Congratulations to Professor Stephanie Verni and Dr. Leeanne Bell McManus for the recent awards they received at the annual Eastern Communication Association (ECA) convention in Philadelphia. Professor Verni received the Distinguished Teaching Fellows Award. Dr. Bell received the Ecroyd Award for Excellence in Teaching. Both educators are committed to student success at Stevenson University, teach a variety of courses, advise students, and instruct the agency course called The Mill in the School of Design. Co-authors, along with Chip Rouse, of the textbook Event Planning: Communicating Theory & Practice, both faculty members will be coordinating our communication students' involvement at the ECA convention next year, when it makes its way to Baltimore in March of 2023.
Communication athletes are on a roll! The Stevenson softball team handed Messiah University their first MAC Commonwealth loss of the season, as pitcher 
Comm Studies graduate student McKenna Blick was named the Middle Atlantic Conference Player of Week in women's lacrosse for the week of April 11.
The Department of Communication is excited to see our alums achieving their goals out in the workplace. There's been a lot of news over the last month. We're so happy to share some of their professional news.Kimberly Hahr Barnhard accepted a new position as the Director of Member Services at Associated Construction Distributors International, where her main responsibility is as a meeting planner. She plans conferences that happen twice a year in different locations around the country…sometimes even in international destinations!
Heartfelt congratulations go to communication student and Men's Hockey captain Ryan Patrick, who signed with the Peoria Rivermen of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).
Ryan is a native of Morgantown, W.Va., and holds the program's all-time points record (87) and is tied for the all-time mark in assists (63). He earned All-MAC Second Team honors during the 2019-20 season, later scoring 10 goals with 16 assists as a senior in 2021-22.