“Welcome Back” Kent State
Recently I told a dear friend that I accepted an assistant professor position at my alma mater Kent State University. Her initial brief reply (because she works for a gigantic consulting firm and is constantly working) basically stated that she could not get the lyrics of “Welcome Back” out of her head. Since we are both pop culture fanatics, she must have known how those particular lyrics would play, since they are so deeply ingrained in the Generation X mindset.
Ever since, I have had the same song happily ringing in my ears, particularly the lines: “Well the names have all changed since you hung around/But those dreams have remained and they’ve turned around.” Then, I start thinking, this really is a dream come true! The fantastic aspect is that the priceless benefits I received at Kent State, I now get to return to my students there.
You see, for me, Kent State is where my personal evolution began. Foremost, getting my M.A. in American History under the guidance of eminent historian Lawrence S. Kaplan transformed the way I thought, wrote, and assessed myself as a student. He instilled a passion for research and intellectual curiosity. Dr. Kaplan was the model of scholarship, teaching, and compassion that serves as the core of my own work.
When I transitioned from academe to the professional communications world, the skills I learned at Kent State benefited me greatly, particularly understanding how to write and critically and strategically think about issues. Realizing that someday I would go back to teaching, I used my Kent connections (realizing the benefits of networking, long before it was a vogue topic) to get a book deal, essentially beginning my journey as an author and writer.
Since joining the fine faculty at the School of Mass Communications at the University of South Florida, I have drawn on the lessons learned from my professors at Kent State in determining how I should conduct myself as a teacher. My desire to be the most productive scholar possible is also derived from the influences of my mentors at Kent State.
Thus, every success I have had is derived in some manner from my experiences at Kent State.
Given this scenario, one can only imagine the thrill I felt when Bill Sledzik and I started discussing an opening at PRKent. Bill and I previously built a friendship out of common interests (and sometimes disagreements) about public relations, always drawing the talks back to the central thesis: How can we better prepare our students for the professional world? My respect for him and the great things he had to say about his colleagues at Kent State made me yearn for the position.
My experiences visiting Kent State solidified everything Bill and I discussed. The faculty members are brilliant teachers and scholars and the remodeled Franklin Hall facility is state of the art. What I liked best, though, was the electricity in the air at Kent State. Everyone I met in the College of Communication and Information faces the future with excitement and anticipation of great things ahead. I knew right away that this environment is for me. The public relations faculty members, my new colleagues, are so good, that I just hope I can come in and contribute to an already excellent team.
In January 2010, I will be primarily responsible for building the M.A. program in public relations and directing graduate student theses and projects, an opportunity that I cannot wait to start. Also, I plan to play a significant role in establishing an online M.A. public relations program, which will blend cutting-edge curriculum and technology, thereby enabling students all over the world to gain from the same kind of M.A. experience I had while at Kent State.
Clearly, I am overjoyed to return to Kent State as a faculty member. Who wouldn’t, considering the winning team that I am joining. More important, though, is that I know I have something to offer Kent State students and the university community. Perhaps, if I am lucky, I will be able to inspire some of them the way that Dr. Kaplan and my Kent State mentors inspired me.
Like the song says, the faces may have changed, but the dreams are still there — Welcome Back!
September 13th, 2009 at 23:40
Thanks to Bill Sledzik for providing his perspective on my joining the Kent State faculty at his ToughSledding blog:
http://toughsledding.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/meet-our-new-colleague-at-kent-state/
September 14th, 2009 at 07:31
Welcome back, indeed, Bob. We’re eager to greet you on your return, and I’ve ordered up sunshine and 75 degrees for January 19. No guarantees!
That heartfelt post only reinforces the decision of our search committee. But it also underscores another critical part of the PRKent program — an emphasis on quality writing in every course we teach.
See you in January. And bring that wool overcoat — just in case.
September 14th, 2009 at 09:24
Congratulations, Professor Batchelor, it sounds like you found yourself an amazing opportunity. I’m glad I had the chance to learn from you here at USF.
Best of luck!
September 14th, 2009 at 09:24
Bob,
I have never been a huge advocate for going to grad school, especially in communications (where I feel like you should at least be in the work force for a bit before jumping into a Master’s program), but I have to say, knowing that you’re heading up the curriculum at Kent State is making me rethink that.
I’m excited for you and your future students, because having been a product of the USF program (fantastic, yes), I can’t even begin to imagine the great things those students will be learning when you run the program your way. Finally, everything we’ve talked about in the last 6-8 months will be within your grasp because you have the power to change the way PR is taught. That in itself gets me pumped up and doing a happy dance.
Let me know when the online program is up and running. Keep me posted on the content in the program. I can’t wait to see what comes of this - and I’m seriously interested in the online Master’s program.
Congratulations (again). I couldn’t be more excited for you.
September 14th, 2009 at 12:57
Thanks for the kind words everyone! I really appreciate it.
@Bill — I won’t hold my breath on the 75 degree day in January, but I will be the happiest person on campus on 1/19/09, regardless of the weather!
@Tory — I am glad I got the chance to teach you! You were a model, fantastic student and (no surprise!) now a talented, young professional. Please come speak to my classes…they could benefit greatly from your experiences.
@Sydney — I will take the opportunity to speak for my new colleagues in saying that we would love to have you in either program. Then, I would join you in doing the “happy dance.” You will be on the top of my list of people to keep in the know as we build this online degree. It is going to be cutting-edge curriculum, taught be first-rate instructors. I can’t wait to jump in.
September 14th, 2009 at 16:30
Bob - congratulations. I fully intend to remain involved as you will have me… the first two weeks as an adjunct have been great — have to figure out how to both teach AND get the MA…
Cheers indeed.
Sean
September 14th, 2009 at 17:09
Awesome. Interesting synchronicity: Your Dr. Kaplan and Gabe Kaplan played Mr. Kotter!
September 15th, 2009 at 08:19
Hi Bob - welcome to the faculty at Kent State. Happy to see I’ll have another person to “bother” about making sure students are well-grounded in ROI and measurement.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:49
Hi Chuck, I’ll welcome the information! In my mind, ROI is and has been the biggest “challenge” in the industry. Rather than having M.A. students churning out survey-based research that they probably acquired from undergrads, they should all be put on ROI/measurement topics so that we can make some true inroads there.
I’ve always been shocked that more academics aren’t trying to fix this problem.
Thanks for stopping by!
–Bob
September 29th, 2009 at 14:18
Bob,
It’s great to see your enthusiasm for coming to Kent State. The PR MA program is growing, and judging from the comments of your students above, will only gain from your influence.
Though I’m nearly done with the sequence, I hope to learn as much as possible from you next semester. Who knows, maybe I’ll stick around afterward and take some of your classes just for fun!