From the Catwalk to Commencement : Korean American model Catharina Lee balances college and modeling

By Alan Ince

George Mason University, junior, Catharina Lee has had to miss over a month of school in the past two semesters to work as a model. You may remember hearing about her on the Victoria’s Secret Model Boot Camp help in the latter half of 2009. The work load in college is rather intensive and to miss over a month of school, while remaining an honor student, seems impossible. Or is it, how does she do it?
Catharina, or Cat as she prefers, always felt she would get into modeling. At a young age she felt that she had about two options for her future career. “I’ve always thought that, well this is dumb but when you are tall and skinny your only purpose is to play basketball or model.” When she started modeling at 17, she was “freakishly skinny and tall”, but now she is more comfortable in her skin than ever before.
“It’s hard to make it as a model because I’m different. If an African American or Asian was the make it big it would give us so many more opportunities.” Cat uses current model superstar, Chanel Iman, as motivation. Iman is a mix of African American and Korean, and bridges the gap.
Her Korean background comes along with strict and supportive parents. Her parents are her biggest support system, while requiring studies to be priority. It came as a shock to her when her family approved of her missing a month of school for the Victoria’s Secret Boot Camp. A month back when she needed to miss classes again to participate in Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week 2010, her family knew she had what it took to balance work and school.“My family pushes me and wants me to succeed. They are happy for me and know that I have to make school a priority.”
Cat is a public relations student and says she loves the Communication Department at Mason. She talks of caliber of professors she gets to be instructed by, along with their understanding. Since Cat has to travel, she finds herself working ahead of the syllabus, so when the impromptu opportunities come about, she is prepared and has a plan worked out with her professors.
Being in the fashion industry and a public relations student, she sees a relation. They are both cut throat and truthful. “You have to expect the unexpected. In the last hour before the runway show at Fashion Week, my schedule changed 4 times. In the last hour! Its chaos, good chaos, but chaos “, she laughs.
When Cat graduates she plans on moving to New York to model along with public relations. Fashion PR would be ideal.
Cat isn’t signed to an agency as of yet. “You get 100 no’s, before your first yes”.

Chris Wilson

By Andrew Purcell

South African leader Nelson Mandela has just been released from a reclusive twenty-seven year prison sentence on charges of sabotage, amongst other crimes committed while leading the movement against racial segregation. The ensuing media frenzy from all across the globe swarmed the scene with a ferocious froth bringing top news anchors from around the world to cover this historic event.
South African native and George Mason University Communication professor Chris Wilson was present for all of it. In fact Professor Wilson’s story began growing up in the very town Mandela was imprisoned, Johannesburg. The moment that created such a journalistic genius was not immediately apparent for Wilson who reclaims in an interview that his initial dream had been to “live in a cabin in the woods and write fiction.” After realizing this dream was not reality and would certainly not be conducive to basic survival, nor the support of a family, he quickly came to his senses and began to embark on a personal journey to discover his true passion in journalism.
Wilson left South Africa at the age of twenty-two to travel Europe and did so for approximately eighteen months jumping from one country to another before ultimately reaching Italy, in which he taught English to students in Florence. This was Wilson’s first introduction to the world of academia and a path that he would unknowingly revisit in just a couple short decades.
Shortly there after Wilson abandoned his teaching position in Florence and moved to New York City to live off a rich uncle for a while in Greenwich Village. Still unable to shake his bug for creative writing he eventually landed a job with United Artists in the story department giving input and important feedback as to what scripts showed potential for the company to pick up. New York is also the location Wilson met his wife of thirty-five years, and just as things seemed to be moving in the direction he had always planned, the untimely passing of his father thrust him back to South Africa to tend to family business.
Realizing the lack of creative positions back in Johannesburg, Wilson finally began to use his degree in Economics, which he had all but forgotten in his search of creative success. As he puts it, “I was just at the right place at the right time,” and he began the economic journalism that he still practices today writing for a local South African magazine called Financial Mail. He continued to build his resume adding freelance credits that included popular North American publications such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the Economist. Still settling into his new responsibilities as a journalist his desire to cover action stories was on the horizon as South Africa was entering, as Wilson provides, “a bloody revolution” with the long anticipated release of apartheid combatant, Nelson Mandela.
From this point forward Wilson’s life would forever change as he had his phones tapped, was pursued by police, and was thrust into danger on a regular basis. South Africa at this time was not safe and he recalls telling his wife that the first tank he sees drive by their door, she and their newborn son would be on the next plane back to the United States. As events played out, this never happened but Wilson being hooked on the thrills of what was happening dove head first into his work helping to shine the light on the oppressive political system, and prided himself on being able to get this information out to the world.
As the events in South Africa began to wind down Wilson capitalized on his journalistic success and joined the staff of Reuters, which would ultimately begin his tour back to the United States. Wilson’s first stop was Boston in which he worked as the Bureau Chief of the North East for the U.K. based news service before assuming chief editorial duties in Canada for three years.
Finally, Wilson would arrive back on United States soil as the Chief Correspondent on Capital Hill and resumed his academic post as a journalism professor at American University to satisfy what he called “a crying need” to teach. However, with the university showing very little interest and support in supplying the development necessary for the course, Wilson again stepped down. It would be a chance meeting with George Mason Communication professor, Steve Klein, that would once again lure Wilson back into education giving him a genuine sense of interest and the freedom to develop his vision.
The idea that Wilson once had to educate students on real life scenarios, giving them that competitive edge, with the ability and knowledge to get their foot in the door, has finally come to fruition as his brainchild, Business and Economic Journalism, is now a regular part of the communication curriculum at George Mason University.

Jason Warren

By Alex Jackson

Jason Warren, a college professor, is going to give Alex Trebek a run for his money. With his sarcastic sense of humor and brutal honesty, Jason would be able to handle the Los Angeles scene and the fame of the next Ken Jennings. But until his dream of becoming a game show host comes true, Jason will be enjoying the inner workings of the Communication department and Forensics team at George Mason University.
With a Masters in Communication Studies from University of Texas-Austin (Go Orange!), Jason Warren stands out in the community as a young professor with a vocabulary and passion for teaching well beyond his 28 years. Not only is he a professor in the department, but Jason is also the Assistant Director to the nationally recognized George Mason Forensics team, an intercollegiate speech troupe. Jason began his extemporaneous speaking career in middle school when his duet-acting partner became sick. Without experience in Extemporaneous speaking, Jason won first place in the competition, and 2nd place in the following one. A big thanks to that duet-acting partner, because Jason went on to coach at a speech camp in Austin while in high school, as well as coached 9 AFA finalists in multiple speaking competitions while attending UT-Austin, and received 2 national titles in Extemporaneous speaking while at Northwestern.
After taking one of Jason’s classes, I was surprised at the fervor Jason has for teaching at such a young age, but learned it his passion for his students that gets him out of bed every morning.
“You really get to see people grow and learn and interact when you get that one-on-one time”. Whether it is holding Forensics sessions, watching speeches, or being an academic advisor, Jason enjoys the experience of mentoring his hardworking students who yearn to acquire more knowledge. While he never thought that George Mason’s prestigious Communication and Forensics Department would want to have him as a faculty member, Jason went far enough in proving his passion to be elected the 2008-2009 Professor of the Year in the Communication department.
“I wasn’t even there when I received it.” Jason was supporting an alma mater of his during the Communication department luncheon when his colleague, Peter Pober, called and said, “You’re professor of the year!” Jason’s response: “Are you kidding? Really?”
“It was really an honor and really, really overwhelming…as an educator, you never quite know what your students really think of you”. Of course, Jason’s students fully understand why he received this award and really admire Jason’s spirit for teaching. “To be honest, I think I got it because I’m accessible…I think there are some professors, across the university, who stand up and go through the motions, and I don’t do that, and it keeps students awake and happy.”
It would be very difficult to fall asleep in a class Jason is teaching. Whether it is by making examples of Survivor contestants, analyzing a chart-topping Rihanna song, or observing YouTube videos from a National Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament, Jason uses any attention-getting outlet to connect Communication and students together. My peers and I would leave his classroom dumbfounded by how he was able to connect lyrics of a song to the self-penetration theory, but Jason has a different result in mind. “I hope my students walk out the door, not with answers, but with lots of questions and with the capability to find the answers to those questions”.
Jason has passion. Whether it is for game shows and their intellect, extemporaneous speaking, or for his multitude of eager students, Jason has vigor that could light a fire under anyone. Every student that is graced by Jason’s teaching gets a kick in the right direction and leaves his classroom with a passion for Communication. After naming his accomplishments within his passions, Jason responded, “I must be doing something right.”

George Mason Communication professor seeks to research new area of Health Communication Field

By Danielle House

When college students enter a classroom, we frequently disregard the possibility that many of professors have made significant contributions to their field outside of the classroom. Some professors have respectably chosen to dedicate their knowledge and talents to education; others take on projects that produce knowledge and introduce new concepts to their fields of study. At George Mason University, many professors make significant contributions inside and outside of the classroom. Dr. Anne Nicotera, Associate Chair of the Department of Communication, is one professor who works just as hard on research projects as she does to educate students.
Dr. Nicotera received her PhD in Organizational and Interpersonal Communication from the Ohio University School of Interpersonal Communication in 1990. Since then, she has produced a vast amount of new research for the Communication field. In 2003, Dr. Nicotera published a large scale survey of two organizations that became the beginning of the development of her theory on communication and meaning structures that she has applied to nursing. Her latest work includes ground breaking research in the study of communication between nurses. She has paid special attention to the way communication affects the nursing work environment including variables such as turnover rates and patient care.
Recently, Dr. Nicotera’s research efforts have received a significant amount of attention. Along with partners from George Mason’s nursing department, Dr. Nicotera is leading a research project in which a local hospital will survey their entire nursing staff to collect data on communication practices in the hospital. Her passion for this cause is apparent when she speaks about the efforts of this initiative.
“This research project is very exciting because it will give us a large data set that has previously been unexplored; we will be able to study how communication between nurses relates to patient care and give us clues as to how we can help improve nurse’s organizational communication to better patient care and increase retention of nursing staff in hospitals.”
The results of Dr. Nicotera’s research project will influence future theories and communication practices in the nursing field.
In addition to her exciting research efforts, Dr. Nicotera is working hard to improve George Mason University’s Communication Department. As the new Associate Chair, Dr. Nicotera is very excited about the department’s growth and development. In addition to her distinguished resume and accomplishments, there are many other faculty members of the Communication department who are internationally recognized in the field. “I want students to realize that the faculty members of our department are top knowledge producers; they are people who work hard to contribute research and theories to their field as well as educate aspiring communication professionals,” she said. She also noted that the faculty includes internationally respected professionals in all areas of communication.
Dr. Anne Nicotera is making quite an impact on the communication field. The results of her research project will affect the communication practices of the nursing profession. She is constantly working to improve George Mason University’s Communication program which will benefit its students. As George Mason’s students enter the professional field, they will contribute the knowledge they received in their degree programs. Dr. Nicotera’s research projects and impact on her students will certainly improve the communication field.

A Different Kind of Health Care Reform: The Fairfax County Health Literacy Initiative

Professor Mike Dickerson

Conversations about important health care reform aren’t stirring up in nearby Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill, in the Senate, or in the White House. But they are taking place between local government agencies, community organizations in Fairfax County. However, it’s a different type of health care reform that is being discussed. This joint effort is as bi-partisan as it can get.
A planning team of government officials and health professionals from the Fairfax County Health Department along with Inova Health System, George Mason University’s Center for Health & Risk Communication, and several area non-profit organizations are convening in a joint effort to address critical health literacy issues in Fairfax County. The Fairfax County Health Literacy Initiative was born out of a partnership between the Fairfax County Public Library and Inova Health System, Northern Virginia’s largest health care provider in 2007 according to the National Institute of Health. The initiative aims to identify potential partners, review best practices from other community efforts, study related research opportunities, investigate appropriate funding resources, and encourage networking.
The two-tiered project aims to improve health literacy by both health care professional and the health care consumer. The first tier of the initiative included the “Easy to Read Health Information for Health Care Consumers” in order to educate Inova health care providers. The second tier of the initiative involves the planning of members from the Fairfax County: Public Library, Parks & Recreation Authority, Senior Centers, as well as Social Service agencies, several non-profit organizations, which are also on board the community based grass-roots organization.
“You can just imagine the power of effective communication within the health care industry and the potential it has.” said Dr. Gary L Kreps, Chair of the Department of Communication and Director of the Center for Health & Risk Communication at George Mason University, whose center is committed to using evidence-based strategic communication to reduce health risks and promote well being. Also, Dr. Kreps mentioned that “the Fairfax County Health Care Literacy Initiative will develop projects and outreach to provide information about health and health promotion and materials to: children, the elderly, immigrants, and people with low levels of income.”
With the same spirit off innovation that Inova Health system and George Mason University was founded on, the Fairfax County Health Initiative seems like the synergistic partnership the Washington D.C. can learn from when innovating health care reform.

Kempsville Graduate Makes Strides to Successful Career

This spring, college students all over the country will graduate. They will enter a job market that is full of prospective employees but extremely short of job opportunities. With such a surplus of applicants, the job market is more competitive now than it has been since the Great Depression. It is now even more crucial that applicants are able to set themselves apart from other prospects. Internships are a great way to achieve this.
George Mason University’s Communication Department has worked hard to create internship opportunities for its students. Many students have taken advantage of these opportunities. Abbi Boose is one Communication student who has excelled in her internship. A Kempsville High graduate, Boose is an intern at LeapFrog Solutions Marketing firm in Oakton, Virginia. She has many responsibilities, all of which are preparing her for her future career. From client interaction to research to preparing award submissions so the company can be recognized for its achievements.
These tasks are all very important to the success of LeapFrog Solutions. As Boose completes them, she is learning about what it takes to make a company successful. This is important to her, as she aspires to own a business one day. Through her internship she has been able to learn firsthand about the behind the scenes work necessary to make a business run. She is learning how to represent LeapFrog Solutions to clients and other players in the business world, which will prove to be a useful skill in her future career.
A Communication major with a tourism and events management minor, Boose one day hopes to run a wedding planning business. The wedding planning field is very competitive and frequently difficult to enter into. It is her hope that she will be able to work in the Public Relations field for a few years while doing an apprenticeship at a wedding planning firm. After those experiences she will have the contacts and skills necessary to be successful in the wedding planning industry.
Boose has already excelled in many aspects of her busy life. She has maintained a high level of academic success during her four years of school. She has also held many positions within her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. Her most important position was being elected by her sorority to serve on George Mason’s Pan-Hellenic Executive Council. During her term, Boose coordinated campus-wide events such as Pan-Hellenic sorority recruitment and Greek Week.
These experiences, combined with her internship experience at LeapFrog Solutions will go a long way to help Boose in her future career. Thanks to her hard work in her internship, her commitment to academic excellence, and her ability to balance extracurricular activities during her undergraduate years she will stand out as an excellent candidate for any job she chooses to apply for. She is certain to become one of Kempsville High’s successful alumni.

Beth Jannery Finds Her Simple Grace at George Mason University

By Alan Ince

How would you define success? George Mason University adjunct professor, Beth Jannery, would say that it is, “Doing what you love and getting paid for your passion.” Beth is a former journalist and editor, book writer, animal lover, humanitarian, and mother of two who feels like the most successful person in the world.

Beth started off in journalism at the age of 20 with a hands-on internship at CNN’s Investigative Unit. She thought she was be your everyday intern running errands, but their spin on getting experience was a little different from what she expected. Beth said that from day one, they told her, “You are a reporter.” So she went right into the field of reporting as a 20 year old intern. She loved the energy, and that propelled her to pursue a graduate degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University.

Directly after graduate school, she went to Bangkok Thailand, where she was a journalist. Among her experiences in Thailand, she was able to interview hill tribes, and her experiences helped her become fearless in the field. “Looking back, I can’t believe how fearless I was and probably couldn’t do it now. I got to tell stories that would have never been told.”

Now at the age of 39, Beth’s resume’ is rather impressive. She has taught at Harvard University, Marist College, American University, and now George Mason University who was ranked the Number One College to Watch by U.S. News “America’s Best Colleges 2009″.

For a time she was working as a reporter/editor for the Pentagon. She was married at the time. Her ex-husband was attending Harvard’s Business School. She then landed a job in communication at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard. That required a move back to Massachusetts from the D.C. area. She then landed another job covering the military for The Journal of Electronic Defense, where she had to interview high ranking military personnel. She then realized that she really cared for working with people. She no longer wanted a 9-5 job. “It drove me crazy,” said Beth. She chose to move from hard journalism. That lead to book writing and motivational speaking. She wanted to know what she could do to give back.

Beth’s father was a professor in music, and she thinks that may have somehow made an influence on her decision to teach. “I enjoy interacting with people who are excited and passionate about their careers. I wanted to come to work at Mason because it was ranked the number one school to watch. As an adjunct at GMU, I couldn’t ask for more. Being surrounded by the caliber of professors at Mason, It’s unbelievable and I love it! The professors at George Mason are not your old, retired professors who just teach, these people are extremely educated, still in the field, and have more to offer than you could ever imagine. Mason is like a living reference book. All the professors along with the students are still eager to learn, and the professors are proud to teach.” Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by a living, never ending reference book?

Beth took a stab at her first book, written in her 20’s, called Shut The Hell Up. George Magazine quoted it as, “The Oddest Self-Help Book of the Year.” The title definitely get’s your attention, but it is literally 101 reasons to appreciate life. Beth spends a decent amount of time continuing her series of books called Simple Grace.

Simple Grace is a sojourn to simplicity using your own compass to map out and discover the truth about who you are. Stop worrying about what might happen tomorrow and start relishing in what today reveals. She is now working on the fourth book in her Simple Grace series called Simple Miracles.

She finds inspiration in several facets of life, and in her book Simple Grace: Daily Joys, you will find her quoting Nelson Mandela several times. She also finds inspiration from her two daughters, Skye and Tess. “My daughters make me stop and be fully present. When I’m writing I tend to get in my zone and isolate myself. I never question a higher power, they are my two angels. They look at the world in such a fresh perspective. They don’t give up hope, which is another reason I enjoy teaching because you are all so hopeful and not jaded,” says Beth.

Beth has made the transition from hard journalism to educating and finding small wonders and daily joys.
Beth Jannery’s books are readily accessible on her website www.BethJannery.com and www.amazon.com. Expect Simple Miracles this fall 2010.

Phoenix

By Alex Jackson
“Andrew, get that damn piece of paper!” was the last piece of advice that Drew “Phoenix” Purcell, a Communication major at George Mason University, heard from his father. Drew was in the midst of his music enthusiast phase that would end up lasting a lifetime. Since the‘90s grunge that catapulted his passion for music and the opportunity to work on music tours for artists such as Matchbox 20, Avril Lavigne, or Gavin Degraw, Drew has a developed mania for music. More over, he knew he needed that degree and more, he found his fix in the field of Communication.
At the ripe age of 20, Drew knew he wanted to live his life discovering the newest talent in the music industry. Working for The Syndicate, a music marketing and promotion company, in 2002 gave him the opportunity to spear major music production campaigns. It put him in dead center of the communication line between the record label and the listeners. Having been able to cultivate relationships in the music industry Drew realized he wanted to cultivate relationships with the future of the industry and join the artist and repertoire (A&R) field. The primary duty of an A&R representative is to attend shows, discover musical talent, make a personal connection with the artists, and court them into the professional side of the industry. All of this having been something Drew did regularly outside of work; he knew A&R was the perfect fit.
Who wouldn’t want to make a career out of doing something you love? But it takes a lot more than going to shows and meeting bands to be successful in this industry; you must be able to communicate.
After Drew’s father advised him to earn a degree, Drew enrolled into the Northern Virginia Community College in Fairfax, Virginia and earned his Associate’s Degree. Wanting to pursue his dream of music, he dreamed of attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA ever since he was a young teenager. After having to forgo that dream, Drew enrolled into George Mason University as a Communication major with an emphasis in Public Relations. George Mason is well-known for their prestigious Communication department, award-winning professors, and of course the Final Four. But why would Drew choose Public Relations over, perhaps, Music Theory?
“I love generating relationships and talking to people…I have a passion for communication.” Not only does Drew’s eclectic style and enormously vibrant, and sometimes large, headphones make his passion for music evident, when he presents himself to a room of strangers he commands attention and respect, showing his passion for communicating with those around him.
“Communication and Public Relations is all about generating relationships, establishing rapport, and maintaining that.” Along with working for The Syndicate, Drew also worked for Octagon, an entertainment-consulting firm, doing celebrity acquisitions and endorsements, and went on to found his own music production label, AP Label Group. Having an outstanding resume and an entrepreneurial quality does not come from good looks and charm, but from the ability to generate and maintain relationships, as well as a positive reputation, and Drew has undoubtedly mastered this core foundation of Communication.
Drew has Communication down pat, but what about the strength to withstand the pressure and judgments made in the music industry? About making it in the music industry, Drew states, “ You have to have a thick skin and negotiate around obstacles with people, and that’s life in general.” Not only is that life, it is part of the curriculum in the George Mason Department of Communication. “The skills I’m learning here at George Mason are helping me to navigate around those different obstacles, and are extremely important lessons for me…it’s been awesome.”
You are probably thinking Drew had planned on getting a college degree since high school graduation. Although a very good student and impressive in the classroom, Drew responded to my inquiry about wanting a degree as follows, “I was never fond of school…Do I really need it? Not really.” Drew takes pride in things that make a difference to himself, including but not limited to, “talking to people and learning about them, looking into their soul, the art of body language, eye contact, tone of voice…real life s***!”
Why take the risk of enrolling in a university when the things you want to learn about aren’t in a textbook? Regardless of that answer, Drew is a student for a reason. “What I’m hoping for with a degree in Communication is for more of a launching pad and giving me the know-how…although I do not need a degree, it sets me apart from many others.”
In the music industry, it is not Drew’s colorful sneakers, tall Mohawk, or diverse music selection on his iPod that make him unique; it is his eternal passion, desire to generate relationships, and a degree from George Mason University that set him apart. Receiving an education from George Mason goes far deeper than pleasing music industry officials and his future is very bright.
“Open every door to every opportunity. If the door is locked, find a window and break into it…although, I myself have never been much of a high risks person. But I made a promise to my father, to get that damn piece of paper.”

Megan Billingsly

By Andrew Purcell

On July 20, 2009, the legendary Washington D.C. based talk superstation, WJFK-FM, shifted its programming to an all sports talk format after over twenty years, leaving the careers of many dedicated employees hanging in the balance. The change came after the long success of some of radio’s most notorious disc jockeys, which included such cornerstones as Howard Stern, G. Gordon Liddy, and Don and Mike.
One particular individual directly affected by this event was George Mason University graduate, Megan Billingsly. She began her academic career as Chemistry major before abandoning the goggles and a lab coat all together in favor of public relations and radio workshops. Billingsly has been a member of the WJFK team since her final semester at Mason in 2003 where she began her journey in radio as an intern to the National Sales Manager before ultimately accepting a fulltime role in June of that same year.
After less then a year Billingsly’s production had been so superior, that the station promoted her to the National Sales Coordinator in which she managed the station’s monetary assets while making sure that they were being handled both properly and efficiently. She cites that her mastery of managing relationships with the fundamentals of organizational communication has given her a competitive edge when dealing with clients and has therefore catapulted her to the next level.
Even though her future still loomed in the distance with uncertainty, Billingsly didn’t ever feel as though her position had been compromised. What seemed to be another life changing event on the horizon for the calm and collected Fairfax native, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She transitioned to a different side of radio into the role that would eventually fully connect her with the true passion she developed for the industry as the current Promotions Director of 106.7 The Fan.
Now settled in at her new post for the young CBS Radio station she boasts that, although most of her experience has been learned at the station, the “overall exposure to mass marketing, mass communications, media, and radio workshops that Mason provided has helped to create a picture that allows me to be successful in this world.” Billingsly’s current goal is to shift perceptions and return the new 106.7 to the legendary status that WJFK once commanded, but to do so as the areas premier sports talk radio station and “the voice of the fan.”

Carl Botan

By Devin Cooper

A thirty day speaking tour of Australia can be daunting, but it’s made all the easier when you’re designated as Australia’s 1998 Outstanding Scholar-Practitioner in Public Relations. This, among other awards, has solidified Carl Botan as one of the more influential public relations practitioners of our time. Botan also received the Outstanding Research Achievement Award in Public Relations from the International Communication Association. With 26 years of experience in the field of public relations, Botan now taps his bottomless well of knowledge and shares what he has learned with his students at George Mason University.
The 61 year old Canada native has been a professor in the communication department at Mason going on six years. His lectures boast a strong emphasis on ethics and stress the value in honesty and truth not only within the practice of P.R. but in everyday life as well, pushing students to better themselves inside and outside of their careers. His work in 37 essays, numerous conference papers, 6 books (2 of full length), and various articles and reviews, gives him an impressive list of 45 total publications. Some of his more popular works include Public Relations Theory I & II, Grand Strategy, Strategy, and Tactics in Public Relations, A Semiotic Approach to the Internal Functioning of Publics: Implications for Strategic Communication and Public Relations, and Pubic Relations: State of the Field, to name a few. His students are given the opportunity to study some of these works in his classes.
Professor by day and practitioner by night, Botan still keeps his hands, and heart, in a number of campaigns. As a member of the Research Team for Center for Climate Change Communication, he finds himself devoting a great deal of his time to research. His primary focus lies in that of strategic communication, and more specifically at the moment on strategic communication campaigns to address terrorism and other homeland security issues in both the U.S. and the developing world. In particular, he studies ways to ethically integrate strategic communication campaigns into domestic preparedness, training, and education efforts, addressing both bio-terrorism and natural disasters. He also focuses heavily on health, public diplomacy, and national development campaigns.
Botan’s reputation exceeds the U.S. as he has been recognized around the world for his work. He has been invited to speak in over 10 countries across the globe including Romania, Australia, Egypt, Austria, the United States, Norway, Canada, Korea, three invitations to Germany, and two to Brazil. Although when he’s not jet setting from country to country to give presentations, Botan likes to spend his downtime with his wife Jennifer McCreadie, who has also taught at George Mason, on their own private island in Canada close to where he grew up. On this remote Canadian island, their only means of transportation is boating. Appropriately, he finds himself working on boats quite often. Resources are limited and the nearest Wal-Mart is much to far to be considered convenient, so Botan finds this to be the perfect place to unwind and free himself from the busyness of everyday life in the Northern Virginia area.
He has taught at universities such as Purdue, Rutgers, Temple, and Illinois State University but now proudly calls George Mason University his home. He graduated from Western Michigan University, where he was inducted into the alumni hall of fame, with a BS degree in communication arts and sciences in 1970. From there he went on to get his masters in 1982 and his Ph.D in 1985, both from Wayne State University. His education never ends as he would say, and he continues to press on with his research to further the field of public relations and to further mature the already very well respected communication department at George Mason University.