Brock Bierman (left) poses with School of Communication Studies faculty (front row, left to right) Laura Lengel and John Warren, interpersonal communications; and Dennis Hale, journalism, and (back row) Nancy Brendlinger, journalism; Chuck Hoy, former telecommunications faculty; and Catherine Cassara, journalism, who coordinated the training and trip.

Communication faculty honored for volunteer role in Croatia

Faculty, staff and administrators from across the University gathered in McFall Center Gallery Sept. 13 for the presentation of the President’s Volunteer Service Award to School of Communication Studies faculty.

Nancy Brendlinger, Catherine Cassara and Dennis Hale, journalism; Laura Lengel and John Warren, interpersonal communication, and Chuck Hoy, formerly of telecommunications, were presented the award by Brock Bierman of the United States Agency for International Development.

Bierman, chief of staff in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, in December 2003 proposed that faculty develop a workshop for public information officers in Eastern Europe. After several months’ work writing curricula in response to the needs identified by the PIOs, the faculty spent two weeks in Croatia in May presenting classes in news writing, photojournalism, public relations, speech writing and video and Web basics to agency staff from approximately 20 countries.

The workshop was a pilot for USAID’s Academic Collaborative Initiative, designed to bring professors together with USAID staff for intensive examination of topics central to the agency’s mission.

In presenting the awards, Bierman said, “In the short time I’ve been involved with USAID and our government’s foreign policy initiatives, particularly with regard to the implementation of our programs in the field, I have been most impressed by the effectiveness of American volunteers in their efforts to tell our story, build relations, tear down barriers and serve as true diplomats of this country.

“Although our professional diplomats play a key role in delivering our country’s foreign policy objectives and sustaining communications between governments, it is truly the one-on-one contact that occurs at the grassroots level of community development that builds understanding, trust and respect.

“This work sets the stage and is the very foundation for our success as representatives of the United States.

“Today, I am honored to be here to recognize six outstanding professors who have distinguished themselves in becoming such wonderful goodwill ambassadors.”

Bierman added that the USAID’s goal and hope is that eventually, those who have been helped by the agency and its volunteers will be in a position to offer the same kind of assistance they received to others in need.