strategic communication

No ifs, ands or buts. (Bots, on the other hand…)

Joe Arney — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:05:34 +0000

No ifs, ands or buts. (Bots, on the other hand…) Joe Arney Tue, 10/28/2025 - 09:05

Joe Arney

WooJin Kim, an assistant professor of advertising, studies the potential of artificial intelligence to influence positive social behavior. That work led to Kim’s appointment as CMDI’s first DeLuca Faculty Scholar in Advertising earlier this fall. Photo by Nathan Thompson.

Growing up in Ansan, South Korea, WooJin Kim was heavily influenced by his family. While his parents made sacrifices in order to send him to college—the first in his family to do so—it was the values he drew from his grandfather, a pastor, that shaped his experiences as a student and researcher.

“He always encouraged me to help others and to support my community and society,” said Kim, an assistant professor of advertising at the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ. “It’s why I first started looking at the potential for advertising to shape and influence human behavior, especially through advanced technology.”

Kim studies how artificial intelligence—in the form of chatbots and personalized advertising content—can position the right message in front of the right audience to drive social behavior, such as encouraging people to adopt sustainable practices, get vaccines, donate to worthwhile causes—even stop cyberbullying among students.

It’s work that led to Kim’s appointment as CMDI’s first DeLuca Faculty Scholar in Advertising earlier this fall. Kim’s work in A.I. and his impressive track record of publications—his work has been featured in the prestigious Journal of Advertising as well as the Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Business Research and others—led to this three-year appointment within the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Design.

Kim called the endowed position “a great honor that shows my research has the potential to contribute to the college and the community.”

“The more he’s able to understand—and teach—the power behind A.I., the more I can see students understanding what a wide net they can cast with it.”

Peter DeLuca (StratComm’83)

Getting Kim’s work beyond the campus is something Wendy and Peter DeLuca (StratComm’83) hope their gift makes possible.

“I enjoy talking to students when I go back and visit the campus, and this research really showcases a way to apply A.I. in a way that changes the conversation around it,” said Peter DeLuca, a retired chief creative officer and senior vice president with T-Mobile and a member of the college’s advisory board. “The more he’s able to understand—and teach—the power behind A.I., the more I can see students understanding what a wide net they can cast with it. This will help change the conversation from just displacing people or replacing jobs.”

An international perspective

Kim first became interested in the potential of advertising to positive shape human behavior as a high school student growing up in conservative South Korea. International students visiting from places like Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia showed him how diverse points of view benefited schoolwork and friendships, “which made me very curious about how I could change attitudes and raise awareness about important social issues related to diversity,” he said.

Now, as generative artificial intelligence rewrites the playbook for advertising, Kim said he sees ethical, responsible use of those tools as key to building a better society.

One example he studies is A.I. chatbots.

“During interactions between humans and chatbots, the A.I. agents can access and collect our personal data, which can raise ethical issues and privacy concerns,” Kim said. “But at the same time, by analyzing our data—education, income, demographic information—they can identify target audiences and offer personalized, pro-social messages that benefit health outcomes and the environment.”

Generative A.I. has set off waves in the creative and communication communities, as ethical, legal, privacy and other concerns disrupt the ways we gather, analyze and share information. It’s why Lori Bergen, founding dean of the college, is excited to see how this appointment helps unlock additional insights from Kim.

“What makes our college special are the interdisciplinary insights our faculty bring to new and complex problems,” Bergen said. “WooJin’s work in advertising and A.I. promises to help us rethink how new tools and evolving techniques can positively influence public discourse.”

Breaking the black box

Better literacy around artificial intelligence, Kim said, is key to unlocking its potential as an agent for positive social change. It’s why he’s excited for the DeLuca endowment, which will allow him to do more work in algorithmic transparency.

“We need a better understanding of A.I. and a better ability to critically evaluate and understand knowledge and information generated by this technology,” he said.

“I know we can use A.I. to help others, but A.I. and its underlying mechanisms are a black box. If we could build in additional transparency, so that people understand how the underlying mechanisms work, it would change how they interact with and use such tools, and influence how likely they are to accept A.I.-generated decisions.”

The DeLucas, who also sponsor scholarships at CMDI, said they hope that work helps change the way students behave online.

“He’s a great teacher who clearly loves being in the classroom,” said Wendy DeLuca, who worked in finance before devoting herself to raising her family and extensive volunteer service. “If he could just influence a handful of his own students through what he’s learning from this research, it will be impactful.”

“Bullying does not stop when you get out of high school—in some ways, it can be worse in college,” Peter DeLuca said. “We wanted to support this research because it’s an opportunity to touch an individual who then can touch multiple students, and create long-lasting impact that’s felt throughout the college and beyond.”

From left, Dean Lori Bergen, Wendy DeLuca, Peter DeLuca, WooJin Kim and Kay Weaver, chair of the APRD department, gathered to give the DeLucas a chance to meet the recipient of the endowed position they created. ‘If he could just influence a handful of his own students through what he’s learning from this research, it will be impactful,’ Wendy DeLuca said.

Joe Arney covers research and general news for the college.

A researcher who studies A.I.’s potential impact on advertising has been named CMDI’s first DeLuca faculty scholar.

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CMDI brings the conversation on immigration to center stage

Joe Arney — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 20:33:18 +0000

CMDI brings the conversation on immigration to center stage Joe Arney Thu, 10/16/2025 - 14:33

Joe Arney

Courtesy Motus Theater

For the first two years of its existence, the CMDI Distinguished Speaker Series has invited nationally recognized guests to provide insights on relevant topics like how technology encodes inequality into its products and services, and how to remedy a deeply polarized society.

While the focus on impact and important topics is the same, this year, the college invited local voices to share the stage and lead a conversation on immigration.

Boulder-based Motus Theater, which creates original works to facilitate dialogue on important contemporary issues, will stage a performance that will be followed by a panel discussion featuring journalists from The Colorado Sun, 9News and Colorado Public Radio.

If you go

What: Reapproaching Media and Migration

When: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, CASE Chancellor’s Hall, fourth floor.

Who: Motus Theater, which brings silenced histories and marginalized voices to the stage, will give a performance of UndocuAmerica, followed by a panel conversation featuring local journalists.

Why: The CMDI Distinguished Speaker Series showcases some of the most pressing challenges of our time and invites future journalists, communicators, designers and technologists to consider their responsibilities as citizens and storytellers.

The event is open to all members of the ��ƷSM��ӰƬ community and the public.

Learn more

“What this series demonstrates is that CMDI is at the center of important conversations in our society,” said Nabil Echchaibi, associate dean of scholarly and creative work at CMDI and a professor of media studies. “We’re not just isolated in our own world. What we teach, what we do research on, what we explore creatively, it all has direct relevance to the world.”

Echchaibi encountered Motus as an advisor to one of the company’s performances, and invited the group to participate in a seminar class he taught a few years ago to help the students sharpen their media literacy skills.

“One of the things Motus excels at is reframing the conversation about these communities, around undocumented immigration,” Echchaibi, noting the company has been doing such productions since 2011.

UndocuAmerica, the project Motus will perform at CMDI, was created to counter the dehumanizing portrayal of immigrants through thoughtful engagement on the challenges facing the undocumented community, as well as the assets new arrivals bring to the United States. Motus works with leaders from the undocumented community to help them write powerful stories about their lives and experiences, then showcases them in moving monologues.

Echchaibi said he hopes the audience of communicators, storytellers and designers leaves with a better understanding of “our obligation as citizens, neighbors, journalists and educators to immigrant justice and honoring life for everyone.”

“I see CMDI as a convener of these conversations at a time when fewer people are having them,” he said. “We want to give a sense of perspective, some clarity about what we are all dealing with on a daily basis. Those conversations don’t only happen in the classroom—we are trying to foster a culture of meaningful and constructive discussion about issues of great public concern.”

Joe Arney covers research and general news for the college.

A performance by Motus Theater headlines this year’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

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Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Amanda J. McManus — Wed, 28 May 2025 19:44:19 +0000

Congratulations, Class of 2025! Amanda J. McManus Wed, 05/28/2025 - 13:44

More than 900 graduates were celebrated at CMCI’s annual recognition ceremony this past May. Our newest class of Forever Buffs arrived amid pandemic and leave as outstanding scholars and accomplished leaders.

View the 2025 Graduation Celebration

William W. White honorees
Meet the most outstanding students from each CMCI major, as chosen by our faculty.

‘A rock star who is going places’
The top student in her class, Sarah Carleo, discovered her passion for public relations as a student. She’s now off to Next PR, where she previously was a standout summer intern.

Getting the message
Andrew Johnson made the most of a New York City internship with BBH USA. The top strategic communication major is thrilled to return in an account management role as he gets another bite at the Big Apple.

Bylines are fine, but…
Most college students would be thrilled at getting an Associated Press byline. So is Celia Frazier, but she measures her work in impact, not clips. She graduated as CMCI’s top journalism major.

Meet the environmental design Class of 2025
Get to know some oustanding seniors and watch the recognition ceremony.

Celebrating ENVD

Connections through design
For Serena Langdon-Dimidjian, a graduate with a dual degree in architecture and ethnic studies, design is about building community, asking deeper questions and making space for connection.

"Everything you’ve done up to this moment has prepared you to succeed in a world where you can feel the ground moving under your feet.

Lori Bergen, PhD
Founding Dean
CMCI

Our newest class of Forever Buffs arrived amid pandemic and leave as outstanding scholars and accomplished leaders.

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Summer 2025

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Ad blitz

Amanda J. McManus — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:24:34 +0000

Ad blitz Amanda J. McManus Thu, 02/27/2025 - 00:24

CMCI swept the student awards at Denver One Club, taking home a best in show and numerous other awards for their work on briefs from Kraft, Dove and other major brands.

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Spring 2025: 2 minutes with...

Amanda J. McManus — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:09:47 +0000

Spring 2025: 2 minutes with... Amanda J. McManus Wed, 02/26/2025 - 13:09

Max Pollak (Advert’10)
Creative Director, Deutsch LA

After years away from Boulder, Pollak returned to CU for a collaboration between NerdWallet and Travis Hunter. Pollak and his team shot a video where Hunter talked about the “Smartest NIL” campaign and a giveaway where fans could win a collectible cutout piece of Hunter’s contract with the brand. The highlight for Pollak? A selfie with “Heisman” Hunter.

How did you land Travis Hunter? In his Heisman season, no less?
I’m a huge CU fan with season tickets, and it just so happens that NerdWallet already has a partnership with CU. I knew Travis Hunter would be a great brand ambassador, and we even sneaked into the Coach Prime documentary.

As to the Heisman, I thought he should win it and I thought there was a big chance. I’m happy it happened, but I can’t say I predicted it.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Focus on what you love. Success comes out of that.

I’m actually stoked for what I get paid to do. I like advertising because it’s a puzzle to figure out—it’s both strategic and creative, and I like intertwining all that.

You used to be a firefighter. What’s something memorable about that job?
You never want something bad to happen—but there’s [an adrenaline rush] when you hear the bells and sirens.

My best friend—also a volunteer, now with FDNY—and I were driving to a car show when we got the page that his house went up in flames. We had to put out a fire that was going through his house, which we had played in as kids. It makes you sympathize with people.

Best compliment you’ve ever received?
I was at Barchetta recently and my wife was sitting there with our kid, and this guy walked up to me and said, “You have a great spot”—meaning the table in the restaurant. I thought it was weird, but I said, “Yeah, I know.” He was like, “Wow, how confident!” and walked away. I saw my wife was dying laughing, and she told me what he actually said was, “You have a great smile!”

Rory Fitzgerald Bledsoe
PhD Candidate, Media Studies

Rory Fitzgerald Bledsoe is a PhD candidate in media studies who runs a multimodal art gallery, Space__Space, in East Boulder. Her first exhibition, “Phones are Heavy,” ran from November through January; “Archive Fever Dream” opens in March.

Why did you want to open a gallery?
This space is public scholarship. I’m interested in creating discourse on cultural issues that transcend the limits of the law. I also ran a gallery in Boston where I gave solo shows to artists who hadn’t had one before, and it’s gratifying to elevate emerging artists and underrepresented ideas.

Was there a gallery you had in mind as you envisioned what Space__Space could look like?
I did an artist/curatorial residency in New York, at Flux Factory, and that has been a big influence on my drive for cultivating experimentation and community.

Something you hope visitors notice as they walk through the gallery?
The work, of course. And maybe the sunset-pink trim. Pink has connotations of being frivolous, but I see it as subversive—a power color. So I put it in the bottom trim around the gallery, where it’s a secret signature that doesn’t get in the way of the work.

Tell me about those sunsets.
I’m used to underground, windowless art spaces in New York and Boston. From the back of Space__Space, you can see mountains, and from the front, you get the sunset. Someday, I want to do a site-specific installation that harnesses sunsets, because they are so spectacular.

Biggest surprise?
Being able to do it. Every time you take the risk of creating something—like in Boston, running Space 121 out of my apartment, I wasn’t sure what would happen. But I’ve started to believe if you build it, when there is a thirst, they will come.

Wait, the gallery in Boston was out of your apartment? What did your landlord say about that?
They never found out. (Laughs) We had openings; we just called them parties.

Last one. A favorite work from your first exhibit?
The brilliant Flora Wilds flew in to install her sculptures, which was a magical collaboration. But I will say everyone who came in had a different favorite, and that is a mark of a resonant and successful show.

A selection of works from Space__Space’s inaugural exhibit, which closed in January. From left, works by Maya Buffett-Davis, a ��ƷSM��ӰƬ graduate student; Ana González Barragán; Devon Narine-Singh; and Flora Wilds. Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18).

A regular feature catching up with people in our community who are doing interesting and impactful work. In this edition, a commercial with Travis Hunter and a new art gallery in East Boulder.

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Student Work Gallery: Summer 2024

Anonymous — Thu, 23 May 2024 20:23:59 +0000

Student Work Gallery: Summer 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/23/2024 - 14:23

Lauren Arabia

Lauren Arabia (StratComm’24) created a social justice poster for her Visual Design class with Diane Elliston, a teaching assistant professor. Focusing on the fair trade movement within the cocoa industry, she chose to highlight the issue of child labor—an estimated 1.56 million children work in cocoa farms in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which collectively accounts for nearly 60% of global production. Arabia will continue her education at the Art Center, in Pasadena, California.

Zion Atwater

Zion Atwater (CritMedia’24) recruited two other students to participate in her documentary exploring the creative process. All three student creatives balanced work and social lives while navigating their academic journeys toward.

Ruby Begay

Singer-songwriter Ruby Begay (CritMedia’24) recorded an EP, Bones of Being, which was featured in the spring showcase for the Department of Critical Media Practices. This album was largely inspired by forest ecosystems and her love of wandering through the woods. There are three distinct songs, but much like the wilderness, they are a part of a bigger whole, leading listeners deeper into the sonic terrains of Begay’s compositional explorations.

Listen to Bones of Being

Lauryn Iverson

Inspired by her involvement with CU’s Sandbox Series, Lauryn Iverson (CritMedia’24) created an installation of three adapted Shakespeare scenes from The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. Each scene features an iconic ingénue, and the colors and flowers in the installation reflect the characters’ personalities.

Kristine Petilo

Kristine Petilo, a media production major, made an animated short as a tribute to her Filipino childhood, and dedicated the capstone project to all her Filipino viewers.

Artwork by Noah Molinaro, @gojigochi on Instagram

Lore Whittemore

For her thesis project, Lore Whittemore (MPE’24) centered her research on “spidersonas,” a type of fan art where the artist envisions some aspect of themselves or personal interest as a spider-person. This research draws upon interviews with spidersona artists, as well as an interview with a former Marvel Comics associate editor, to explore how spidersonas can advocate for social change through furthering diversified representation and providing a meaningful form of self-exploration through art.

There were two primary components produced by Whittemore for this “Expanding the Spider-Verse” project—a 55-minute documentary and a written chapter contribution for the upcoming Entering the Multiverse collection, edited by Dr. Paul Booth. The full documentary, biographies for all featured artists and updates about the release of Entering the Multiverse can be found online.

Sharing student perspectives

Students across CMCI find ways to bring together their personal interests and academic pursuits. Since the college’s founding, we have regularly showcased this diverse collection of student work.

See more student projects or submit your work for gallery consideration →

Jill Vallance (Jour'24)

Alyssa Hill (MJour'24)

Jill Vallance (Jour'24)

Alexis Block, Master of Arts in Strategic Communication Design

Jack Enright, Owen Passmore, Jack Evans, Logan Paddock, Kristen Young (StratComm'24)

Students across CMCI find ways to bring together their personal interests and academic pursuits. Since the college’s founding, we have showcased this diverse collection of student work.

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Class of 2024: William W. White Honorees

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 23:17:34 +0000

Class of 2024: William W. White Honorees Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 17:17

William W. White Outstanding Seniors are chosen by department faculty to recognize academic merit, professional achievement and service to the college. The Outstanding Graduate award honors the CMCI student with the highest overall GPA in his or her graduating class.

White, a Boulder native, graduated from CU’s School of Journalism in 1933. He was a reporter in Boulder, Denver and New York before becoming the foreign editor of Time from the early 1940s through the mid-1950s, based in London, Brazil and Montreal. At the advice of his friend Edward R. Murrow, who told him “it doesn’t matter what you do, what matters is that you do it where you want to live,” White returned to Boulder, where he started the White and White public relations firm. White and his wife, Connie, established this endowment in 1998.

Meet our graduates and read their stories.

Andrew Schwartz: College of Media, Communication and Information

Andrew's advice to students is to try everything and talk to as many people as you can—especially outside your major. That way, you'll broaden your perspective.

When it comes to impact and being able to make something I’m proud of, a big part of that is being able to make technology for the people to use it, and make things that people enjoy using and improve their lives. Info places a big emphasis on that."

Lisa An: Department of Critical Media Practice

Lisa started her CU career as a computer science major before switching to media production. She said this was one of the best decisions she ever made because through the program, she discovered a passion for photography.

"I learned that keeping your work to yourself because of the fear of not being good enough does no good. If you share your work and receive feedback, you are able to improve your craft and obtain opportunities you otherwise never would have been able to.

Elijah Boykoff: Department of Information Science

Going into college, Elijah's goals for himself were to learn as much as he could and make it to the finish line. He says he's made good on those goals, and this award is an exciting bonus.

Your professors are people just like you. Get to know them—if you are able to resonate with your professors on a deeper level, you will be much more enriched by the knowledge they have to share."

Bianca Perez: Departments of Communication, Media Studies

Bianca is the first CMCI graduate to win outstanding student honors from two different majors. She's now off to a prestigious Ph.D. program.

"What I have is like a wish coming true. You can work very hard and that can still not be enough, and I’ve seen that happen to people around me my whole life.

Sujei Perla Martinez: Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design

For Sujei, a first-generation college student, graduating means she's carving a new path for her family.

My community helped foster a place for self-discovery and encouraged me to be unapologetically myself while helping me grow within my values and beliefs."

Nic Tamayo: Department of Journalism

Nic's CMCI experience in three words: fulfilling, inspired, treasured.

"I will take with me the connections I’ve been able to make with people from so many corners of life. They’ve taught me lessons that I may never have learned without their friendship and mentorship.

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Outstanding senior: Sujei Perla Martinez

Anonymous — Wed, 01 May 2024 22:43:34 +0000

Outstanding senior: Sujei Perla Martinez Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 05/01/2024 - 16:43

By Iris Serrano
Photos by Kimberly Coffin (CritMedia, StratComm’18)

Sujei Perla Martinez was determined to take charge of her college career in the same way she takes charge of being a role model for her younger brother.

“Before college, I thought I had everything figured out since I’m the eldest sister. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Perla Martinez said. “Over the years, I learned a lot about myself as I overcame many obstacles.”

“My community helped foster a place for self-discovery and encouraged me to be unapologetically myself while helping me grow within my values and beliefs.”
Sujei Perla Martinez

And she did so in style: She’s graduating as the William W. White Outstanding Senior for the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design, having completed a degree in strategic communication with an emphasis in media design. The White awards are chosen by CMCI faculty and honor students for their academic accomplishments, professional achievements and service to the college.

Perla Martinez said when it came to overcoming those obstacles, the community she built at CMCI was key, especially the people she met through her countless volunteering experiences and her classes.

Most important was her multicultural leadership scholars cohort, the Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority, and the UMAS y MECHA student group, as well as the classroom.

“My community helped foster a place for self-discovery and encouraged me to be unapologetically myself while helping me grow within my values and beliefs,” Perla Martinez said.

Her academic and extracurricular achievements were not just due to her hard work. She said she recognizes the efforts of those who came before her who fought for her right to an education—in particular, her parents.

“Growing up, I saw my mother work hard jobs to raise my brother and me,” Perla Martinez said. “Every day, I stand on campus and try my hardest to show my mother that her sacrifice wasn't in vain.”

“I’m the first in my family to get a degree. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but I can finally say we did it.”

The first in her family to graduate college, Sujei is grateful for the family sacrifices that empowered her success.

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Culture shift

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:46:22 +0000

Culture shift Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/06/2024 - 10:46

By Hannah Stewart (Comm’19)
Photos from Get CUltured event by Jack Moody

CU Connect collaborated with various student affinity groups to form the Culturs Coalition. Pictured here are attendees from their first meeting held in early February.

Get CUltured, in partnership with Kappa Alpha Theta, hosted a Panhellenic event celebrating the cultural diversity in ��ƷSM��ӰƬ sorority life.

Over the course of their time in the College of Media, Communication and Information, strategic communication students learn to adapt, think on their feet and creatively approach problem solving.

This was especially true of the seniors completing this year’s Bateman Competition Capstone class in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design.

Each year, students participate in the national competition—organized by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)—by taking on a real life client and then planning and carrying out a campaign.

“The benefit of Bateman is the execution. It’s a small class, and having two semesters really allows students to sit with the client problem, get to know the client, plan, get feedback and work with professional advisors,” said Erin Willis, an associate professor in the APRD department who’s running the course.

Unlike other capstones, which are frequently one semester long and focus more on the planning and strategic elements of a campaign, the Bateman course includes a second semester for students to execute their plan. At the conclusion of the term, student teams in the class compile a pitchbook, submitted to the national board, in which they evaluate the campaign.

The 2024 client was Culturs magazine, a digital and print magazine and ambassador program that seeks to highlight stories of people at the intersection of multiple identities. Rather than create a campaign to increase magazine subscriptions or ambassador enrollment, the CMCI teams—named CU Connect and Get CUlturd—decided to focus on spreading Culturs’ mission to the rest of campus.

“It’s a magazine, but it’s so much more. They curate cultural experiences,” Willis said. “The way the teams wanted to respond to the brief is awesome for the client and for the campus long term. It just might not be the traditional way other schools have responded.”

This year, CU Connect ran under the slogan “Bridging the Gap” and Get CUlturd encouraged students to “Get Culturd, Stay Culturd.” To learn more and take part in each group’s campaign, follow them on Instagram.

CU Connect

Get Culturd

From left to right: Rebecca Cordingley, Kaitlyne Fallahi, Isabella Rohrer, Brianna Centeno, Alex Baughman

From left to right: Olivia Oosterhouse, Isabel Pitalue, Nalina Datta, Elizabeth Baker, Henley Beisert

Each team had access not only to Willis—who has experience in public relations and marketing communications—but also local professionals. Adjunct PR professor Bailey DeCamillis mentored the CU Connect team while Jane Dvorak, president of JKD & Co., mentored Get CUlturd. Both teams also benefited from the expertise of Jeffrey Spivock, a senior vice president at communications and PR agency Weber Shandwick.

Their expertise was invaluable to the students, especially given they were tasked with creating campaigns for a client whose mission is to promote diversity and inclusion, and whose brand is largely grounded in tangible products. Both teams concluded that Culturs was most valuable as a tool that could be used to talk about culture on campus.

“We’re hoping everyone understands that CU has its own culture and it’s important to bring our cultures to the university,” said Isabel Pitalue, of Get CUlturd. “So, we really wanted to spread the message rather than the magazine. If you feel misrepresented and you see articles about your culture, it can make you feel more empowered.”

Similarly, CU Connect appreciated how Culturs emphasizes the importance of global community while featuring stories about individual people’s experiences.

In order to prompt these conversations, both teams have used a mix of social media, tabling on campus and events to connect with students.

One such event Get CUlturd organized was a Panhellenic event to highlight the diversity within CU Greek life. They also collaborated with the Boulder chapter of PRSSA to host a seminar series featuring experts in marketing, journalism and sports media.

Meanwhile, using the student surveys, the CU Connect found students were most interested in learning about culture through music and food. As such, much of their campaign centers around promoting new cultural experiences through food with discounts offered at restaurants such as Centro Mexican Kitchen, Pasta Jay’s, Blofish Sushi and Sushi Hana. But they’ve been most excited about their Culturs Coalition, which has brought together over 15 student affinity groups on campus.

“I think it has the most potential to stay on campus, because we had people ask us, ‘Are you going to put someone in charge of this?’ and ‘How can we make this last?’” said Brianna Centeno, of CU Connect.“Knowing that you have this magazine that’s catered toward you, as a person of color or someone with many cultural experiences, is a really good resource for the coalition.”

The campaigns officially ended March 5. The teams are compiling their observations, findings and reflections into a report to submit to the competition’s board for review.

“The teams have absolutely blown my expectations away. The things they think about and have managed to execute have been awesome,” Willis said. “I want to win, but ultimately, this brief is about culture, diversity and the in between. The two plans that have been rolling across campus have been so good for ��ƷSM��ӰƬ. I’m so proud of them.”

The Get CUltured team achieved an honorable mention for this year's competition. This marks the second year in a row that CU students have been recognized for their campaigns.

Strategic communication students participating in the Bateman Competition this year brought a unique perspective to a challenging assignment.

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Student Work Gallery: Spring 2024

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:26:40 +0000

Student Work Gallery: Spring 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 02/27/2024 - 14:26

CMCI students from all departments develop their portfolios through classes, competitions, internships and more.

Here we have collected a variety of student work that highlights their personal and professional passions explored during their academic careers at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ.

View the work

Students across CMCI find ways to bring together their personal interests and academic pursuits. Since the college’s founding, we have showcased this diverse collection of student work.

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strategic communication

No ifs, ands or buts. (Bots, on the other hand…)

An international perspective

Breaking the black box

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CMDI brings the conversation on immigration to center stage

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Congratulations, Class of 2025!

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Ad blitz

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Spring 2025: 2 minutes with...

Max Pollak (Advert’10)Creative Director, Deutsch LA

Rory Fitzgerald BledsoePhD Candidate, Media Studies

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Student Work Gallery: Summer 2024

Lauren Arabia

Zion Atwater

Ruby Begay

Lauryn Iverson

Kristine Petilo

Lore Whittemore

Sharing student perspectives

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Class of 2024: William W. White Honorees

Andrew Schwartz: College of Media, Communication and Information

Lisa An: Department of Critical Media Practice

Elijah Boykoff: Department of Information Science

Bianca Perez: Departments of Communication, Media Studies

Sujei Perla Martinez: Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design

Nic Tamayo: Department of Journalism

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Outstanding senior: Sujei Perla Martinez

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Culture shift

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Student Work Gallery: Spring 2024

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Max Pollak (Advert’10)
Creative Director, Deutsch LA

Rory Fitzgerald Bledsoe
PhD Candidate, Media Studies