and the School of Communications. To see event photos, .

Neiman explained that securing support for the reporting trip required months of persistence. Alongside photographer Guy Peterson, she spent five months pitching stories to news editors, encountering repeated rejections. Some considered the region too obscure, while others were reluctant to send journalists into dangerous territory.

鈥淚t had been aggravating to spend so much time feeling as if I was literally begging people to just care about Sudan,鈥� Neiman said.

Once in Sudan, she encountered more stories than she could possibly tell.

Among those she interviewed was a displaced mother whose husband and teenage son were killed in a drone strike. Despite struggling to feed her surviving children, the woman had taken in two additional children orphaned by the fighting.

For Neiman, the encounter illustrated both the devastation of war and the extraordinary compassion that persists amid suffering.

Throughout her lecture, Neiman challenged students to consider journalism鈥檚 responsibility to people whose experiences and struggles often go unseen 鈥撀爓hether in distant conflict zones or their own communities.

鈥淲hat does it mean to truly bear witness? Why should we open ourselves up to the suffering of others with compassion and empathy?鈥� she asked.

Near the conclusion of her lecture, Neiman recalled asking interview subjects what they wanted for their futures or what message they hoped to share with the world.

鈥淎lmost always, people told me simply that they wanted peace,鈥� she said.

Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and 麻豆视频鈥檚 liaison to the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 Campus Consortium, welcomed attendees before the lecture. Ethan Wu 鈥�27, a 2026 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow who investigated water pollution near Beijing, introduced Neiman.

麻豆视频鈥檚 partnership with the Pulitzer Center

麻豆视频 is a longtime member of the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 , a network of colleges and universities supporting journalism on critical global issues. Through the partnership, student journalists receive mentorship and guidance throughout the reporting and publication process.

For more than a decade, has built a reputation as one of Charlotte鈥檚 most trusted journalists, reporting on breaking news, holding public officials accountable, and keeping his community informed.

On Oct. 9, as part of the university鈥檚 Homecoming Weekend, the WSOC-TV reporter returned to his alma mater to receive the School of Communications鈥� 2026 Outstanding Alumnus Award.

Bruno, the 16th recipient of the honor, was recognized during the school鈥檚 Alumni Campus Connect gathering in Snow Family Grand Atrium, surrounded by students, faculty, staff and fellow graduates. Among those in attendance was retired journalism professor Rich Landesberg, Bruno鈥檚 longtime mentor, whose presence made the recognition especially meaningful.

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Since graduating in 2014, Bruno has established himself as a leading voice in investigative journalism, earning Walter Cronkite, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia, Edward R. Murrow and George Polk awards, along with six Emmy Awards. He was named to Forbes鈥� 30 Under 30 list in 2020, and his investigative reporting helped expose election fraud in North Carolina鈥檚 9th Congressional District, drawing national attention.

鈥淲ithout Rich and without this school, this kid from Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, would have never had any of these opportunities,鈥� Bruno said during his acceptance remarks. 鈥淭hank you, 麻豆视频, for everything you have given to me.鈥�

In presenting the award, Communications Dean Kenn Gaither praised Bruno鈥檚 professional accomplishments and his commitment to the communities he serves.

鈥淚t is always gratifying to watch an 麻豆视频 graduate succeed, but there鈥檚 something particularly special about watching one of our own become such an important and trusted voice in the community he serves.鈥�
鈥� Dean Kenn Gaither

Gaither also highlighted Bruno鈥檚 continued connection to 麻豆视频, noting the significance of honoring him in the same atrium where Bruno and fellow alumnus Gary Grumbach 鈥�16 organized two years earlier.

鈥淭hat day, Joe was here to honor someone who helped shape him,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淭oday, in the very same space, we have the privilege of honoring Joe.鈥�

The connection came full circle when Bruno, visibly moved, spotted Landesberg standing among the attendees and thanked the former professor for his guidance and friendship.

鈥淚 also could not have done any of this without my Rich Landesberg, who I consider a member of my family,鈥� Bruno said. 鈥淵ou are a trusted adviser and friend, and you have made such an impact on my life and so many others.鈥�

Gaither also shared praise from Landesberg, who described Bruno as one of the hardest-working students he had ever taught.

鈥淗e is tireless in his commitment to holding the powerful accountable and making sure the people of Charlotte know what is happening in and around their city,鈥� Landesberg said.

At home at 麻豆视频

During his acceptance remarks, Bruno recalled how his mother first introduced him to 麻豆视频, a university unfamiliar to many in his hometown. But during a campus visit, he found himself drawn to the school’s student television studio, where the opportunity to gain hands-on broadcasting experience helped convince him 麻豆视频 was the right fit.

As a high school senior, Bruno began watching Phoenix 14News broadcasts, eager to join the student journalists he saw on screen. Once he arrived at 麻豆视频, he quickly became involved in the student news organization, gaining on-air and production experience within weeks of starting college.

鈥淭he best thing about 麻豆视频 is I didn鈥檛 have to wait until my junior year to get involved,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was able to hit the ground running right as a freshman.鈥�

Equally influential were the relationships he developed with fellow student journalists. Bruno recalled an environment where students challenged and supported one another, united by their enthusiasm for reporting and serving their community.

鈥淲e never competed against each other. We rooted for each other,鈥� he said, explaining that the collaborative spirit continues to shape how he approaches his work today.

Addressing current students, Bruno encouraged them to embrace their interests and make the most of the opportunities available at 麻豆视频.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 about news, whether it鈥檚 about sports, whatever you do, keep that light under you and pursue what you are pursuing with all of your heart,鈥� he said.

Alumni return to connect with students

Bruno鈥檚 recognition was a highlight of Alumni Campus Connect, an informal networking event where eight graduates shared career insights and advice with current students.

Dan Erdman 鈥�06, vice president of creative media at WWE, drew a crowd of students interested in his work in sports entertainment. Nearby, students connected with Los Angeles-based actress, writer and producer Paige Hullett 鈥�16 to discuss careers in Hollywood and Women of the 麻豆视频 Entertainment Empire (WEEE), the alumni organization she leads. Also returning to campus was recent graduate Anjolina Fantaroni 鈥�26, now a reporter at WAFF 48 in Huntsville, Alabama, who offered a firsthand perspective on transitioning from 麻豆视频 to the professional newsroom.

Participating alumni included:

• Halle Brennan 鈥�21, Sales Associate Manager, Amazon Ads
• Joe Bruno 鈥�14, Reporter, WSOC-TV
• Dan Erdman 鈥�06, Vice President of Creative Media, WWE
• Anjolina Fantaroni 鈥�26, Reporter, WAFF 48
• Caroline Grell 鈥�17, Program Manager of Product Development Program, Capital One
• Paige Hullett 鈥�16, Los Angeles-based actress, writer, producer, president of Women of the 麻豆视频 Entertainment Empire
• Becky Lane 鈥�95, Senior Vice President-Marketing Development Manager, Bank of America
• Sarah Stone Richter 鈥�19, Growth Marketing Manager, Quantam Health

, professor of visual communication, is a co-editor of 鈥�,鈥� published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. The book explores the principles and practices of immersive learning, offering educators a framework for creating meaningful educational experiences that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction.

The publication traces its origins to Motley鈥檚 time as one of 麻豆视频鈥檚 Center for Engaged Learning Scholars, when he focused his research on immersive learning and its role in higher education.

That work eventually led to a collaboration with six other researchers from the United States, Canada and Australia, who sought to establish a shared definition of immersive learning and identify the essential components of these educational experiences.

鈥淢y interest in immersive learning practices originated with my experiences teaching a Winter Term course in the Interactive Media graduate program at 麻豆视频,鈥� Motley said. 鈥淭he course required students to travel internationally and partner with a community organization to create a digital media project. It paired the intercultural learning component of study abroad with the community-engaged aspects of community-based learning, creating a deeply impactful learning experience for students.鈥�

In 2024, Motley’s international research team published 鈥淒efining Immersive Learning鈥� in the peer-reviewed journal Teaching and Learning Inquiry. The article received the journal鈥檚 Nancy Chick Article of the Year Award, recognizing the significance of the team’s contribution to the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Building on that research, Motley partnered with Beth Archer-Kuhn of the University of Calgary in Canada and Michelle J. Eady of the University of Wollongong in Australia to co-edit the new collection.

The book examines immersive learning as a collection of high-impact educational practices that challenge conventional approaches to teaching and learning. Such experiences can include study away programs, service-learning, internships, clinical practicums and work-integrated learning, all of which connect academic study with meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.

Organized into four sections, the publication begins with a foundational overview of immersive learning before examining its six defining components and their applications in higher education. Seven case studies drawn from different disciplines and international contexts illustrate how these practices take shape in educational settings.

The final section looks ahead, offering critical perspectives and forward-thinking ideas about the future of immersive learning in colleges and universities.

The collection is intended for faculty members, curriculum developers, graduate students preparing for teaching careers and others interested in the future of higher education.

Wedged between Germany, France and Belgium, the small European nation has three official languages 鈥� Luxembourgish, French and German 鈥� while English and Portuguese are also widely spoken, reflecting the country鈥檚 large immigrant population and international workforce.

This fall, an exhibition at 麻豆视频 will offer the campus community a closer look at how those languages intersect with the country鈥檚 history, culture, education and migration.

鈥淭he Luxembourgish Language(s)鈥� exhibition will be on display in the lobby of Steers Pavilion from Monday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Oct. 9, before moving to Sato Commons from Nov. 8-12.

Across 10 poster exhibits, the exhibition traces Luxembourg鈥檚 linguistic story and examines how multilingualism functions in daily life. QR codes connect visitors with interactive experiences, while a touchscreen display offers additional videos and activities.

The exhibition was developed by the Zenter fir d鈥橪毛tzebuerger Sprooch (ZLS), a Luxembourg-based language research and policy institute supported by the country鈥檚 Ministry of Culture.

Derek Lackaff, associate professor of visual communication, coordinated 麻豆视频鈥檚 hosting of the exhibition. His interest in Luxembourg includes what he describes as the country鈥檚 鈥渓inguistic landscape鈥� 鈥� the ways language appears throughout the visual world, from signs and packaging to billboards and digital interfaces.

It is a subject Lackaff also incorporates into his Contemporary Practices in Visual Communication course, where students examine how visual designers approach text and typography in multilingual settings.

鈥淭he goal of the course is to expose students to new ideas and opportunities in design,鈥� Lackaff said. 鈥淚t uses language as a bridge to connect visual design to bigger, interesting questions about communication and culture.鈥�

Students in the course consider both local and international examples, providing a broader view of how designers communicate in spaces where multiple languages coexist.

Lackaff worked with ZLS sociolinguist Sarah Muller to bring the exhibition to 麻豆视频.

鈥淲e are happy to see this interest in our exhibition on the Luxembourgish language and languages in Luxembourg.鈥� Muller explained. 鈥淲e hope the 麻豆视频 community enjoys learning more about the Luxembourgish context, and the exhibition also offers much more beyond that: Visitors can increase their awareness of multilingual societies in general and the sometimes unusual contexts of small languages. Such insights are relevant well beyond the Luxembourgish or even a European context.鈥�

The exhibition has drawn support from across the university, with co-sponsors including the Department of Visual Communication, School of Communications, Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, Department of World Languages and Cultures, and German Studies Program.

For Lackaff, that broad campus involvement reflects the exhibition鈥檚 connections to larger conversations surrounding global education, culture and communication.

鈥淭he exhibition themes connect well to many conversations we are having around campus and with our students,鈥� Lackaff said.

The exhibition will also complement several campus celebrations and hosted events this fall, including National Humanities Week, the Mountain Interstate Forum on Languages & Cultures and International Education Week.

School of Communications faculty members earned research and teaching honors and shared their expertise on topics ranging from artificial intelligence and internships to mentorship and First Amendment issues at the .

Held Aug. 5-8 in New Orleans, the conference brought together journalism and mass communication educators and scholars from around the world to present research, exchange ideas and explore emerging issues across the communications field.

Several 麻豆视频 faculty members were recognized for their work during the conference.

Shanetta Pendleton and Michele Lashley, assistant professors of strategic communications, earned second place in the Teaching Paper Competition for their research, 鈥淓xploring the Perceived Efficacy of Custom AI Chatbots in Public Relations Education.鈥� Their study explored how course-specific AI chatbots can serve as instructional supports in undergraduate communications courses, providing students with additional opportunities for formative feedback and iterative learning. The findings highlight the potential for thoughtfully designed AI tools to complement classroom instruction by helping students refine their work and deepen their learning while encouraging responsible and ethical AI use.

Qian Xu, professor of strategic communications and A.J. Fletcher Professor, and Jenny Jiang, associate professor of visual communication, were recognized during the Internships and Careers Interest Group鈥檚 Top Refereed Research Paper Session. They presented 鈥淎I in Media Analytics Job Postings: A Computational Analysis of AI Mentions, Expectations, and Semantic Networks,鈥� a study analyzing more than 5,400 media analytics job postings to examine how AI is mentioned, framed and structurally embedded in job descriptions.

Presentations and panels

麻豆视频 faculty also contributed to research and teaching sessions examining mentorship, internships, emerging technologies, workplace experiences and First Amendment concerns.

• Israel Balderas,聽assistant professor of journalism, served as a panelist for 鈥淐ompelling Faith: The Growing Tensions between the Free Speech, Free Exercise, and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment.鈥� The panel examined how recent Supreme Court rulings are reshaping debates over religious expression, compelled speech and civil rights in schools and universities. Balderas also moderated 鈥淒isrespected and Derailed: Women of Color Journalists Covering the Trump Administration,鈥� a research panel examining the experiences of women of color journalists covering the administration.

• 

  Vanessa Bravo, professor of strategic communications,聽served as a panelist for the teaching session 鈥淢entoring Minoritized Students and Fostering Resilient Young Professionals,鈥� which examined how faculty can mentor and support students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Bravo also served as a discussant for 鈥淢edia, Vulnerability, and Empowerment: How Mediated Spaces Both Endanger and Support Marginalized Groups鈥� and moderated the International Communication Division teaching panel 鈥淕lobal Inclusivity in Comparative Research: Experiences and Reflections.鈥�

• Hal Vincent, associate teaching professor of strategic communications, moderated a research panel session, 鈥淪potlight: Research Scholars Exchange,鈥� and served as a discussant for multiple refereed research paper sessions. He also moderated the members鈥� meeting for the Internships and Careers Interest Group.
• Qian Xu and former 麻豆视频 Comm faculty member Chris Chen presented 鈥淐ustomizing Communication Styles in Claude: Control Benefits, Cognitive Cost, and Task-Dependent Effects鈥� during a scholar-to-scholar refereed research paper session on AI and relationships. Their research examined how different levels of customization and task type influence psychological responses in human-AI interaction and perceptions of AI-generated output.

As digital editor at WUSA-TV, a CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., Rosenthal handles a wide range of responsibilities, from writing for the station鈥檚 website and producing social media content to gathering sources and reporting in the field. The journalism major said she fell in love with news reporting when she was in high school, which led her to apply to 麻豆视频.

鈥淚 joined my high school newspaper club in ninth grade, and it was the 2016 election season,鈥� Rosenthal recalled. 鈥淭here was a ton of news, and I got the 鈥榥ews bug,鈥� and I’ve been doing it ever since.鈥�

At 麻豆视频, Rosenthal found opportunities through student media to develop her reporting skills outside the classroom.

鈥淚 feel like the hands-on experience that I got working with my peers and friends, and actually going out and doing reporting, and putting together a paper every week showed me more of the skills that I use on a day-to-day,鈥� Rosenthal said.

She also credits The Pendulum鈥檚 critique sessions with teaching her how to receive feedback and use it to improve her work.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to qualify a mistake or qualify a reason why you did this or that,鈥� Rosenthal said. 鈥淲hat I learned so much from critique was how to take feedback and move forward and use that in the next piece. Now I鈥檓 somebody who asks for feedback all the time because, I think, in part, because of those critiques.鈥�

Those lessons have followed Rosenthal into her professional career. Earlier this year, she spent three weeks covering a murder trial in Fairfax, Virginia, an assignment she described as a significant learning experience.

鈥淢y station sent me to a murder trial in January, and I spent three weeks covering a very high-profile case every day in court, and that has been a huge learning and teaching moment for me,鈥� Rosenthal said. 鈥淚 feel like I learned so much from covering this trial, especially as somebody who has covered many court hearings and smaller things.鈥�

For current 麻豆视频 students interested in journalism, Rosenthal recommends getting involved in student media early and pursuing the subjects that interest them.

鈥淢y biggest advice is to be involved in student journalism,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust start doing stories and meeting people and doing things that are out of your comfort zone. When I was at 麻豆视频, I was interested in courts. I would go to the courthouse in Graham to pick up court documents for stories, and go to the police station, and pick up crime numbers, and things like that. If there’s something that you’re interested in, just start doing it.鈥�

Like Rosenthal, Phengsitthy discovered her love of writing through her high school newspaper, where she served as editor-in-chief. She brought that interest to 麻豆视频, double majoring in Communication Design (now Visual Communication) and Media Analytics while becoming heavily involved with 麻豆视频 News Network.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been a writer,鈥� Phengsitthy said. 鈥淚 know that people don鈥檛 really like talking about high school when they talk about their experience, but high school is when I really started.鈥�

Phengsitthy served as design chief of The Pendulum during her sophomore year and managing editor as a junior. She credits those experiences with providing the foundation for her professional journalism career.

Everything I did in 麻豆视频 News Network is what set me up for my journalism experience today. I joke with my friends that ENN was like my third degree in college because I got so much done and learned so much there. From just writing every single day, that’s what helped me get better.

鈥� Nyah Phengsitthy 鈥�23

While at 麻豆视频, Phengsitthy interned with Bloomberg Law on its environment desk. Following graduation, she returned to the organization through a rotational program and now works as a health reporter. In that role, she has covered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, drug pricing and other complex issues affecting the pharmaceutical and health care industries.

Her work at Bloomberg Law requires reporting on complex subjects, but Phengsitthy said young journalists shouldn鈥檛 feel pressure to become experts on every topic they cover. Instead, they should focus on developing the skills necessary to find knowledgeable sources, understand complicated information and explain it clearly to readers.

鈥淏e an expert in being a reporter and writing and learning how to break down information for your readers,鈥� Phengsitthy said.

Phengsitthy also encourages 麻豆视频 students to complement their campus journalism experience with internships that allow them to apply their skills in professional settings.

鈥淵ou can have all the skills, and you can have all the clips that you have from ENN, but it鈥檚 more powerful if you go and get to apply them somewhere else,” she said, noting the value of internships. “The more experience you have, the better.

鈥淭he job market is really hard right now, but I feel like if you鈥檙e able to show that you can get your foot in the door somewhere, that鈥檚 good.鈥�