Joining CJC’s roster of graduate classes this fall is a new course on fundraising tactics, MMC 6936 (02EE)—Fundraising Communication Fundamentals (syllabus). The 2015 fall class is held Tuesdays, Periods 9 to 11, and is open to all current graduate students.

The course is organized into four modules of four weeks each covering different types of fundraising tactics, and each module is taught by a different CJC graduate faculty member – representing three of the Colleges four departments.

Dr. Julie Dodd, professor of journalism, leads off the course with her module on “Writing Effective Business Communication Tactics.” Dodd previously was named the College’s Teacher of the Year and twice received a UF TIP Award for outstanding teaching. She serves on the UF Graduate Student Teacher Awards Committee and the UF Faculty Senate. Her research focuses on pedagogy and technology use.

Dr. Amy Jo Coffey, associate professor of telecommunication, teaches the second module on “Mastering Interpersonal Communication Tactics with Diverse Publics.” Coffey’s expertise focuses on ethnic and non-English speaking audiences in the United States, audience behavior and preferences, and advertiser perception of ethnic audiences. Her teaching and research has earned her several UF awards, including being named a 2014-2016 UF Foundation Research Professor.

Dr. James Babanikos, associate professor of telecommunication, teaches the third module on “Producing Electronic Communication Tactics.” Babanikos has experience in writing, directing, producing and editing films and digital/video programs in virtually every genre, including drama, documentary, corporate, and television commercials. He has received production grants from various organizations, including the Independent Television Service, and his projects have won many awards in competitions.

Dr. Linjuan “Rita” Men, assistant professor of public relations, wraps up the course with her module on “Utilizing Digital and Social Media Communication Channels.” Men is a specialist on digital engagement, leadership communication, and employee relations. Her recent research on social media has earned her five awards from national and international communication conferences and associations. Men just joined the UF faculty this semester after three years at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.

MMC 6936—Fundraising Communication Fundamentals is one of the two required core courses in the College’s new Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Management. The certificate, which requires just nine credit hours to complete, is one of only a few in the nation that qualifies for graduate credit. Students can complete the certificate in as little as two semesters, and its courses may be taken as electives to satisfy degree requirements – at both the master’s and doctoral levels.

The fundraising certificate program likely is the first in the United States that is co-sponsored by a university-affiliated foundation, the University of Florida Foundation. Upon completion of the certificate, students will be granted an exploratory interview with the Foundation for available employment opportunities.

Detailed information on the certificate program is available at www.jou.ufl.edu/fundraising-management. For more information on MMC 6936—Fundraising Communications Fundamentals, e-mail the coordinator of the program, Dr. Kathleen Kelly at kskelly@jou.ufl.edu.

Posted: August 21, 2015
Category: College News