Summer 2009 - Texas Tech University

All the Right Wordsby Megan Yeary and Karl Andersonphoto by Morgan HallZig Zag to Texas Techby Christopher Martin and Erin Hawesphoto by Kasey MuthAfter leaving McLean to work at newspapers in the Houstonarea, he decided to return to West Texas in 1981 as the assistantcity editor for the Avalanche-Journal.“The West Texas values and the slower pace compared to somewherelike Houston,” Haynes said, referring to what brought himback. “I really like that.”Haynes became the editorial advisor for the student newspaper,The University Daily, and the yearbook, La Ventana, in 1983.Roger Saathoff, Ph.D., an associate professor of journalism atTexas Tech, said Haynes critiqued the student newspaper and yearbookto help the students make it better.The path that lead Ann Rodriguez, advertising and publicrelations visiting professor and life-long University ofFlorida Gator fan, to Lubbock is one with many zigs andzags. She grew up in Gainesville, Fla., mastered the fast-pace lifestyleof New York City, and moved her family across the country toTexas Tech University after signing only a one-year contract.Rodriguez has a widely varied background. She has a bachelor’sdegree in advertising, an MBA, a law degree, and teaching experiencein both public relations and sports media. Rodriguez said herpassion for so many different fields comes from her constant desireto learn.As the eighth grade champion of the Gray County SpellingBee, Mike Haynes learned just how far words could takehim.At the regional spelling bee in Amarillo, Texas, he shook handswith Wes Izzard, the editor of the Amarillo Globe-News for morethan 30 years. After shaking hands with the man who would becomeone of his role models, Haynes worked to build a journalismcareer in the tradition of Izzard’s accomplishments in West Texas.On March 27 the Panhandle Press Association inducted Haynesinto its Hall of Fame for his efforts, an honor Izzard also received.“It feels weird because I see (Izzard) as kind of an area journalismlegend,” Haynes said, “and I just don’t fit into that category inmy opinion.”Haynes began his journalism career in 1968 under the byline“High School Reporter,” covering local football games for TheMcLean News in McLean, Texas. After graduating from high schoolin 1969, Haynes attended Texas Tech for his bachelor’s degree injournalism.Haynes said the History of Journalism class taught by Bill Dean,Ed.D., and Editing class taught by Harmon Morgan, Ph.D., helpedearn him the hall of fame induction by teaching him the basics ofjournalism.“(Haynes) was a bright, energetic person who was hard-working,”Dean said.After graduating from Texas Tech in 1973, Haynes worked ascopy editor for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.Haynes said after he left Lubbock, he moved back to his hometownof McLean to run The McLean News, fulfilling his ambition tobe a rural newspaper editor.“The West Texas values and theslower pace compared to somewherelike Houston, I really like that.”—Mike HaynesDuring his adviser years at Texas Tech, Haynes began a master’sprogram in mass communications. He wrote his thesis on Wes Izzard,one of the people who inspired him to become a journalist.Saathoff, who advised Haynes on his thesis, said for Haynes,the process of earning a master’s degree in mass communicationsinvolved writing a biography of a historical figure of significance inmass communications.“A historical thesis requires more time than a technical thesis,”Saathoff said, “because you have to find the research.”After earning his master’s at Texas Tech, Haynes moved to Amarilloto be closer to his family. He worked for a short time as areporter and editor at the Amarillo Globe-News, and still writes acolumn in the Faith section every third Saturday. Haynes also tooka job as a journalism instructor and publications adviser at AmarilloCollege in 1991, where he remains today.Returning to his roots as “High School Reporter,” Haynes recentlyco-authored the book “Pride of the Plains: 50 years of thePanhandle Sports Hall of Fame,” a reference book he hopes willexpand sports knowledge in thearea.(Continued on p. 32) Click It!Visit www.mcom.ttu.edu and clickAlumni > Feedback to update yourinfromation with us.“I think professors should be open tointeract with students because thatrelationship is more important thanmost people think."—Ann RodriguezShe went to school as an undergraduate at the University ofFlorida, where her father was a professor, with her heart set onmaking a career as an advertising copywriter.“I was pretty well convinced that I needed to be in advertisingbefore I even got into college,” she said.Rodriguez said she enjoyed her college experience at the Universityof Florida, which is evident to anyone who enters her officefilled with Gator memorabilia. However, after graduation, Rodriguezsaid she had a difficult time finding employment.“I graduated and thought that I would move up to New YorkCity and make a career out of it,” Rodriguez said.Rodriguez’s plans soon changed as she learned that her undergraduateachievements did not suffice, compared with other applicants.“I had a couple of really good interviews with good agencies, onexcellent accounts, but I kept losing out to one person,” Rodriguezsaid, “I finally had to ask myself what other applicants had that Idid not, and one agency finally told me that the person they hiredover me had an MBA and I did not.”Rodriguez, who avoided the college of business as an undergraduate,applied to Boston University to receive a master’s in businessadministration. She said things did not go according to planat first.“I struggled through some of the business classes the first year,”Rodriguez said, “but after that I stuck it out, and found out that thiswas what I really wanted to be doing. When I was taking a businesslaw class I discovered that I had a real aptitude for the law.”During her last semester at Boston University, Rodriguez madethe decision to apply for law school. Her intentions of doing sowere slightly different than most.“Most people that I know go to law school to make money,” shesaid, “I just really wanted to learn about the law.”While waiting for her bar exam results, she began teaching businessat the University of New Haven. After this experience, Rodriguezfell in love with teaching, but after passing her bar exam, shedecided to practice law.She landed her first job working for a prestigious law firm, Debevoise& Plimpton, which was recently named law firm of the yearfor trademark disputes by Managing Intellectual Property magazine.Rodriguez represented many companies, including MetLife InsuranceCompany and Owens Corning, and gained a large amountof experience working for different corporations.“It was interesting because I was constantly learning about newfields,” Rodriguez said. “When you have to work on litigation forsomeone you learn a lot aboutwhat they do.”(Continued on p. 32) Click It!To learn more about our faculty,visit www.mcom.ttu.edu and clickAbout > Facutly & Staff.20 | mc mc | 21