M ay 25, 15

New sletter
NEWGAYLORDEXCHNAGEPROGRAM

St udy

Abr oad!

t r av el t o t heUnit ed Ar ab Emir at es
On behalf of Gaylord College, I would like to introduce our new student exchange
program. The University of Oklahoma College of Journalism will be teaming up
with
the Department of Mass Communication at American University of Sharjah to create a program that will allow students
at each university to travel to the opposite university and study abroad there.
OU students will travel to the United Arab Emirates to attend the American
University of Sharjah in a six-week program designed to give students a diverse
attitude when writing or interacting with mass audiences. Students in the
exchange program will take 9 credit hours, all transferrable. The program will
take effect beginning Summer 2016 accepting 50 students from each
university and
will
eventually
grow to
Professor Mahboub Hashem
accept up to
has taught in communication
300 students
and mass communication
by summer
departments for more than 25
2018. The
years at US institutions. His
exchange
areas of research and teaching
program will
have students
interest are new information
pay their
technology and social media
original schools tuition, fees, and their own airfare to the United Arab Emirates.
effects,
Scholarships will be available for the exchange program, but are very limited
intercultural/ interpersonal
and are awarded on a
communication,
first-come, first-serve
organizational communication
basis.

DR.
MAHBOUB
HASHEM

and leadership, theories of

mass media and research
methods. In addition to
teaching, he has served as a
consultant and invited speaker
for several international
organizations and institutions.

For additional information

on the exchange program
please contact Dr.
Mahboub Hashem.
Dr. Mahboub Hashem
Head of Department
(405) 488-2839

Featured Faculty
Elizabeth Toth
On behalf of the Gaylord faculty and staff,
we would like to give a warm welcoming to
the newest member of the Gaylord family,
Dr. Elizabeth Toth. Dr. Toth will be joining
the Gaylord team beginning Fall 2015 as our
newest Gaylord professor. Very
distinguished, Toth was previously the Chair
of the Department of Communication at the
University Maryland and before that was
associate dean of the S. I.
Newhouse School of
Public
Communications at
Syracuse University.
She received her MA
and PhD degrees from
Purdue University and
her BS from Northwestern
University. A member of AEJMC since 1982,
she served on the AEJMC national Board of
Directors, representing the Standing
Committee on Research, for which she was
elected to two terms.

Wel c
omet
o
Gay l o
r d!

Although she has an extensive teaching

resume, Toth is best known for her
immaculate research techniques and
practices. Her research subjects include, but
are not limited to women in public relations,
public affairs and communication theories,
gender issues in the public relations field,
and the "glass ceiling" that women in public
relations often encounter. Toth also edited
the Journal of Public Relations Research for
six years. In 1998 she even received the
Institute for Public Relations Pathfinder
Award for her research on gender issues and

public relations.
"I can't wait to teach at such a prestigious
university like OU," says Toth. "The campus
is just so beautiful and the Journalism
college has utterly impressed me. All of the
products are top of the line and up to date
with all of the best technology. I'm very
impressed with the school and all it has to
offer. "
Dr. Elizabeth Toth will teach courses 'Race,
Gender, and the Media' and 'Introduction to
Public Relations' in the Fall and courses
'Introduction to Mass Communications' and
'Public Relations Research' in the springs
semester. Toth's work load will be hefty to
say the least, but we're sure she'll make it
look effortless.

Al umni Spot l ight

Rachel Hussein

magnum kum laude finishing her college

career with an amazing 3.85 GPA. It was
probably because of OU?s extensive PR
training that best prepared her for her job
today. ?I can?t thank my professors at OU
enough for how well they prepared me for
the real world,? says Rachel. ?If it wasn?t for
the rigorous training and all the tedious
work they made us students do, I can
honestly say that I wouldn?t be where I am
today dealing with the things that I deal
with, in the professional, most efficient way
that I handle them in. I am greatly
appreciative. ?

Who is Rachel Hussein you ask? Rachel is an

outstanding OU graduate that is headed
straight for success. Just recently, Rachel
was named one of Oklahoma?s 40 most
powerful people under the age of 40.
Currently, Rachel is the Executive press
officer for the Bahrain International Circuit
where she, along with the rest of her staff,
handles all things media related with the
company.
Rachel graduated from OU?s PR program

Recently, Rachel was put in charge of

handling a crisis that occurred at the racing
facility she works at. Greeted by angry
protesters as she walks in for what she
thinks is a normal day at work, Rachel and
the company she works for are addressed
head on with controversy. A normal person
would stress out about being the head
person in charge of such a big crisis, but not
Rachel. With her OU public relations
training, Rachel was fully prepared and
handled the crisis flawlessly. It is for this
very reason that Rachel Hussein has decided
to start her own scholarship foundation,
awarding students with the same passion as
herself for their exemplary work in and out
the classroom when pursuing a public
relations degree. Needless to say, OU has
some pretty outstanding alumni doing some
pretty great things all around the world.

undergraduate
student
participating in
the study abroad
program at the
University of
Illinois.

UNDERGRADUATE
ACHIEVER
Miza r azza

"If it doesnt make

youhappy or benef it
you, t hen why ar e
youdoingit ?"
- Miza Razza
How many people can say
that they moved to a new
country where they didn?t
know the language, worked
two jobs, AND attended
school full time all at once?
Meet Miza Razza. Miza is an

Miza is currently a Junior

seeking a degree in
advertising and minoring
in broadcast journalism.
He came all the way from
Dubai, India to come to
study in America for
better opportunities.
Miza came to America
knowing very little
English, but that still did
not stop him. Miza is a
part of the Diversity
Enrichment Program in
Recruitment Services,
serves as a university
tour guide, is a member of
the Advertising club, and is
Vice President of the 2017
Class Council. With a full
plate of activities to
participate in, you would
think there wouldn?t be any
time to have an actual job,
but it is quite the opposite.
Working up to 30 hours a
week, Miza works at the
local restaurant in town to
earn extra money to send
back home to his family. ?I
don?t mind working because
I don?t consider it work,?

says Miza. ?I have a lot of fun

there, so I just treat it as
another school activity that I
do except I get paid to do it.?
Just when you think there?s
no time to do anything else,
Miza proves yet again why
he?s an overachiever. This
past semester, with the
hectic schedule that he has,
Miza finished with a solid
4.0. That?s crazy right? ?I
don?t think it?s that hard to
accomplish,? Miza says. ?I
just manage my time very
well and make sure that
everything I do is worth my
time commitment. Every
single extracurricular
activity I?m involved in I give
my full 100% . If it?s not to
fun to me and benefitting
me, then that?s when I need
to re-evaluate and decide
whether it?s worth doing
anymore.?
Clearly Miza Razza is nothing
less than bionic. With all of
the different commitments
he?s made plus having a job
and being a full time student
at a major university on top
of that, this guy is for sure
destined to be nothing short
of great. That?s why he?s our
over achiever for the month.

Cal endar

GAYLORDAMBASSADORS
Do you hav ewhat it t akes t o bea l eader in your
col l ege?
Do you know som eone that's a gr eat leader, has aw esom e speaking skills, and
likes to give tour s and r ecr uit people to join their college? Well tell them
about Gaylor d Am bassador s! The official Gaylor d Am bassador 's application
is now available for all Gaylor d students to apply for.
The Gaylord Ambassadors are journalism and mass communication
undergraduate and graduate students involved in outreach activities on behalf of
the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The Ambassadors
represent the ?student face? of Gaylord College and are engaged in a variety of
activities from interacting with and contacting prospective students to meeting
with and hosting nationally known scholars and journalists and alumni and
donors that visit Gaylord Hall and the campus of the University of Oklahoma.
Among other duties, the Ambassadors assist the college during special functions
and help develop new college programs. The Ambassadors provide the student
voice in communication with the college?s administration, faculty and staff.

Selection Criteria

Januar y 1st

Last day to subm it scholar ship

applications for Gaylor d
college. Late applications w ill
be discar ded

Febr uar y 15t h

iadvise opens to star t
scheduling appointm ents w ith
your adviser s for spr ing
scheduling.

Mar ch 28t h
Last day to tur n in Gaylor d
Am bassador applications to
student ser vices. Late
applications w ill not be
consider ed

Apr il 17t h
Last day to enr oll in Gaylor d
sum m er electives

Gaylord Ambassadors applicants must have declared Journalism and Mass

Communication as their major or otherwise signified their intent to pursue an
education in the College as an undergraduate or
graduate student. A minimum GPA of 3.25 is required.
Candidates should demonstrate good communication
skills and a breadth of knowledge of the University of
Oklahoma and Gaylord College

Kennet h JoneS
Editor and chief

RACHELGOMEZ
Senior co-editor

SAMUELKEITH
Faculty advisor

HOLLYSMITH
Senior photogr apher

GAYLORDAWARDS
If you are participating in the 2nd annual Gaylord
Award Ceremony and are speaker or potential award
recipient, you must meet in the Gaylord assembly
hall no later than 11am. We will be running through
the show and going over speaking parts. Show will
begin promptly at 3:00 pm.