PSFA E-CONNECT
December 2007
Welcome to PSFA E-Connect, an electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (PSFA). We hope you enjoy this summary of SDSU and PSFA news.
Message from the Dean
As the year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our alumni and friends for their continued support of PSFA, please continue to keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. My appreciation also goes to the faculty and staff of the College for their continued commitment and dedicated service.
I extend my very best wishes to you all for a safe and joyous holiday season.
Joyce M. Gattas, Dean
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Art Students Help Launch New School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS)
The School's official opening was celebrated November 1 with a launch reception at KPBS attended by approximately 150 SDSU alumni, faculty and local media professionals. Among the featured alumni speakers were CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian ('76), NBC News Correspondent George Lewis ('64), and Mary Lee Sachs ('81), Chairman of Hill & Knowlton USA, one of the world's largest public relations firms.
One of the evening's highlights was the unveiling of the media lab of the future by J. W. August ('82), Friends of Journalism and Mass Media Studies alumni chapter president. The alumni chapter has been a driving force behind the proposed digital lab for students, along with school administrators, which is in the planning stages.
"The school envisions a true laboratory, where students and professionals will learn and experiment with the latest digital techniques - whether they be used to produce news reports, advertising messages, or public relations campaigns," said Diane Borden, director of the new School.
In fact, SDSU students are already learning from the proposed lab. Three students from Kotaro Nakamura's Interior Design III class created with the winning design for the facility. Their model was chosen by a panel of judges that included several alumni chapter members.
(l
to r) School of Journalism & Media Studies Director Diane Borden discusses
winning lab design with student designers Crystal Jenkins, Vanessa Barron,
Laurie Peck and professor Kotaro Nakamura.
"It was exciting and challenging," said senior art major Crystal Jenkins. "They asked us to create a concept for a new type of newsroom that incorporates many types of media and could easily be built on the SDSU campus as a working newsroom and media center for the students."
For their research, the students visited newsrooms and media centers throughout San Diego. They talked to journalists, advertisers, and public relations experts to gain a better understanding of what would be needed in the new lab.
Friends of Journalism and Mass Media Studies treasurer Gayle Falkenthal
('82,'93) was one of the judges pleased with the results. "Each and
every student did a great job listening to us as clients and gave some
careful thought as to what the news business is going to be like," she
said. "They're going to have a very bright future if they work with
their clients the way they worked with us."
Director
Diane L. Borden told attendees that the digital lab is one of the School's
top priorities. "The School envisions a true laboratory," she
said, "one where students and professionals will learn together to
experiment with the latest digital techniques - whether they be used to
produce news reports, advertising messages, or public relations campaigns."
Faculty Award of Distinction
Recognizing a lifetime achievement in the studio furniture arts, Wendy Maruyama will be receiving the 2008 Award of Distinction from the Furniture Society. The Award of Distinction is the Furniture Society's highest honor and is presented annually during the Furniture Society Conference to one or more individuals who are recognized as having had a profound impact on the field of studio furniture.