eInside Events

Kent State Hosts Fifth Annual YouToo Social Media Conference for Area Communications Professionals

Michael Pranikoff, global director of emerging
media at PR Newswire, will speak at the YouToo
Social Media Conference.

National and local experts will discuss the impact of mobile technology and the importance of social media measurement strategies for area communications professionals and students at the fifth annual YouToo Social Media Conference on Friday, April 13, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Kent State University’s Franklin Hall.

“Each year we try to make the conference more informative and relevant,” says Ron Kirksey, co-chair of the conference. “Those who attend this year will learn techniques they can immediately put into practice for their organization or their clients.”

National and regional experts include Michael Pranikoff, global director of emerging media at PR Newswire; Scott Chapin, mobile and analytics strategist at Marcus Thomas LLC; Dan Young, principal partner of DYX Solutions, LLC; Karl Fast, professor at Kent State University; Stefanie Moore, professor at Kent State University; Sean Williams, CEO at Communication AMMO, Inc.; Matt Bailey, president at SiteLogic; and Damon Herren, senior analyst at Metrics Marketing Group.

The conference is hosted by the Kent State University College of Communication and Information and produced in cooperation with the Akron Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Kent State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and university staff.

“Part of our school's mission is outreach to the professions where our students go to work," says Jeff Fruit, director, Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. "Through our partnership with PRSA, the annual YouToo Conferences have delivered cutting-edge thinking and best practices in the fast-moving social media marketplace."

Scott Chapin, Mobile and Analytics
Strategist at Marcus Thomas, will speak
at the YouToo Social Media Conference.

The 2010 YouToo Conference won a coveted Diamond Award for public relations relevance and excellence, presented by PRSA’s East Central District.

The conference is generously sponsored by Kent State’s College of Communication and Information, Time Warner Cable, Robert J. Events & Catering, Gemini Copies, Aultcare, FedEx Custom Critical, Cleveland Plus, Kent State University Communications Studies, PR Newswire, The Buzz Maker! LLC, Summit County ADM Board, Marcus Thomas LLC, Sharon Teuscher and 1-800-Divorce.

Conference proceeds support the YouToo Scholarship Fund, the Kent State University PRSSA Chapter and the Akron Area PRSA Chapter.

For more information, conference pricing and updates about the YouToo Social Media Conference, visit www.youtoosm.com or www.akronprsa.org. Find YouToo on Facebook, Twitter or via email at youtoosm@yahoo.com.

The Akron Area Chapter of Public Relations Society of America is part of the world's largest organization for public relations professionals helping to advance the profession and the professional. Its nearly 115 local members represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.akronprsa.org.

NSF CAREER Proposal Writing Workshop

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Proposal Workshop will take place on May 3, from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 316 of the Kent Student Center. This one-day workshop, sponsored by the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs, offers a unique opportunity to learn about the extramural funding process, proposal development, submission and peer reviews. Although the workshop’s focus will be on the CAREER solicitation of the National Science Foundation, the information and discussions will be very pertinent to grant applications regarding other NSF initiatives, Department of Energy and other federal agencies.

Presenters for the workshop have extensive experience in effective proposal writing, review and performance of research funded by extramural grants. Satyen Kumar, one of the instructors, has served as an NSF program director for three years. He will discuss NSF funding programs that are not well known and offer insight into the aspects of a proposal that make it strong, but are not often discussed elsewhere.

Highlights of the workshop include:

• Information about NSF programs
• How to communicate with program directors
• Specific requirements for CAREER proposal
• Techniques to write winning proposals
• What are Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts?
• Developing strategies for success
• Avoiding common and fatal mistakes
• Understanding reviewers’ critiques and how to benefit from them
  

Extended discussions will follow presentations, and participants will:

• Have an opportunity to discuss specific questions/situations
• Receive two sample proposals to review and submit reports
• Participate in simulated review panel to understand the process, what is important to the reviewers, program directors and the grant agency
  

We encourage you to share your proposals for the simulated panel review. Please email proposals to SKumar@kent.edu.

Registration for this event is online at: http://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0055-0003-abac0d63d33f4dca88c62be0e27f25d5.

Registration ends April 1 and is limited to 20 participants.

Contact Jim Maxwell at 330-672-0731 or jmaxwel2@kent.edu with questions.

2012 McGruder Lecture and Awards Luncheon Takes Place March 26

Cleveland’s Plain Dealer editor named 2012 McGruder Award for Media Diversity winner; WOIO reporter earns Diversity in Media Distinguished Leadership Award

Debra Adams Simmons, editor of The
Plain Dealer in Cleveland and 2012 winner
of the Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity,
will be honored at Kent State on March 26.

Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication will honor Debra Adams Simmons, editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and 2012 winner of the Robert G. McGruder Award for Diversity, at an awards luncheon and lecture on Monday, March 26, on the Kent Campus. The award, from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, recognizes the accomplishments of media professionals who encourage diversity in the field of journalism.

Lydia Esparra, an Emmy-winning anchor with WOIO 19 Action News, will also be recognized at the annual McGruder luncheon as the 2012 Diversity in Media Distinguished Leadership Award winner.

The lecture and luncheon is co-sponsored by Kent State’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Event Schedule:

McGruder Lecture
11 a.m., Monday, March 26
Kent Student Center Kiva
(Free and open to the public)

Awards Luncheon
12:15 p.m., Monday, March 26
Kent Student Center, Rm. 306
Featuring Kent State President Lester A. Lefton; Alfreda Brown, Ph.D., vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion; and Stan Wearden, Ph.D., dean of the College of Communication and Information
(By invitation only)

The late Robert G. McGruder was a 1963 graduate of Kent State and a foundational local figure for diversity in journalism. He was the first black editor of the Daily Kent Stater and first black reporter at The Plain Dealer. McGruder marked several other firsts in his career, becoming the first black president of the Associated Press Managing Editors group and the first black editor of the Detroit Free Press, in 1995 and 1996. McGruder was a strong proponent for diversity in and out of the newsroom.

For more information about the Robert G. McGruder Award or event, contact Eugene Shelton, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, at eshelto1@kent.edu. To RSVP for the event, contact Darlene Contrucci at 330-672-2623. For more information about Kent State's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, visit http://jmc.kent.edu.

Click here to see profiles of this year’s awardees.

Kent State University at Stark Opens the 39th Annual Faculty Exhibition

Eaten By Chlorophyll (oil on paper) by Jack McWhorter is
one of the many interesting pieces of artwork on display
in the 39th Annual Faculty Exhibition.

Kent State University at Stark announces the opening of the 39th Annual Faculty Exhibition, showcasing artwork of various media by members of the Kent State Stark faculty. The exhibit, which is open to the public, will be on display through March 31 in the Kent State Stark Main Hall Art Gallery, located in the lower level of the building at 6000 Frank Ave. NW in Jackson Township. The gallery is free and open for public viewing Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to noon.

The 39th Annual Faculty Exhibition features ceramics, drawings, paintings, prints, photography, video and sculpture by the following faculty members: Jeannene Mathis-Bertossa, Christine Gorbach, Chad Hansen, Kimberly Eggleston-Krauss, Carey McDougall, Jack McWhorter, Erica Raby, Emily Sullivan, Grace Summanen and Tom Wachunas.

Kent State Stark also features an art gallery of rotating exhibits in the Fine Arts building. For more information about the Kent State Stark art galleries or the art program, call 330-499-9600 or visit www.stark.kent.edu/art.