Testimonials Sought After 40 years of teaching, research, service, creative endeavors, and irascible behavior at Purdue, Professor Marv Diskin is turning in his A sticker and is retiring to his California retreat in Palm Desert. We're looking forward to a retirement dinner on May 13, 2005, and if you're interested in attending, please let us know. Former students are encouraged to send a video clip sharing recollections of "Marv" stories. (Format: 1/2"mini dv, dvd). You can also send us a note or e-mail, sharing your stories and wishes to: dcable@purdue.edu or via mail to: Diskin Tribute, Department of Communication, Purdue University, 100 N. University St., BRNG2114, West Lafayette, IN, 47907

Professor Glenn Sparks was again in the news during the Halloween season. Sparks was interviewed by the Tampa Tribune about Halloween profits and by the Cincinnati Enquirer and The Associated Press about the thrill of being scared.

Toby Arquette, assistant professor, was interviewed before the election on how technology has transformed political campaigns.

Department Hosts Grants Workshops

The department this fall hosted several grants workshops for faculty and graduate students.

Two of the workshops were hosted by distinguished members of the Health Communication field, who also presented colloquiums on recent research.

Dr. Dale Brashers, director of graduate studies in the Department of Speech Communication at the University of Illinois, spoke on "Peer Social Support and the Management of Uncertainty for People living with HIV."

Dr. Pamela Whitten, of the Department of Telecommunication and Institute for Healthcare Studies at Michigan State University, spoke on "Telehealth Research: The Need to Merge Communication into an Interdisciplinary Approach."

New Hires
	Hyunyi Cho Assistant Professor Health Comm Public Relations
	Pat Rochon Assistant Professor Media, Technology and Society

John Greene and Brant Burleson, professors, received the Gerald R. Miller Book Award from the NCA Interpersonal Communication Division in November for their co-edited book, "The Handbook of Communication and Social Interaction Skills," (Erlbaum, 2003).

Robin Clair, associate professor, received the outstanding book of the year award from the Ethnography Division of NCA for her book, "Expressions of Ethnography."

Mohan Dutta-Bergman, assistant professor, piece in Health Communication on unsuccessful media strategies in existing health campaigns received coverage in more than 20 media outlets, including Australia's Big News Network. Dutta-Bergman also had 13 articles accepted for publication in 2004, including articles in Journal of Communication and Health Communication.

Glenn Sparks, professor, and Miller, W. (2004). News coverage of the war in Iraq: Cognitive and emotional consequences for viewers. In Berenger, R.D. (Ed.), "Global media go to war: The role of news and entertainment media during the 2003 Iraq war" (pp. 305-312). Spokane, WA: Marquette Books.

Jennifer Thackaberry, assistant professor, received a $1,000 SLA Dean's Research Incentive Grant for a project called "Identification and Resistance in Wildland Firefighting Safety." She plans to attend the anniversary gathering of a landmark wildland firefighter safety conference in Missoula, Mont., to study how members of the wildland firefighting community (many of them Forest Service insiders) have changed the way safety has been talked about, researched, and managed over the last 10 years.

Jane Gibson Natt, assistant professor, $750 Dean's Teaching Development Incentive Grant for "Computer-Assisted Reporting."

Erina MacGeorge, assistant professor, $720 Dean's Teaching Development Incentive Grant for "Communication 102 Curriculum Development."

Steve Wilson, professor, $6,000 CGS/Ford Foundation grant for feasibility planning for a professional master's degree track in Science Communication.

Erik Garrett, Ph.D. candidate, had a Top 3 student paper at the Philosophy of Communication division of ICA.

Meina Liu, Ph.D. candidate, and Patrice Buzzanell, professor, had the lead article in Journal of Business Communication with "Negotiating maternity leave expectations: Perceived tensions between ethics of justice and care."

Steve Wilson, professor, had four recent publications: Morgan, W. M., & Wilson, S. R. (in press). Nonphysical child abuse: A review of literature and challenge to Communication scholars.  In P. Kalbfleisch (Ed.), Communication Yearbook 28.  Mahwah , NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum; Olufowote, J. O., Miller, V. D., & Wilson, S. R. (in press). The interactive effects of role change goals and relational changes on employee upward influence tactics.  Management Communication Quarterly; Wilson, S. R., Morgan, W. M., Hayes, J., Bylund, C., & Herman, A. (2004). Mothers' child abuse potential as a predictor of maternal and child behaviors during playtime interactions. Communication Monographs, 17; and Wilson, S. R., & Morgan, W. M. (2004).  Persuasion and families.  In A. Vangelisti (Ed.), Handbook of family communication (pp. 447-471). Hillsdale, NJ : Lawrence Erlbaum.

Pat Rochon, assistant professor, $2,000 Service Learning Faculty Development grant.