“I think it’s an exciting opportunity for us,” said Dr. Patrick Merle, Director of the School of Communication. “It recognizes that we’re very intentional in placing research as a key priority for our school and are equally enthusiastic about engaging with others.”

The selection process for the host school each year is highly competitive, with units submitting proposals for consideration years in advance.

The submission process for having work accepted into the conference is equally competitive. Students, faculty, and scholars submit full papers, abstracts, and panel and teaching proposals for review by the organization. Through a rigorous blind-review process, the colloquium carefully selects the work that will be presented and peer-reviewed during the event.

Hosting the event on campus will allow participants to focus on their research and presentations without having to worry about logistical details associated with traveling to conferences. 

 “Practically speaking, they won’t have to seek funding to travel and lodging because it will be held here on site,” said Dr. Merle. “So, I’m hopeful that a lot of our students feel that they can submit something for the conference.”

Being selected to host the colloquium is both a notable achievement and an exciting opportunity for the School of Communication. Hosting an event of this scale, which brings scholars and students from across the region to the campus, will also allow the College of Communication and Information to showcase its research productivity. 

“I think it’ll be excellent to have people from across the country here with us so we can show them the campus and have rewarding discussions,” said Dr. Merle. “Scholarship is also about creating opportunities to engage in discussions with others and understand how we all study similar questions and how we can advance knowledge together.” 

Among the recipients, the College of Communication and Information (CCI) was represented by Dr. Zhe He, who received an award for Graduate Faculty Mentor, and Sooyeon Park, who received an award for Outstanding Teaching Assistant.  

 “We’re a competitive university to get into. We have some very high-standing doctoral programs, so the people who are here are already a very select group”, said Stephen McDowell, Interim Dean of The Graduate School and Assistant Provost for International Initiatives. “Then for a graduate student to be selected from amongst that pool for this special recognition, it is a significant thing.” 

 Nominees dedicate significant time and effort to earning recognition, and the selection process becomes even more rigorous once they are nominated. Nominees must demonstrate why they deserve to receive their category’s award through resumes, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials. 

 McDowell said, “The nomination package includes several reference letters, a resume, and a statement of intention. It’s a lot of work for the nominators and the faculty who are being nominated.” 

 Apart from those organizing and presenting at the event, the recipients themselves are also acutely aware of just how competitive these nominations and awards are.  

 “I understand this is an extremely competitive process,” says Dr. He, “because every year only five to six faculty members will be chosen from all the colleges and all the departments across campus.” 

 To the students and faculty who are celebrated at the event, it is much more than an award. It is a symbol of their hard work and dedication to their research and students. 

The nomination itself serves as recognition of their impact, as recipients are nominated by the students and faculty who work most closely with them. 

 “It was absolutely very moving. I felt that my devotion to teaching had been seen and acknowledged. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my colleagues and professors who supported me and wrote recommendation letters,” said Sooyeon Park. “And obviously, I am most grateful for my students who have built this teaching experience with me, and made me learn how teaching is a very invaluable experience for the teacher as well.”  

 Receiving an award of this stature extends far beyond the individual recipient, showing the importance of research, mentorship, and teaching across the university.  

 “It highlights the importance of mentorship in academia, not only in producing research but also in developing the next generation of scholars and leaders in the field”, says Dr. He.  

Through these awards, recipients are inspired to continue striving for excellence while pursuing even greater goals and aspirations.  

“It affirms that I’m on the right path,” says Park. “And more than a credential, it’s also a sign that the investment I made in students, the preparation and relationship building is genuinely lending, and that kind of motivates me to keep going.” 

The CCI students recognized are: Tatiana Garcia, Karlie Jackson, Margot McFadden, Alyson Mizanin, Megan Olivero, Samantha Randall, Vega Scholpp, Sydney Sherry, Jose Sigurani Rivera, Sydney Simon, Sela Teplin, Jacqueline Tinoco, and Emily Woo. 

CCI Dean, Dr. Michelle Kazmer, shared that “The Torchbearer 100 recognition represents the very best of Florida State University’s student community— leadership, service, resilience, and a commitment to creating meaningful impact. Within the College of Communication and Information, we are especially proud to see our students recognized for the many ways they use communication, creativity, and collaboration to strengthen both campus and community. Celebrating student leaders in this way not only honors their accomplishments, but also inspires other students to engage, lead, and recognize the value of their own contributions to the university and beyond.” 

Two CCI Torchbearer 100 honorees contemplated their leadership journeys and the impact they hope to continue making within the FSU community. 

Information technology student Jose Sigurani Rivera reflects on what contributed most to this recognition and the impact he has made within the FSU community. “I’ve always tried to leave systems better than I found them and make pathways clearer for those coming after me. To me, leadership is less about recognition and more about responsibility and being intentional with what you do, who you uplift, and how you create spaces where others feel supported, empowered, and prepared to succeed long after their time at FSU.” 

Communication and media studies student Alyson Mizanin shared advice to students who aspire to make a difference on campus. “My advice to CCI students is to leverage the talents you already possess and the skills you’relearning in class. Without fail, every single organization on our campus needs help with social media, brand development, communication strategy, website interface, and digital presence. Advertise yourself properly; you have everything you need already in your toolbox. Push yourself to learn and develop in these environments. They are what will propel you toward your future while keeping you grounded and interconnected at Florida State,” said Mizanin. 

From mentoring fellow students to strengthening campus organizations and creating meaningful opportunities for others, these Torchbearer 100 recipients demonstrate how leadership can create lasting change. Students like Sigurani Rivera and Mizanin serve as inspiration for students across Florida State University to engage, lead, and make a difference in their communities. 

 

The Dean of the College, Michelle Kazmer, said, “The annual Honors and Awards Recognition Ceremony is a special occasion where we come together to celebrate the distinctions, leadership, and academic excellence of our amazing students and outstanding faculty.”    

Students and faculty from all three schools within the college — the School of Communication, the School of Communication Science and Disorders, and the School of Information — are honored through a variety of awards that recognize achievements in academics, research, teaching, mentorship, and community involvement. The ceremony highlights not only students’ academic excellence but also the faculty’s commitment to supporting them. 

“We have some of the finest students attending FSU, and we’re very proud to shine the spotlight on their outstanding achievements,” said Kelly Farquharson, Master of Ceremonies for the event and Professor in the School of Communication Science and Disorders. “Our faculty are truly outstanding, constantly inspiring and empowering students through their passion, expertise, and dedication to excellence.” 

The ceremony is a reflection of the college’s dedication to fostering innovation, collaboration, and student success across all its programs. 

 This year, more than 50 students and faculty members were recognized for their commitment to education, research, leadership, and innovation within their respective fields. Honorees represented a wide range of accomplishments. From academic excellence and impactful research to leadership within student organizations and mentorship in the classroom, each honoree contributed to the continued growth and success of the CCI community. 

“These events are always really exciting and really humbling because we hear about the amazing things that students and faculty accomplish,” said Kazmer.  

The annual ceremony not only celebrates individual achievement but also serves as a reminder of the collaborative and supportive environment cultivated within the CCI. As students and faculty continue to excel in their fields, the Honors and Awards Ceremony remains an opportunity to recognize the dedication and passion that define our community. 

The goal of the event is to foster dialogue; the mini-conference served as a platform for sharing ideas and strengthening connections across all levels of the program. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with a wide range of research while building relationships with peers in their field.

Among the attendees was SCSD undergraduate program coordinator and NSSLHA faculty advisor Dr. Kimberlee Crass, who emphasized the impact of the event.

“What stood out most was the strong sense of collaboration, not only between faculty and students, but also across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels,” Dr. Crass said. “It was exciting to see students at different stages of their academic journeys working together, supporting one another, and contributing meaningfully to shared research efforts.”

She also explained how the event aligned with NSSLHA’s mission of promoting student engagement and professional development, noting that the environment encouraged mentorship and shared learning experiences.

“The event really embodied the mission of the NSSLHA by creating a space where students could actively engage in scholarly work and professional dialogue,” Dr. Crass said. “Students were not only presenting their research, but also developing skills in communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.”

She noted that the overall quality and professionalism of the projects were particularly impressive. She believes that each presentation reflected a strong commitment to research and demonstrated the effort put forth by participants across the board. Looking ahead, Dr. Crass believes the mini-conference will continue to influence the SCSD community by encouraging future collaboration.

“By bringing students and faculty from different levels, it encourages ongoing mentorship and opens the door for new research partnerships,” Dr. Crass said. “Events like this help build connections early on, which can lead to more interdisciplinary and collaborative projects in the future.”

When evaluating the overall value of the conference, she believes that it’s key to building a sense of community within the program.

“Events like the Research Rounds Mini-Conference highlight not only the academic strengths of our students and faculty, but also the collaborative spirit that makes our program so special,” Dr. Crass said. “It’s inspiring to see everyone come together to share ideas, support one another, and celebrate the work being done across all levels.”

FPRA is a professional organization that helps students gain hands-on experience to develop their future careers in public relations. This is a statewide organization of more than 1,200 public relations professionals that advances its members’ development.

President Savannah Cicerchia describes how she structured the group’s itinerary for the trip. Hearing from different agencies helped her know what to expect from life post-graduation. Other students felt similarly; student JK Pickford described how these professionals go about their daily lives, as he learned for future job opportunities and created connections that matter.

The agencies prepared not only resumes, but also business cards,” JK Pickford said. “My business cards contained a QR code to my LinkedIn, which allowed everyone I met to scan it easily and connect with me.”

​Beyond professional growth, the trip also gave the group the opportunity to develop friendships that will continue even after their return. Building community in a professional space also allows students like Pickford to make meaningful connections with peers who share similar career goals.

“I think this trip was important for bonding, as it allowed us to interact with each other outside of club meetings and events, which made us see each other in a different light,” Pickford said.

Students were exposed to multiple leaders in the industry, allowing them to speak with these individuals first-hand. One student in attendance, Kyela Zinati, describes how she challenged her imposter syndrome while she was speaking with Nickelodeon’s SVP of Public Affairs.

“Even if I hadn’t had an agency internship yet, it is the curiosity and drive employers want to see, not just the skills,” said Zinati. “I had to remind myself that I earned my spot on the trip like everyone else, and that, even though I was less experienced, this trip was a step in the right direction.”

Public relations is a career path that is constantly evolving, and giving students the chance to learn to adapt to their environment will provide them with valuable skills moving forward. Multiple students in attendance referenced how they were able to see how adaptable public relations is as a field and how they will utilize what they learned in the future.

“There are so many different paths within PR, and this trip helped highlight how important it is to not confine yourself to one niche of the business,” President Cicerchia said. “I learned that although this job is always changing, there will always be a place in the world for a PR professional.”

“This event gives our college the opportunity to celebrate the Distinguished Alumni from our three Schools, and to confer Dean’s Laurels on those who have exemplified the vision and mission of the college at the highest possible level,” said Kazmer.

The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes graduates who have achieved exceptional professional success while making meaningful contributions to their fields and communities.

Among the 2026 honorees is Dr. Dania Bilal, an information scientist and Patricia D. Williams Professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Bilal’s research focuses on human-AI interaction and human-centered design, and she is currently ranked among the top 2% of most-cited researchers worldwide. Joining her is Dr. Cindy McGovern, an internationally acclaimed speaker and bestselling author known as the “First Lady of Sales”. As the CEO of Orange Leaf Consulting and Academy, she works to redefine how people approach selling and personal branding. The third distinguished recipient, Dr. Mary Gorham-Rowan, serves as a professor at Valdosta State University. A proud Seminole alumna, her clinical research focuses on adult voice and swallowing disorders.

The Dean’s Laureate is a unique designation reserved for those who exemplify the values of the college and recognize sustained friendship over an extended time. This year’s recipients include Pablo Correa, an Associate Professor at the University of Saint Joseph, and a three-time FSU alumnus. A documentary filmmaker, Correa’s work includes documentation for the Emmett Till Memory Project and cinematography for the award-winning film Fannie Lou Hamer’s America.

Kaki Pope, owner of Audio Rehab Lab, was also honored for her 37 years of providing ethical hearing healthcare, and her consistent donations of hearing aids through FSU’s donation program.

Natalie Woods was recognized for her leadership as the former Branch Manager of the historic Western Library, where she led initiatives to digitize African American Archives and honor local community pioneers. Finally, Kimberly Amos-Tata was honored for over 30 years of dedicated student support at FSU, including her influential role as Assistant Director of Academic and Student Services for the School of Information. In her memory, the School of Information established a scholarship through the Florida Library Association.

Closing the ceremony, Dean Michelle Kazmer expressed her gratitude for the honorees. This year’s luncheon is a reminder of the lasting impact CCI graduates continue to make on the future of communication and information

Dean Kazmer said, “I am grateful each year for the time spent with our college’s treasured friends and humbled to hear about their truly amazing accomplishments.”

The forum took place on Jan. 29 and focused on disaster-related learning, with speakers and participants representing a wide range of researchers and practitioners. Keynote speakers, Dr. Deanna Sellnow and Dr. Timothy Sellnow, discussed complex concepts in crisis communication, such as “wicked problems,” “mega-crises,” and “mega-risk,” to show how interconnected disasters have become. They presented the IDEA Model, a crisis communication framework emphasizing trust, engagement, and actionable decision-making in critical situations. The forum also featured a series of panels and discussions from multiple perspectives, including infrastructure resilience, information access, meteorology, and community-centered response strategies.

“The forum pushed participants to think about where gaps exist between research, practice, and community needs, and what can realistically be changed within existing systems,” Ray said. “The goal was to spark action, strengthen partnerships, and encourage approaches that are responsive to lived experience.”

This forum reflects on decades of campus expertise in working with FSU’s surrounding communities to better understand and respond to natural disasters. The organizers wanted to bring national, state, regional, and local actors together to have conversations that reflect unexplored intersections of resilience perspectives and needs.

“The goal was not to present resilience as a single solution, but to bring people together to talk honestly about what works, what does not, and what communities actually need when crises overlap, and uncertainty is high,” Ray said.

Ray describes how uncertainty must be discussed openly and should not be presented as a failure of planning.

​“It is a condition that must be communicated clearly and honestly. When people understand what is known, what is still unfolding, and what actions they can take, they are better equipped to make decisions and support one another,” Ray said.

Emphasizing dialogue allowed participants to learn from one another and discuss ideas in depth. Mardis reinforced how the forum brought light to community workers, such as librarians, who often go unrecognized. Libraries serve as trusted infrastructures that play a critical role as community centers for resources and support.

“Building resilient communities requires sustained effort, advocacy, and investment in both infrastructure and human capital,” Mardis said. “It was rewarding to see participants engage deeply with the topics and gain a deep understanding of building community response.

This space for faculty, community officials at all levels, and agency representatives enabled a community dialogue that might not have happened otherwise. As crisis communication becomes essential in digital spaces, it’s important to build resilience through adaptability.

“The forum underscored the importance of creating spaces for dialogue and knowledge sharing,” Mardis said. “The expertise allowed the forum to give attendees a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in building resilient communities and make new connections between topics.”

Beyond discussion, the forum emphasized practical application, encouraging participants to translate research insights into actionable strategies. Attendees explored how existing frameworks can be adapted to better serve communities, particularly in rapidly evolving crisis scenarios where timely, clear communication is critical.

The Building Resilience Communities: Communication, Infrastructure, & Information in Crisis facilitated the community through honest conversations about gaps between research and practice, providing opportunities for study, hands-on activity, and enhanced personal, community, and disaster resiliency.

Check out the agenda here:  https://comm.cci.fsu.edu/building-resilient-communities/

View photos from the event here: https://cci.fsu.edu/building-resilient-communities-2026/

The NAIRR Pilot, led by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and major public and private sector collaborators, provides researchers nationwide with access to advanced computing, AI models, platforms, and educational resources. The program aims to accelerate innovation in trustworthy, interpretable, and open AI systems across science, engineering, and societal applications.

Reviewers noted the project’s strong alignment with NAIRR’s mission to promote open-source AI development and the responsible use of advanced computational resources.  Purdue University’s Anvil AI has committed to supporting the FSU project with an allocation of 2,000 NVIDIA H100 GPU-hours, enabling large-scale fine-tuning and evaluation of state-of-the-art open-source language models.

“This project reflects our commitment to making advanced AI truly meaningful at the point of care,” said Dr. Zhe He, Professor in the School of Information and Director of the Institute for Successful Longevity. “By fine-tuning open-source language models specifically for laboratory test communication, we aim to empower patients and caregivers with clearer, more trustworthy explanations and more tailored questions for their clinicians. I’m excited to co-lead this work with Dr. Balu Bhasuran, whose expertise in natural language processing and clinical AI is central to translating these models into real-world, patient-centered tools.”

The project is co-led by Dr. He and Dr. Bhasuran, Research Faculty at the eHealth Lab within CCI. Together, the team will focus on improving how patients and caregivers understand laboratory test results through AI-powered, patient-centered communication tools.

The work builds on ongoing federally funded research to develop LabGenie, a web-based system designed to generate personalized explanations and clinically relevant questions that patients can use when speaking with their healthcare providers. By fine-tuning open-source large language models for real-world clinical communication, the project aims to enhance transparency, trust, and shared decision-making in healthcare—particularly for older adults and caregivers navigating complex medical information.

The team’s findings and open-source models, datasets, and methods will be shared with the broader research community, supporting NAIRR’s national goal of expanding access to high-quality AI

​As the Visual Arts Lead for both the 2024 and 2025 iGEM teams, Marengo created a two-minute promotional video and a 15-minute video presentation that told the story of their research. The team’s research was on microplastics, with a focus on genetically engineering E. coli to prevent its absorption in the small intestine. “This year’s video gave me a chance to highlight the story of the team itself: our ideas, the reasoning behind design decisions, the failures and setbacks in the lab, the concerns, and how we navigated them,” Marengo said.

For his work on the 2025 promotional video, Marengo utilized his skills in After Effects, where he animated a scene in which microplastics were floating through the digestive system. During his time in the Digital Media and Production (DMP) major, he developed experience in documentary-style storytelling, which he was able to implement in this project. Marengo felt a major development in his skills from making the 2024 video to the 2025 video.

“My skills as a videographer, editor, and storyteller have massively improved since entering DMP, and I think the 2025 presentation video reflects that growth,” Marengo said.

Previously, Marengo was a biology major before applying to DMP, which allowed him to work with students in engineering, computer science, medicine, and business, using his prior knowledge in STEM to communicate their message at a deeper level.

Marengo describes how this team dynamic and the iGEM trips to Paris were the most notable aspects of his college career. He developed himself as a storyteller, bringing this research to life in an engaging way through visuals.

“Being part of the team for two years helped me meet tons of hardworking, intelligent individuals. I still work with some team members currently as a videographer for a biotech startup formed by members of the 2024 team, Esperance Healthcare,” Marengo said.

Marengo utilized his DMP skills; he seized the opportunity and got the iGEM position by showing up and advancing his opportunities professionally.