Summer 2009 - Texas Tech University

y Helen Kahl and Sarah Lewisphoto courtesy Lakshmi N. Tirumalaby Crystal Casias and Allyson Wickardphoto by Bri CrowSpending 45 days in a Malaysian rainforest was an unexpectedexperience for one Texas Tech University graduatestudent.Lakshmi N. Tirumala, who is working on his Ph.D. in mass communications,discovered that he was wanted by the Texas Tech BiologyDepartment to help shoot and edit an educational film inMalaysia.Tirumala was a part of a group that journeyed to Malaysia thispast semester to research the diversity of insectivorous bats in theKrau Wildlife Reserve. “We were there for about two months,” saidTirumala. “We camped in a rural area by the forest, so there wasn’tInternet or TV.”He and the team filmed broadcasts, conferences and video footage,developing an integrated biology curriculum for about 250fourth- and fifth-grade students.Together, Tirumala and Tigga Kingston, Ph.D., an assistant professorof biology at Texas Tech, developed the concepts, and wrote,directed, filmed and narrated the concept films and bat videos.Tirumala said most of the trip was spent going into the forestbetween 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. and then returning to eat and possiblysleep. The team would then start again at 7 p.m. and return to thelodging around midnight.“The fun part was in the mornings, because you get to see everythingin the forest,” said Tirumala. “It was not as much fun at nightbecause you couldn’t see anything.”Upon his return to Lubbock after the trip, and after gaining backthe eight pounds he lost while on the trip, Tirumala went to workediting the 24 hours of footage that was taken in the Malaysianreserve.“It takes about an hour to edit one minute of video, so you canimagine how long it took me to finish,” said Tirumala, laughing.The educational video was a great experience for Tirumala, whohas aspired to be a filmmaker since he was young.He further developed his passion for filming and video editingwhile working as an associate producer and promo producer withone of the leading broadcasting companies in India.“The fun part was in the mornings, because youget to see everything in the forest. It was notas much fun at night because you couldn’t seeanything.”—Lakshmi N. TirumalaTirumala came to Texas Tech in 2006 to pursue a graduate degreein mass communications, specializing in electronic media andcommunications.Todd Chambers, Ph.D., an international graduate student director,associate professor and chair of the Electronic Media andCommunications Department, said that he appreciates Tirumala’spassion for electronic media the most.“Since his arrival at Tech, he has wanted to help us developmore opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students inelectronic media,” Chambers said. “He is always eager and ready toparticipate in research and teaching activities.”When the Malaysian research opportunity came along, Chambers,who has known Tirumala for three years and greatly respectshis strong work ethic and willingness to learn, didn’t hesitate torecommend him to the team.Kingston said that Chamber’s recommendation as well as Tirumala’sprior experience both in film and in travel helped him standout from all other possible candidates.“Lakshmi is an excellent student who does a great job,” saidChambers. “He has an outstanding ability to communicate and iswilling to help all types of faculty and students.”Tirumala said the differencehe sees in his major comparedto other communication majors,is the amount of passionone must have. He said if onedid not have enthusiasm forelectronic media, there wouldbe no point in spending longhours at the editing table.(Continued on p. 33) Click It!Visit www.ttu-mbea.org/ to learnmore about The Malaysian BatEducation Adventure.Intelligent, responsible, fun and creative are just a few wordsthat describe Wendy Maxian, a graduate student in the Collegeof Mass Communications.Maxian is from Fabius, N.Y., a small dairy farming community.She has attended several universities and has enjoyed every experience.Texas Tech, however, has proven to be the most welcomingcampus and community.“There are intelligent people who want to helpyou achieve your goals, but you have to acceptthe opportunity.”—Wendy MaxianMaxian began her academic journey at John Carroll Universityin Cleveland, Ohio, where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications.After graduating, she worked at a coffee shop nearthe university while she explored her options for her future. Afterworking at the coffee shop, Maxian worked as an enforcement officerfor a child support agency. Maxian enjoyed her short term jobs,but she knew that she wanted to pursue a graduate degree.Maxian attended Cleveland State University to earn a graduatedegree in communications. While attending Cleveland State, Maxianworked as a teaching assistant.“I realized I had a passion for teaching,” Maxian said, “and knewthat was the path I wanted to pursue.”After Maxian discovered her love for teaching, she decided towork on her doctoral degree. Maxian first attended Ohio State University.While studying there she met her mentor, Samuel Bradley,Ph.D., now an assistant professor of advertising at Texas Tech.“Bradley had an office next to mine, “Maxian said, “and that iswhere our friendship, professional and academic relationship began.”After Maxian had been at Ohio State for one year, Bradley accepteda teaching position at Texas Tech. At that time Texas Techwas introducing a new doctoral program in the College of MassCommunications and recruiting its second class of students.“Bradley told me about the program and I decided the move toTexas would be a great new experience,” she said.The move to Lubbock was definitely a change of culture, howevershe quickly settled in and has grown accustom to the friendlyand laid back environment.Bradley described Maxian as a very responsible, accountable,and reliable doctoral student. Currently Maxian is the lab managerfor one of the college’s labs.Bradley said she keeps the department and lab meetings on targetwith her outstanding organization and leadership skills. Theywould be lost without her, he said.While serving as lab manager, she also teaches Principles of Advertisingand is a mentor to her students, as well as to her peers inthe doctoral program.Maxian is currently writing her dissertation on how people respondemotionally to the media. In today’s world, most of societyrelies and depends on their personal technology devices. For example,her study examines the emotional response of a person whosecell phone was taken away or access to Facebook was blocked.“Find something you are really interested in and research it.”Maxian said as advice to students presented with the challenge ofwriting a dissertation.Wes Wise, a fellow mentor and doctoral student, said Maxian isa good friend to confide in.“Wendy gives a different perspectives of things, “Wise said. “Shegives different ideas about attitudes and thoughts about things.”He said that she is the lab manager and is a good leader in theabsence of Bradley.“Professionally and academically, she is a hard worker,” Wisesaid. “I am happy for her that she got a position with Xavier, it willput her closer to Cleveland where her family and friends are.”Maxian recently accepted an assistant professor position in theDepartment of Communications Arts at Xavier University in Cincinnati,Ohio, where she will primarily teach advertising classes. Sheis excited to move closer to family and friends.Maxian said if she could give any advice to undergraduatestudents it would be to take advantage of opportunities and findsomething they are really interested in, and learn everything theycan about it.She explained that students have so many resources at the tip oftheir fingers in a university setting,from coupons, work outfacilities, and entertainment,to intelligent conversationswith professionals.(Continued on p. 33)Click It! To learn more about our graduateprogram, visit www.mcom.ttu.eduand click Graduate Studies.26 | mc mc | 27