McMaster launches a new Bachelor of Professional Communication (BPC)

Our world is changing at light speed and it need a new class of highly qualified, well-educated, ethical professional communicators. This change is creating the need for highly competent and well-educated professional communicators, whose role in winning battles in the court of public opinion will work in parallel with lawyers who fight in the court …

MCM Admissions in Full Swing

July 31 is the last day to apply for the McMaster-Syracuse Master of Communications Management program, of which I am the Director. We are in full admissions mode, right now, interviewing candidates and receiving completed applications daily. It’s an exciting time. The MCM is Canada’s premier professional communications management master’s degree. This year’s class is …

An inspiring act of kindness in Chicago

Every so often, we have  an experience that reaffirms our belief in the goodness of people. This morning, it was my turn. I have spent the last several weeks running to six conferences, presenting five papers and delivering one keynote speech in three different time zones! It has been quite the month and I am …

A successful June MCM residency with three major innovations!

I am very pleased to look back on this successful residency week in the McMaster-Syracuse Master of Communications Management program. Students from near and far gathered at the Ron Joyce Executive Education Centre in Burlington, Ontario for a week of intense collaborative learning and networking. Three courses were taught: “Reputation and Brand Management,” “Negotiation: Theory …

Gave guest lecture on social media in crisis and reputation

Last night I gave a lecture in Heather Pullen’s class on “Issues and Crisis Management” taught in the Continuing Education public relations diploma program at McMaster University. What was supposed to be a one hour lecture turned into  a full three-hour workshop – mostly because of the students who were completely engaged and full of …

MCM June residency begins today!

I am very pleased to welcome all current MCM students to our June residency. Summer is an exciting time in the Master of Communications Management since it is time for elective courses – two for first year MCM students  and one for second years, who also take an advanced research methods course that will lead …

A Successful CPRS 2012 for the MCM

The McMaster-Syracuse MCM made waves at Currents 2012, as professional communicators from across Canada gathered to learn, debate and network at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria’s inner harbor. Our Master of Communications Management alumni were well represented by senior Canadian Public Relations Society members, Colleen Killingsworth, MCM, APR, ABC, FCPRS and Heather Pullen, MCM, APR, …

A final concert at year’s end

I went to the final concert of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert season last night. What a great night – guest soloist James Ehnes was splendid, playing Beethoven. He filled Hamilton Place with beautiful threads of sounds, woven around the hall. It really felt as though we were entangled in a web of sound that …

Co-Led Five Sessions at a Library Leadership Institute at the University of Hong Kong

I just came back from Hong Kong, where I co-presented, with McMaster University Chief Librarian Jeff Trzeciak, five workshops at the 10th Annual Hong Kong University Library Leaderships Institute. The institute was a smashing success, under the leadership of organizer, Peter Sidorko, University Librarian at the University of Hong Kong. Jeff and I presented on …

A Successful MCM February Residency!

Last week, I hosted my first Master of Communications Management (mcm.mcmaster.ca) residency as Program Director. It was a chance for me and our new program assistant, Janice Peltier, to have our initiation as the new management team. The residency went very well! Residency is a very special time in the MCM calendar. It is a period of five …