News
Daniel K. and Amy L. Jenkins 2025 Endowed Fund for Student Resources
The Department of Communication proudly announces that Sofia Marretta has received The Daniel K. and Amy L. Jenkins Endowed Fund for Student Resources for 2025.
The purpose of this endowment is to establish an award for educational expenses for students in the Department of Communication in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.
DisInformation Studies Chair Sam Woolley in the News
Dr. Samuel Woolley, the William S. Dietrich II Chair of Disinformation Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of Communications has recently been featured in several major media outlets for his expertise in misinformation, disinformation, and the manipulation of communication technologies.
Graduate Student, Amina Akbar, Receives 2025 Egolf Award
Amina Akbar, a graduate student in the Communication Department, is the recipient of the 2025 Donald B. Egolf Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.Winners of the 28th Annual Oratory Competition
The 28th Annual Oratory Contest had another great turnout of competitors. A special thanks goes to all who competed and all who judged.
Graduation/Commencement category winners:
Leyla Akselioglu, "A Timely Departure"
Julia Ochroch, "Applying Aristotle"
Grace O'Connor, "Communication: Innovation in Every Field"
Alumni Networking Event Helps Students Connect with Professionals
As the end of the spring semester rapidly approaches, many students are facing the question of how to make the most of their summer. For communication students, internships, apprenticeships, and other hands-on experiences are great ways to apply their skills in real world media and business environments.COMMRC Connect Interns Run Successful Pitt Day of Giving Campaign
This year, the Communication Department, with the help of the COMMRC Connect interns, ran a Pitt Day of Giving campaign focused on raising funds that will directly support future interns, successfully raising $2,520 thanks to the support of 22 donors.
Finegold Memorial Debate 2025 explores ‘Protest in a Democratic and Mediated Society’
In the increasingly virtual world, spaces for public discussion and debate are becoming few and far between.
Dr. Sreyashi Mukherjee’s Recent Projects Explore Media and Identity Across Various Platforms
Reality dating shows, gender representation in sports advertising, and games are just a few of the subject areas Teaching Assistant Professor Sreyashi Mukherjee, a media studies and identity scholar, explores in her recent professional endeavors.
Undergraduate Spotlight: Grace Lamberto '26
Choosing a major can feel like a big decision—one you’re expected to have figured out before even setting foot on campus. For many students, that pressure is all too familiar. Grace Lamberto, now a junior majoring in Communication and Rhetoric with a minor in Film and Media Studies, knows that feeling well. Her journey to finding the right academic path has been one of exploration, discovery, and solid networking.
Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Lester C. Olson
The Department of Communication will host a Celebration of Research to honor Professor Lester C. Olson’s many contributions to the field.
New Book by Professor Caitlin Bruce Now Available Online
Graffiti, Street Art, And Creative Cities in a Global Frame: The City as Discovery, co-authored by Dr. Caitlin Bruce and Dr. Ricardo Klein from University of Valencia, is now available as an ebook.
Finding Your Voice: Jackie Gartner-Schmidt Held Workshop on Public Speaking and Vocal Biology
Public speaking is more than just words—it’s a science.
Undergraduate Spotlight: Lily Peters '26
Lily Peters, a junior media and professional communications major, has always been a storyteller.
“I was the girl who was always writing in a journal,” Peters said. “I have loved writing for such a long time and so that’s why I ultimately decided to major in communications at Pitt. I knew that being a communications major would provide me with so many different opportunities and different ways to story tell.”
In her past two and half years at Pitt, Peters has found a particular passion for storytelling within the world of sports.
Congratulations to Dr. Lane Grafton on new publication, “The Bias of Mediation"
Congratulations to Dr. Lane Grafton on his latest publication, “The Bias of Mediation: How Communication Technologies Transform Social Relations,” which will be published in Explorations in Media Ecology this spring.
Dr. Grafton is a faculty member in the department who currently teaches Argument, Public Speaking, Rhetoric & Society, and Communication & Society. His scholarship focuses on the effect that technology has on individuals as well as society.
HCUAP receives grant from Andy Warhol Foundation
Congratulations to Dr. Caitlin Bruce and her colleagues at the Hemispheric Conversations Urban Arts Project (HCUAP) for receiving two years of funding from The Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts to be used towards their research on public art and graffiti in Pittsburgh!