CCOM students Lexi Serra (First year; Strategic Communication), Miles Kong (First year; Journalism), Ally White (Graduating Senior; Sports Media), and Sarah Ripperger (Graduating Junior; Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) join the CCOM Pawcast to share their experiential learning stories.

From Mediterranean cruises focused on travel and hospitality to music business intensives in Nashville, and the Big Apple and Madison Square Garden to advanced clinical opportunities typically reserved for grad students—these students share what they've learned and the impact of these experiences.

Join host Joe Valenzano, Dean of the College of Communication, as students share their honest views about the College and what they have gained from it.

This episode was produced by Butler students: Chris Palmer '25, Blake Richmond '26, and Toni Jazvic '28.

Lesle Lane '91 graduated from Butler University with a degree in Liberal Arts and has earned a successful career in photography, now running Studio 13.

She has been awarded national recognition for her images and helped Studio 13 come to serve global manufacturers, distributors, and bio-tech organizations.

In this episode of the CCOM Pawcast she joins Joe Valenzano, Dean of the College of Communication, to discuss her background, the role of AI in photography, her Butler memories and excitement about the future of the university, and being better at accounting than math.

Visit the official website for Studio 13

This episode was produced by Butler students: Chris Palmer '25, Blake Richmond '26, and Toni Jazvic '28.

Isabella Ernsberger '25 leads this episode of CCOM Backstage, with co-host Ross Hollebon, highlighting the upcoming April 4th performance by musical act "Burning Red: A Tribute to Taylor Swift" at Butler's Clowes Memorial Hall.

Gina, lead singer and founder of Burning Red, talks about her impressive professional music background, why she has created a band to honor T Swift, and what fans should expect from the high-energy dance party, sing along, gathering of Swifties.

Get tickets

Visit the official Burning Red website

Leslie Mendelson, Grammy Award-nominated artist, will play The Krannert Room in Clowes Hall at Butler University on Feb. 26, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. to support her latest album, After the Party. 

Throughout After The Party’s ten tracks, Mendelson crafts a distinctive folk-rock, pop-Americana flavor, evoking the sounds of Laurel Canyon, but with the downtown grit and sharp wit of Brooklyn, the city she has called home for over two decades now. There’s a refreshing realness and effortless musicality that feels both nostalgic and new on songs like “Rock And Roll On The Radio,” “Signs Of Life,” and “I Know A Lot Of People.” The album’s first single “Other Girls” is an intoxicating twist of aural voyeurism mixed with a healthy dose of sexual openness. 

On this episode of CCOM Backstage: What’s Happening at the Butler Arts & Events Center, Mendelson talks to Ross Hollebon about the album, music videos, David Lynch, and the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, among other topics.

Listen to the After the Party album

(Recorded on Jan. 30, 2025) Anna Demia Colosi, great (4X) granddaughter of Ovid Butler, joins CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano as part of this year's Founder's Celebration Week.

Anna talks about the important legacy of Ovid and the immense pride her family shares in seeing all that Butler University continues to be.

To learn more about this year's Founder's Celebration, please visit the Founder's Celebration Landing page by clicking here.

(Recorded on Jan. 14, 2025) Bill Neher '66, is Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies at Butler University, and former Dean of the University College (1974-1982) and the inaugural Dean of the College of Communication (2010-2012). He joins current CCOM Dean Joe Valenzano on this episode of the CCOM Pawcast.

This conversation builds on the wonderful discussions with Gregory Mark '79, and Deeny and David Waite, their love of debate & speech, and CCOM's “80 for 80” campaign celebrating the 80th years of Bill and David.

Bill shares his thoughts on numerous Butler topics and why he supports the Digital Communication, Ethics and Democracy Gift Fund, and his excitement of his granddaughter being a first-year student in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences program.

Butler University's Melissa Beckwith, Class of 2000, is the Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President.

The marketing major is leading the Butler Gateway Project, a “shared vision to shape a university and campus that enhances lives and strengthens our community in dynamic new ways” and sheds more light on the growth of the University and of Midtown Indianapolis.

Learn more about the Butler Gateway Project

Joe Valenzano, Dean of CCOM, announces the 80 for 80 campaign in honor of Dr. William W. Neher and Dr. David H. Waite.

Starting on Monday, Dec. 9, for the next 80 days (until March 1!) we’re asking for your help continuing the vital work Dr. Neher and Dr. Waite inspired.

Play your part in raising "80 for 80" as we seek 80 gifts to celebrate year 80 for both of these amazing Bulldogs! Gifts can be directed to two important initiatives that reflect their passions and impact:

Digital Communication, Ethics, and Democracy Gift Fund

The Digital Communication, Ethics, and Democracy Fund supports the development and ongoing operations of an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge laboratory where students and faculty can monitor and analyze conversation across social media platforms and explore the usages of artificial intelligence in industry and society, opening the door for teaching, learning, research, and partnership opportunities.

David H. and Virginia M. Waite Scholarship

Established in 1994, by friends, former students and colleagues to honor both David H. and Virginia M. Waite. This scholarship provides financial support to communication studies students who are selected on the basis of professional goals, academic achievement and personal characteristics, with the objective of providing awards to applicants who have independent spirits and demonstrate outstanding potential to be effective communicators. Recipients are selected by the Department of Communication Studies and the Office of Financial Aid. Dr. David H. Waite, a professor of speech at Butler and former department head, is nationally acclaimed for his expertise in communication studies and semiotics.

Dr. David H. Waite, his wife Deeny, and Dr. Gregory Mark '79 poured their heart and soul into Debate & Speech and what today is the College of Communication (CCOM). As close friends to this day, they also remain actively connected to the college and university.

Listen to some of their fond memories of Butler before CCOM was an actual college and learn more about the 80 for 80 campaign, celebrating David and Dr. Bill Neher.

Giselle Varre '24 co-hosts and welcomes comedian David Nihil to CCOM Backstage to tease his Monday, November 18th performance of “Comedy + Reading Recommendations = Shelf Help” at 7 p.m. at Butler's Shelton Auditorium.

Leaving Dublin, Ireland where he was born and raised until the age of 22, David got drunk on travel and never quite hit sobriety of it. He has lived and worked in twelve countries and visited over seventy. His shows draw on his wide travels, cultural observations, attempts at language study, (occasional) international drinking session(s) and being a mildly confused immigrant.

David is the winner of the prestigious annual San Francisco Comedy Competition, (previous finalists include Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres and Dana Carvey) and runner up in the Moth’s largest US Grandslam storytelling competition. Also a bestselling writer, David recorded his debut special for Dry Bar Comedy in 2019 and has been featured on TED.com, Sirius XM, Just for Laughs, The Irish Independent, Inc, NPR, and the Huffington Post among others. A festival favourite David’s videos have also gone viral many times over with over 400 million views and a social following of over 1.5 million people.