COM Week 2012

NC State has numerous traditions and annual events, and next week welcomes an old favorite with new and exciting features. COM Week 2012 will be held March 26 – 30 and will feature a variety of workshops, lectures, networking events, and panel discussions.

One of the most anticipated events this year is a lecture by Dr. Tarla Rai Peterson from Texas A & M University. She will discuss “the nature of public forums where citizens can participate in dialogue and debate about environmental policy,” says Dr. Jessica Jameson of the Department of Communication. “She is specifically going to argue that our desire for consensus might actually be harmful.” This lecture will kick off COM Week on Monday, March 26, in Caldwell Lounge beginning at 1:30 pm.

The department is also excited to welcome back Communication alumna Shelley S. Kelly, president and CEO of Kelly MarCom. On Tuesday, Kelly will talk about the “research and development that goes into transforming an organizational brand,” says Jameson. “This should be a really interesting presentation because her organization just unveiled a complete re-branding of Kelly MarCom, and she will describe this process and experience.”

Students will also be especially interested to hear from Larry Yon on Tuesday as he discusses how to do personal branding when interviewing for a job. Following Yon’s talk, students are encouraged to visit the Career Expo that will feature more than 30 representatives from a variety of organizations.

Wrapping up the week on Friday will be a networking event for faculty and students in Winston 201 beginning at 3:00pm. Students are invited to drop by, have a snack, and talk with faculty about their research and jobs.

Jameson encourages students to take full advantage of COM Week. “The primary goals of COM Week are the same as since it began in 1985: to provide enrichment for students and engagement in the discipline outside the classroom. We want to showcase the Department of Communication and all the opportunities it offers students.”

By Lauren Williams, CHASS Communication Intern