Past, Present, and Future

By Patrick Bohn, November 8, 2023

School of Communications celebrates its legacy while highlighting new opportunities.

The School of Communications hosted a series of events celebrating five decades of innovation and student-driven success. (Photos by Sheryl Sinkow, Undarmaa Tee, and Simon Wheeler)

Ryan Johnson '26, Clare Shanahan '24, and Willow Alena '27, contributed reporting to this story.

Ithaca College’s 2023 Alumni Weekend was a time for members of the college community to come together on South Hill, sharing stories while creating new ones.

That was particularly true for the School of Communications, which held a series of events throughout the weekend in celebration of the 50th anniversary of its founding—it was later renamed as the Roy H. Park School of Communications in 1989. Returning alumni got to share memories of their time in the school, while also getting a chance to connect with current students and faculty and see what the future holds.

“The power of the Park School’s story comes not from the technology but from the people.”

President La Jerne Terry Cornish

During the 50th Anniversary Gala, held at La Tourelle in Ithaca, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate their roles in shaping a half century of education. While a slideshow played on a television screen, showing clips from old ICTV shows and pictures of students in classrooms and studios, attendees had the opportunity to share what the Park School meant to them.

Alumni such as Janet Beck '79 and Bruce Beck '78 were able to mingle with President La Jerne Terry Cornish at the School of Communications' 50th Anniversary celebration event. (Photo by Sheryl Sinkow)

In addition to remarks from current Dean Amy Falkner, former Deans Diane Gayeski ’74 and Tom Bohn spoke at the event, as did alumni Rob Flaherty ’13 and Eden Strachan ’21. David Muir ’95 and Bob Iger ’73 sent in video messages as well. A common theme in all the speeches was how their time in the School of Communications shaped them, and how the connections forged in the halls were some of their fondest memories.

“The power of the Park School’s story comes not from the technology but from the people,” President La Jerne Terry Cornish said at the event. “From Day 1, Park students are taught by world-class faculty that the most important piece of equipment they have at their disposal, the one tool they will have to rely on most, no matter where life or industry takes them, is their mind. Students have left the Park School not just ready for work, but ready to lead.”

Another highlight was the Immersive Park event, which highlighted the technology that professors and staff use to teach students.

The latest piece of technology in the School of Communications, The Cube. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)

At the event, current students involved with ICTV, WICB, VIC, The Ithacan, and Park Portable Equipment Center (PPEC) showed off the work they do and the technology they use in and outside the classroom every day.

“I’ve returned a few times over the years and watched the school evolve — the college itself and the School of Communications — it’s been quite remarkable,” said Ed Libonati ’73. “It’s great to see it still kicking and going and evolving.”

The latest Park School innovation — The Cube — was on display. The digital wall allows students to integrate physical props to create interactive displays for use in video production. A car was driven into Studio A for the live demonstration, which left the crowd awed.

“We not only live on the fact that we’ve been doing this as a school of communications for 50 years, but we have set ourselves up well to prepare the next generations of students to do the same.”

Associate Dean Rob Gearhart ’82, M.S. ’85

“One of the things we hope to get out of this is to recognize that the Ithaca College model of how we’ve exposed students to the world of media and communications is one that has legs,” said Rob Gearhart ’82, M.S. ’85, associate dean in the Park School. “We not only live on the fact that we’ve been doing this as a school of communications for 50 years, but we have set ourselves up well to prepare the next generations of students to do the same.”

Generations of Park students also got the opportunity to connect during the annual Creative Crunch Competition, held by ParkAdvenue, Ithaca College’s chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF).

The winning Creative Crunch pitch centered around “Veeta Fest,” a celebration that included a Velveeta-themed amusement park. (Photo by Ryan Johnson '26)

The competition gives students 48 hours to create an advertising campaign that includes social media posts, print advertisements and interactive events like sweepstakes and pop-up stores, and then present the campaign to a panel of alumni judges.

This year’s contest was held in Park Auditorium which gave dozens of alumni the opportunity to watch the presentations.

“It’s always good to see alumni come back in and see what we’re all doing and watch this amazing tradition,” said ParkAdvenue co-president Nicholas Caputo ’24. “The fact that this year’s event was held during Alumni Weekend was great.”

“We are fortunate to have a pool of alumni judges who are always willing to come and share their experience, expertise, and time with our students,” said Scott Hamula, professor and chair of strategic communication and Ad Lab advisor.

“I graduated 22 years ago, and I’ve never come back for Alumni Weekend and this re-energized me.”

Christina Campbell ’01

Alumni relished the opportunity to provide their expertise with current students and make lasting connections.

“I graduated 22 years ago, and I’ve never come back for Alumni Weekend and this re-energized me,” said judge Christina Campbell ’01, who is the Vice President of Digital & Media at Promerica Health. “I think it's important for the alumni to see the work that these kids are doing now and for us to nurture them in what they’re doing.”

The AdLab celebration gave alumni a chance to peruse campaigns from years past. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)

“It’s a really good way to show students a little bit of the real-world experience and what’s possible when you’re out there trying to do good work quickly,” said judge Rob Engelsman ’11, who is the co-founder and strategy partner at a strategic communications company in New York. “My hope is that students continue to reach out to me and others who are alumni to help them figure out what they want to do,” he said. “I know that myself and other alumni are going to be as supportive as possible.”

This year’s contest tasked students with coming up with a campaign for Velveeta, and was won by a team consisting of Kathryn Miller ’24, Molly Fitzsimons ’24, Ananya Gambhiraopet ’24, and Claire McGinnity ’24. Their pitch was centered around “Veeta Fest,” a celebration that included a Velveeta-themed amusement park, made up of a macaroni and cheese teacup ride and “cheese wheel.”

Creativity was also on display during a celebration of Ithaca College’s victory in the 1993 National Student Advertising Competition, held by the American Advertising Federation. Alumni from the winning team were on hand to reflect on the experience, as well as screen a documentary about the win, called “Project Sweat.”

Watch the Project SWEAT documentary, which was produced to commemorate Ithaca College’s victory in the 1993 National Student Advertising Competition.

Although the school had been competing in the competition for at least 15 years prior to the win, the creation of the Ad Lab course by former professor Howard Cogan turned the school into a national powerhouse. The senior-level capstone course allowed students the chance to immerse themselves in the development of a strategic media and marketing campaign for each year’s corporate client, focusing on creative, strategy, research, production, brand activation and media planning.

Ithaca College beat out more than 100 other schools to win the national title, based on a pitch for the Saturn Corporation.

Ithaca College's 1993 National Student Advertising Competition-winning ad campaign for the Saturn Corporation.

“Winning the American Advertising Federation National Student Advertising Competition was a highlight of my time as an undergraduate,” said Christina Croll ’93, who is the CEO of the National Center for Gifted Services and member of IC’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. “Ad Lab was an amazing opportunity to get real world experience while still in school. We organized ourselves like a real ad agency.”

Another event that had its roots in the work of a former professor was the Golden Doorknob Gala and film screening.

The Golden Doorknobs were the brainchild of Gustav “Skip” Landen, who was the chair of the Cinema and Photography Department. The project, which continues to be an annual event in the school, challenges students to create a short, creative film in which a character is killed by a golden doorknob.

The Golden Doorknob film screening and gala let students — and Amy Falkner, Dean of the School of Communications — have some fun. (Photo by Undarmaa Tee)

Held in Park Auditorium, the gala gave entrants in this year’s contest a chance to dress to the nines in their Hollywood best and screen their films in front of an audience, which included a panel of alumni judges. A record number of submissions — 22, by more than 100 students — highlighted this year’s event, which was won by first-year student Sabrina Layman ’27, a wonderful coincidence given the project’s origins.

“This contest was originally an in-class exercise for professor Landen’s first-year students, and he called the concept ‘Death by Doorknobs,’” said associate professor of media arts, sciences and studies Steve Gordon, who produced the event. “The students love it. It’s so unique, and I think they really love the horror film genre. I actually find many of the films pretty funny.”

The judges’ panel was comprised of Cathy Crane, professor of media arts, sciences, and studies, as well as alumni Olivia Burgher ’13, David Spiegelman ’80 and Dan Heffner ’78, who also served as the sponsor of this year’s event.

“The students love [The Golden Doorknobs]. It’s so unique, and I think they really love the horror film genre. I actually find many of the films pretty funny.”

Steve Gordon, associate professor of media arts, sciences, and studies

The weekend was also a reminder that Landen’s legacy isn’t just found in murderous doorknobs. The dedication over the weekend of the James B. Pendleton and Gustav “Skip” Landen sitting area outside of the Park School honors Landen’s tireless work on behalf of the students of IC.

The sitting area outside Park honors the legacy of former School of Communications professor Gustav "Skip" Landen. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)

Pendleton was a Hollywood-based interior designer and antiques dealer who met Landen in 1976. The meeting led to the James Pendleton Award in Dramatic Filmmaking, a competitive cash prize presented annually to a junior to assist in production of a film.

Upon his death in 1995 Pendleton left the school a $17 million gift— at the time the largest ever given to the college by an individual —which was then later turned into an additional endowment.

The sitting area is fitting tribute to the chance meeting and casual conversation with Landen that led to Pendleton's gift, which, thanks to the endowment, provides over $800,000 to the Park School each year.

“The talent and commitment of our faculty, staff, alumni, and current students is what has driven us over these past 50 years and is what will continue to drive our success in the future. We are so grateful for everyone who took the time to celebrate our achievements during Alumni Weekend.”

Amy Falkner, Dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications

Former Dean of the Park School Tom Bohn still has the call slip informing him of a message left by the lawyer of James Pendleton, informing him of the largest individual gift in the history of Ithaca College. (Photo by Simon Wheeler)

“This sitting area is a memorial to the power of conversation, most specifically one that resulted in a transformative $17 million gift that propelled the Park School to new heights of success and reputation,” said Bohn, who was Dean of the Park School when the gift was made.

Overall, the weekend served as a reminder of the power of both a Park School education and of the students, faculty and staff who have come through the school’s halls over five decades.

“The history and legacy of the School of Communications was on full display throughout the weekend,” said Dean Amy Falkner. “The talent and commitment of our faculty, staff, alumni, and current students is what has driven us over these past 50 years and is what will continue to drive our success in the future. We are so grateful for everyone who took the time to celebrate our achievements during Alumni Weekend.”