As part of its ongoing #BeCOMM Campaign, a communications and social media campaign held to celebrate and promote the Communication major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information, the SC&I Department of Communication announced today its 2024 #BeCOMM Talk Show will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at The Yard on the Rutgers College Avenue campus from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (the rain date will be October 30). The #BeCOMM Talk Show is free and open to all, including Rutgers University students, faculty, staff, and the public.

Timed with National Free Speech Week which takes place each October to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of speech, the #BeCOMM Talk Show will be hosted by Grace Lewis, COM’21, “Tall Poppy Talk” podcast host and marketing executive.

Timed with National Free Speech Week which takes place each October to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of speech, the #BeCOMM Talk Show will be hosted by Grace Lewis, COM’21, “Tall Poppy Talk” podcast host and marketing executive.

Guests who will appear on the #BeCOMM Talk Show, and will be interviewed by Lewis, include:

• Brian Householder, Ph.D., Director of Undergraduate Studies-Communication, SC&I
• Gloria Vanderham, COM’00, CEO, Bliss Bio Health
• Maliaka Manning, MCM’21, COM’20, Senior Manager, Global Brand Management, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
• Lindsay Balsamo Laureano, COM’15, Director Olympic Games Advertising, NBC
• Maya Jacobs, COM’21, Global Influencer Specialist, r.e.m. beauty by Ariana Grande
• Roya Razmjou, COM’21, Social Media Influencer Marketer
• Tyler Koy, COM’24, TikTok social media influencer with 4.4 million followers
• Ryan Stolz, MCM’22, Public Relations Manager, Fanatics
• Lauren Braconi, COM’16, Manager, 1:1 Marketing Channels, National Football League
• Katie Roughgarden, COM’22, Agent Assistant, Music
• Jake Thistle, COM’26, Singer, songwriter and recording artist     

“For the second consecutive year, we are excited to host our #BeCOMM Talk Show this fall which complements our annual COMMchella Music Festival each spring,” said Communication Department Chair and Professor Marya Doerfel. “Timed with Free Speech Week, the #BeCOMM Talk Show spotlights our graduates and what we are doing as a program while showcasing how our students turn theories about communication into interactive, engaging, informative, and fun events for the Rutgers community.”

The event will feature appearances by the SC&I Department of Communication faculty; the Scarlet Knight mascot; a LinkedIn photographer offering students free professional headshots to enhance their online presence, sketch artist; free Krispy Pizza and free #BeCOMM branded merchandise including winter hats, scarfs, tote bags, and key chains (all while supplies last).

"The #BeCOMM Talk Show spotlights our graduates and what we are doing as a program while showcasing how our students turn theories about communication into interactive, engaging, informative, and fun events for the Rutgers community.” – Communication Department Chair and Professor Marya Doerfel

“Choosing to major in communication at Rutgers was like finding my perfect shade of lipstick – it just felt right and made everything pop,” said Manning. “The courses, supportive professors, and inspiring classmates prepared me beyond measure for my dream jobs in beauty marketing. I still lean back into those lessons today. It’s proof that the Rutgers Communication major and program isn’t just a chapter. It’s a lifelong beauty secret that keeps on giving.”

Students in the Strategic Public Relations Event Planning course taught by Mark Beal, assistant professor of professional practice, communication, are spearheading the #BeCOMM campaign and managing the #BeCOMM Talk Show.

To promote #BeCOMM, the students will produce and distribute content throughout the fall semester via earned and social media to highlight the five Communication major specializations offered at SC&I: Health and Wellness Communication; Leadership in Organizations and Community; Relationships and Family Communication; Strategic Public Communication; Communication and Technology; and Public Relations.

To stay updated on the #BeCOMM campaign, #BeCOMM Talk Show and the COMMchella Music Festival, follow @ru_becomm on Instagram, TikTok, and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Learn more about the Communication major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information (SC&I) on the school’s website.