Out with Smith, In with Marren

   The new year is bring changes for the Communication Department.

   Ron Smith is leaving as chair to answer a call to serve as interim Associate Dean for Buffalo State's School of Arts and Humanities. In this capacity, Ron will assist students and faculty in 10 departments and 3 interdisciplinary programs.
   A professor of public relations, Ron has served as chair since 2003. He joined the department in 1990 after serving as communication director for the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse. He also had worked as a newspaper reporter and a Navy journalist.
   The number of Communication students has grown from 488 in fall 2003 when he became chair to 703 this fall, a 44% growth. Recognition by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications was a highlight of his term as chair.
   Ron holds a bachelor's degree education from Lock Haven University and a master's degree in public relations from Syracuse University. He is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America. He holds numerous awards for his work in public relations. He is the author of two textbooks on public relations and co-author of a textbook on media writing.

      Joe Marren, associate professor of journalism, is stepping up as interim Communication Department Chair.
   Joe first joined the department as a student, earning degrees in both journalism and history with a minor in anthropology in 1986. Ten years later, he received a master's degree in history from St. Bonaventure University.
   Joe re-joined the department in 2002 as assistant professor of journalism, after having served as a part-time instructor since 1997 while working as a columnist and associate editor for Business First.

   Joe is the author of several book chapters on journalism and the media's role in the desegregation of baseball. He holds journalism awards from the NY Newspaper Publishers Association, NYS Associated Press, NY Press Association, and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.