Four members of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications traveled to New York City Dec. 3-5 to make a presentation about the department to human resource directors of all of the Omni Group companies.
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| Bob Norsworthy was recognized for his contributions to the department at the conclusion of Murray State’s presentation at the Omnicom Talent Forum. The outstanding senior in advertising award has been renamed in his honor. Those representing Murray State were, from left: Abigail Goss, Leah Kirchoff, Kirby Feldkamp, Bob Norsworthy, Gill Welsch, and Bob Valentine. Norsworthy is executive vice president of Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicon Group, Inc.
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Representing Murray State were lecturers Gill Welsch and Bob Valentine and students Kirby Feldkamp and Abigail Goss.
Welsch, head of the advertising major, said that the organizer of the annual training workshop requested the representatives because MSU’s summer interns had performed so well.
“It’s quite an honor to be asked to address the Omicon HR directors,” Welsch said. “I am particularly pleased that they liked the jobs that our interns did over the summer. The department faculty and I are very proud of our students. I’m excited that will have an opportunity to let the Omicom people know more about our program and Murray State.
Omnicom Group is a global holding company that owns some 230 companies engaged in advertising, marketing and public relations.
Welsch joined the JMC faculty in 1992 as head of the advertising major and adviser to the MSU chapter of the American Advertising Federation.
He holds the bachelor’s degree in journalism and the master’s degree in public relations from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has done doctoral study at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
In addition to Murray State, Welsch has taught advertising, journalism and public relations at the University of Southern Mississippi, Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Valentine has been a member of MSU faculty since 1974. He has taught speech communications and theatre and served as guest director for both the MSU Theatre and Murray’s Community Theatre (Playhouse in the Park).
He began his teaching career at the University of Kentucky, where he earned his undergraduate degree in history and his master’s degree in communications. He then served as lecturer in communications before coming to Murray State to teach speech and serve as the director of forensics.
He joined the JMC Department in 1995. A former residential college head, he was the 2009 Regents Teaching Award winner for the College of Business.
He is the publisher of Murray Lifemagazine and is known for his portrayal of Mark Twain, Nathan B. Stubblefield and most recently, Rainey Wells.
Feldkamp is a senior public relations major with a minor in advertising. She is scheduled to graduate as an honor student in May 2013.
In the fall 2011 semester, she studied at Humboldt State University in California as a part of the National Student Exchange program.
She has worked as a photographer and an advertising designer for The Murray State Newsand as layout director for the student magazine at Humboldt State.
She had a TV production internship for KEET-TV in Eureka, Calif., and an account management internship this past summer with DDB, an Omicom Group Affiliate in New York City.
Goss also has a public relations major with an advertising minor and will graduate next May.
She has been an events coordinator intern for the Champaign County (Ill.) Chamber of Commerce and currently is the advertising assistant for TapLogic LLC in Murray.
This past summer she was an account manager intern with Fathom Communications in Chicago, also an Omnicom company.
Leah Kirchoff, a May graduate, joined the departmental delegation. She interned with Fathom Communications in Chicago.
Fathom extended Kirchoff ‘s internship through October and hired her in November.
Welsch and Valentine talked about MSU’s program and the millennial generation. They also asked for feedback on what universities need to do to better prepare students for the professional world.
The HR directors said writing is of paramount importance, students need to learn social graces and professional behaviors, students need to know analytics, students need to demonstrate the ability to think critically and to think on their feet, and the department shouldn’t foster “creatives” who are not creative. The group concluded their session with Bob Valentine reading the resolution that names the department’s outstanding senior in advertising award after Bob Norsworthy.
