School of Communications Our Work and Research

From investigative reporting to presenting at national conferences, raising awareness of gender bias in the media and creating mobile apps — our alumni, faculty and students are helping to shape the fast-moving edge of the communications frontier. For our students, the combination of theoretical and practical learning they receive at Quinnipiac gives them the skills and opportunities to do good work and the confidence to do the kind of work that redefines industries.

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In the field and embracing the spotlight

On campus and off, communications students and faculty are accomplishing great things in their respective disciplines. They break stories both locally and across the globe and develop public relations campaigns for nonprofit organizations. They run student media with the same level of professionalism as established radio and television shows and newspapers.

Finding the right source, angle and word comes naturally to alumni and current students. Like their professors, they are gifted storytellers who use every medium to craft narratives that are compelling and factual. When they combine their efforts, the results have been award-winning pieces of investigative reporting and programming.

Partner with real clients at The Agency

Interested in pursuing a career in advertising, marketing, public relations or graphic and interactive design? Build your portfolio and sharpen your skills as you work with real clients at The Agency — our award-winning and student-run interdisciplinary firm.

Within The Agency, students assume roles that prepare them to step in and succeed in professional environments. Some students will serve as dedicated account executives, mastering the art of professional communication as they manage client relationships, set project deadlines, identify key deliverables and share external feedback with their colleagues. Others will work as functional subject matter experts, taking the lead as vice presidents in copy, design, social media or video to deliver the materials and strategies that address the holistic communications needs of their client portfolio.

Offered as a 400-level elective, The Agency epitomizes learning by doing. Under the guidance of our esteemed faculty — many of whom are experienced communications professionals outside of academia — The Agency has successfully funneled student creativity and passion into projects spanning website and app design, social media, print collateral and promotional materials, market research and data analysis, media relations and community engagement and strategic planning and branding.

Student-run Agency earns industry awards

Students collaborating during a meeting for The Agency in the School of Communications. — Students at The Agency work to finalize a new internal logo.

Governor Ned Lamont with student members of The Agency at CT Innovation. — The Agency meets with a new client, Ellis Brooklyn, at the CT Innovations office in New Haven. Agency members had the chance to meet briefly with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, who is working to bring more innovative, growing companies to the state.

Bringing Conversations to Life

Quinnipiac University Podcast Studio

In partnership with the School of Communications, and under the guidance of David DesRoches—our director of community programming—a variety of podcasts are conceived and produced at the Quinnipiac University Podcast Studio by faculty members, community members and students.

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Student capstone project wins Beverly Hills 23rd Film Festival Best Student Film Award

Alumni at the 23 Beverly Hills Film Festival Smiling

Christine DiGioia ’22, Ramiro Vargas ’22, Kanayo Umelo ’22 and Kaitlyn Fisher ’22.

Ramiro Vargas ’22 and his team took their film production to the next level by thinking outside the box with a relatable film about Alzheimer's.

The capstone project, "Papito," was selected for the 23rd Beverly Hills Film Festival under the student film category. The judges of this festival included Oscar nominated producers and directors.

Papito was directed by Vargas ’22, produced by Christine DiGioia ’22, written by Kaitlyn Fisher ’22 and Kanayo Umelo ’22 directed photography.

Vargas said his capstone project "Papito" tells the story of Danilo, a Puerto Rican man, who returns to his childhood home in pursuit of his mother’s memories that she is now forgetting, due to her struggle with Alzheimer’s.

Learn more about the project

Recent Student Projects

Course projects enable students to learn through a combination of experiences. By applying knowledge and skills from different disciplines, students are able to challenge themselves through learning in a hands-on and creative way. Through self-driven or team projects, students are able to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Learn more about course projects

Publications and Film Credits

Faculty in the School of Communications are devoted educators who set a precedent for the students they teach and mentor. Passionate and driven researchers, authors, writers, directors and producers, they epitomize the Quinnipiac mission of turning passion into action. Our professors have published numerous books, regularly contribute their scholarship, criticism and reviews to academic journals and news outlets, and bring creative visions to life in films, shorts and documentaries.

Alexander Laskin: Organizational Reputation Management: A Strategic Public Relations Perspective (2024)

Brittani Sahm: Framing esports' JEDI issues: a case study in media irresponsibility in Corporate Communications: An International Journal (2023)

Katie Place: Exploring ethical listening among public relations professionals in Journal of Media Ethics (2023)

Katie Place: Exploring trauma-informed listening among public relations professionals in Public Relations Review (2023)

Wasim Ahmad: #MeToo in the Newsroom: Image Repair and Allegations of Sexual Misconduct in Journalism Practice (2022)

Katie Place: Toward a framework for listening with consideration for intersectionality: Insights from public relations professionals in borderland spaces in Journal of Public Relations Research (2022)

Katie Place and Alexander Laskin: Framing the strategic R&D paradigm shift in big pharma: A content analysis of pharmaceutical annual reports in Journal of Communication Management (2022)

Alexander Laskin: Investor Relations and Financial Communication (2022)

Lisa Burns: Political Branding and Messaging Strategies in the 2020 Post-Election Campaign in The 2020 Post-Election Campaign: A Communication Perspective (2021)

Lisa Burns: How Media (and Media History) Shape Students’ Individual and Collective Memories of 9/11 in Journalism History (2021)

Wasim Ahmad: Not at Risk? News, Gatekeeping, and Missing Teens in Journalism Practice (2020)

Lisa Burns: Media Relations and the Modern First Lady: From Jacqueline Kennedy to Melania Trump (2020)

Ben Bogardus: An MMJ's Day - An Interactive Timeline - Journal of Media Education in Journal of Media Education (2019)

Katie Place and Hillary Fussell Sisco: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Gender Income Gap in Public Relations From 1979 to 2014 in Media Report to Women (2019)

Alexander Laskin: Social, Mobile, and Emerging Media Around the World (2018)

John Powers: Case Study: Mobile Communication in the Bateyes of the Dominican Republic in Social, Mobile, and Emerging Media Around the World (2018)

Ashley Brandon, Cora in Reflection (2023): Director

Ashley Brandon, I Scream, You Scream (2022): Director

Ashley Brandon, Día de la Madre (2020): Director

Andrés Rosende Novo, Chain of Death (2019): Writer

Blythe Frank, Showing Roots (2016): Producer

Blythe Frank, Wild Oats (2016): Producer

Blythe Frank, Being Charlie (2015): Producer

Andrés Rosende Novo, Mr. Bear (2011): Director and Writer

Andrés Rosende Novo, Escape (2010): Director and Writer

Fritz Staudmyer, Escape (2010): Writer

David Atkins, Novocaine (2001): Director, Screenplay and Story

Learn from industry professionals

Students on set with Professor Blythe Frank

Professor invites students along her cinematic journey

Assistant Professor of Film, Television and Media Arts Blythe Frank exemplifies the phrase, “practice what you preach” as she doubles as a feature film producer outside of the classroom.

Jazzy Collins poses in a red dress with her EMMY trophy in front of the EMMYS step and repeat

Alumna earns Creative Arts Emmy for outstanding casting for a reality TV show

January 9, 2024

Jazzy Collins ’14, CSA, made history on Sunday when she became the first Black person to be recognized with the Creative Arts Emmy for outstanding casting for a reality program for her work on “The Traitors,” which streams on Peacock. She is an alumna of the School of Communications' film, television and media arts degree program.

A group of people stand in front of a store with a large ribbon and scissors.

Alumna brings community the gift of fun and games

As Jennifer Barone ’06, owner of Back Again Board Game Café, reflects on its inaugural year, the memories and milestones paint a vivid picture of a space that is more than just coffee and board games — but rather of a vibrant community.

What sets Back Again Café apart is not just the games or the coffee, but the people.

With collaborations with Middletown Pride, the Senior Center and Alzheimer's Association, the cafe is more than just a place to hang out, but also somewhere the people in the community can feel at home.

“The Senior Center event gave me one of my favorite memories; Someone came up to us and said, ‘Thank you for bringing back my childhood.’ That’s why we're here,” Barone said.

For Barone, her degree in interactive digital design directly inspired the creation of the cafe's website and branding. Drawing from the eclectic courses she enjoyed during her time at Quinnipiac has helped her build the cafe's approach to community engagement, ensuring that every customer feels welcome and enjoys their visit.

Read the full article on Quinnipiac Today

Journalism students visit Central America

Telling Global Stories is a course that immerses students in the history, economy, media, politics and culture of Central America and culminates in a trip to one of the region’s countries during spring break. Students conduct interviews with a range of citizens, including market vendors, farmers, fishermen, teachers, artists and former revolutionaries, to learn their stories and highlight their lives.

Most recently, students traveled to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, a municipality on the shores of Lake Atitlán in the country’s southwestern highlands. Past trips have included visits to areas in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

“Students are not only learning about a different country and culture, they also get the chance to practice real journalism,” said Margarita Diaz, associate professor of journalism.

The stories and photography that Diaz’s students return with are collected and published on the blog tellingglobalstories.org. They reflect day-to-day life in poor countries deeply affected by decades of civil war, political corruption, economic downturn and a complicated relationship with the United States. Moreover, they challenge commonly held beliefs about Central America and its people.

Read the blog