Welcome!
Welcome!
Message from Dean Tweedie
Welcome!
I hope you have had the chance to read Rowan University’s amazing accomplishments over the past 10 years in Rowan Revolution. Here at the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts, we have undergone our own transformation and want to share with you our evolution over the past five years via this 2017-22 Retrospective.
Fifty Years Plus Five
Shortly after I became dean, we celebrated our first five decades of excellence in 2017. I enjoyed hearing from our founding faculty and seeing how far we had progressed from starting as a Department of Communications on the Glassboro State College campus.
At the event, editor-in-chief of The Whit Kyle Sullender said of the College, “New opportunities open up here every year. I’m sure just a few years from now the opportunities for students will be different, and greater, again.” How prescient Kyle was! Fast forward to 2022, and I am filled with pride and awe. See below what we have accomplished since then.
This 2017-22 Retrospective highlights:
- Awards and accolades received
- Programmatic growth both within and across the college as well as external outreach and partnerships
- Expanding scholarly and creative output
- High-achieving students
- Deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts
- Support of our generous donors that create the best possible situation for our students
What’s next
Reminiscing on the last five years fills me with optimism and excitement for the next five—and for the next fifty! Our future will be filled with more curricular innovation through existing and new academic programs targeted to student interests and the future economy; furthering justice and opportunity through diversity initiatives in and outside of the classroom; continuing to upgrade our facilities; and establishing new partnerships to increase experiential learning opportunities.
Please read on as we highlight some of the most inspiring stories from the last five years of Edelman CCCA to see why I am so optimistic about the future of our college.
Sanford Tweedie, Dean
Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts
Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts
P.S. Special thanks to Gina Di Bartolo, our college communications coordinator, who has also been with us for these past five years, and this year’s student interns Sarah McCabe and Shayne Shands. Together, they are responsible for this wonderful work!
Programmatic Growth
Our college celebrated three anniversaries over the past five years, highlighting important achievements which pioneered our current growth. The past five years also introduced new programs, undergraduate and graduate degrees, minors, certificates, and concentrations. To provide more resources and opportunites for our students, Edelman CCCA introduced four centers over the last five years. These centers provide experiences for students outside of the classroom to guide new ways of experiential learning.
Awards & Accolades
The last five years of Edelman CCCA featured numerous awards and acolades, as well as international recognitions. Alongside this, two of our long-standing faculty members were honored with Lindback Teaching Awards for excellence in their respective departments.
Student Achievements
Our students remain at the core of our initiatives over the last five years. From the first female African American Student Government Association president to a photographer's spread in Vogue Italia, Edelman CCCA students and alum serve as pioneering voices in the world.
Excellence in Research & Creative Activities
Edelman CCCA put a heavy focus on research initiatives and creative activities throughout the past five years. Alongside the growth of the university, our faculty and staff pioneered different studies and projects in their respective areas of expertise. In 2021, Edelman CCCA also launched its first research showcase for students and faculty, which followed with a second showcase in 2022.
Emphasizing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Involvement with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion stands as a top priority for our college and the University. In 2020, as our country reacted to the inequalities of Black, Indigenous and People of Color, our students and their professors used their own voices to participate in events such as the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s We Are Not OK: Injustice, Action and Healing series and the student-organized Juneteenth march on campus.
Our college launched a new DEI Blog to highlight powerful voices and impactful events, and new student organizations, such as Women of Westby, formed to support student initiatives. Programs, including the Rowan Writing Center and the Rowan University Art Gallery, continue to pioneer experiences for all students.
Commitments to Success
The achievements of the last five years would not be possible without the support and generosity of our advisors, donors, and supporters. Special thank yous to Ric and Jean Edelman, the King Family Foundation...
