Communication Department Recognizes Professional, Academic Achievement

The Communication Department at Buffalo State will present three professional achievement awards on Friday, November 16, at the department’s ceremony inducting 30 new student members into Buffalo State’s Rho Psi chapter of Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association's official honor society.

Kandis Fuller, '92, APR, will be recognized for achievement in public relations. Fuller has been a communications manager with Univera Healthcare since 2000. She became accredited in public relations by the Universal Accreditation Board of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in February 2003. In 1998, the Buffalo/Niagara Chapter of PRSA awarded her the Excalibur Rising Star Award, which honors exceptional newcomers to the field. She also received the Black Achievers in Industry award in 2003 and, in 2004, Business First’s 40 Under Forty award.
 

David Sherman, ’77, will be recognized for achievement in journalism. Sherman was hired for his first career position as a reporter and photographer for the Bee Group Newspapers soon after he graduated. He was promoted to managing editor in 1988. During his career at the Bee Group, David has received more than 35 awards from the New York Press Association, the Suburban Newspapers of America, and the National Newspaper Association. He is also active in the community.
 

Rod Watson will be recognized for achievement in journalism. Watson, a weekly columnist for the Buffalo News since 1992, writes most often about the socioeconomic and political issues that affect minorities and the poor. He also has served as urban affairs editor since 2000. Earlier, he was a member of the News’s editorial board. He is president of the Buffalo Association of Black Journalists and coordinator of the organization’s “Young, Gifted, and Black” program for high school students. Watson earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan.

The communication majors who will be inducted into the Rho Psi chapter of Lambda Pi Eta have demonstrated academic achievement. To be eligible for membership, students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 with at least 60 credits completed, with a GPA of 3.25 in their major. Newly inducted members of Lambda Pi Eta promise to maintain high academic and leadership standards in the field of communication.

"We are pleased to honor our award recipients at this ceremony," said Joseph Marren, associate professor and chair of communication. "We hope that they inspire our students to follow in their footsteps."