Tarleton State University - Communication Studies Department

05/26/2026

Dr. Cessna Winslow presented Sophia Rivera with outstanding PRSE member. Congratulations Sophia!

05/15/2026

May 16th is “I Love to Listen Day”! This is a day to inspire, inform, practice, and create a heightened sense of awareness of the importance and power of listening in our lives.

This celebration was developed by the International Listening Association. Drs. Gearhart and Maben have published several articles and a book chapter about listening.

Some listening tips:
-be interested! Ask questions
-be attentive! Keep track and respond
-be caring! Clarify their feelings

05/11/2026

Ms. Elizabeth Wheat was awarded the outstanding Travel, Event, Activities Management Top 2026 Graduate last week by Dr. Karley Goen. We wish Lizzie an incredible summer working in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

05/09/2026

Tradition continues-
Mr. Kirk Wise, Mr. Austin Lewter, Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason

05/05/2026

Dr. Karley A. Goen’s Executing Exclusive Events Abroad 2.0 officially launches on May 18, 2026, taking Tarleton State University students and community members through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Germany. This faculty-led program focuses on first-hand observation of elite hospitality and global event ex*****on standards.

Several organizations and individuals have contributed to the program’s success by donating significant amounts of swag and resources for the students’ travels this summer:
* Beef Loving Texans
* Oscar P General Store
* TSU Division of Student Engagement and Success
* Southwest Dairy Farmers Association and Museum
* City of Stephenville
* Visit OKC (Oklahoma City)
* Texans Outfitter Bookstore
* Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas
* Purple tractor
* Visit Austin
* Visit Granbury
* Visit Mineral Wells
* The Crazy Water Hotel
* Roswell Visitor Center
* Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau
* Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism Association
* Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau
* Tarleton Radio
* Lampasas Dental Center
* WK Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas
* Visit Amarillo
* Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council
* Texas Folklore Society
* GoTexan Campaign
* Texas Roadhouse-Weatherford
* TSU Campus Life and Family Engagement
* Visit Fort Myers
* McGraw Hill Publishing
* Granbury Staples
* TSU Division of Human Resources
* Visit Cleburne

04/29/2026

TNS/JTAC staffers celebrated the end of the semester tonight with dinner at Grump’s. Look for the graduation edition of The JTAC to hit racks early next week.

04/27/2026

04/23/2026

Last week, Dr. Karley Goen's event coordination and trade show management students had the opportunity to take the ServSafe Food Handlers Certification Training. The students were able to gain their five-year national certification though hands-on training and immersive experiences. We would also like to THANK the Beef Loving Texans Campaign for providing fun thermometers, measuring utensils and seasonings to our hospitality students.
https://www.facebook.com/BeefLovingTexans/
Beef Loving Texans
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!

04/22/2026

As part of Tarleton’s Educational Excellence Week, Dr. Cessna Winslow and co-researcher Dr. Jim Gentry presented their work during the Faculty Development Cohort Poster Session.
Their project, “AI Mentors in Higher Education: Patterns of Use, Resistance, and Learning in a Public Relations Course Project,” examines how students engage with AI as a communication resource—highlighting not just how it supports learning, but also where students hesitate and why it matters.

04/21/2026

Students and faculty in Communication Studies at Tarleton State used their time off during Spring Break to serve the Texas community. Students in Crisis Communication gained first-hand knowledge of natural disaster recovery by assisting with rebuilding efforts in the Hill Country. Thank you for your contribution to our state and representing Tarleton State in a positive light
https://www.tarleton.edu/news/tarleton-state-students-turn-spring-break-into-service-across-five-states/

04/21/2026

TCCJ Director Austin Lewter presented sessions yesterday to a joint convention of the South Texas Press Association and Texas Gulf Coast Press Association in Port Lavaca. He discussed newsroom AI policies for community newspapers and moderated a Q&A between high school, college and professional journalists over lunch.