It was 35 years ago that Fresno State communication major Robert Powell took part in the institution's inaugural Undergraduate Communication Conference. Now a professor of communication at the university, Powell can't underestimate the importance of the event.

"It set the foundation for my career," he said. "The research methods paper I presented at the conference - a comparison between giving a speech and writing persuasive essays and their effect on attitude change - led to my master's thesis. I came away from the experience with a sense I could do research."

Today, Powell's students have a chance to do the same. Fresno State communication majors will share their academic work with peers and scholars at the 35th Undergraduate Communication Conference, scheduled for April 18-19 on campus. Conference fees are $25. The cost covers a continental breakfast and dinner on Saturday. Students must submit papers by March 31.

The conference allows undergraduates and first-year master's students to make presentations and receive feedback from professionals. The event includes panels, poster sessions, keynote presentations and a dinner at the home of Fresno State President John D. Welty.

For the first time, the conference is open to students presenting papers in rhetoric. Typical papers are no more than 25 pages and include theoretical, critical or empirical manuscripts.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Thomas Hollihan, professor of communication at the University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communication. He specializes in argumentation, political campaign communication, contemporary rhetorical criticism and the impact of globalization on public deliberation.

Holliman is the author of several books, including "Arguing: The Products and Process of Human Decision Making." He also has served as a consultant to political candidates, elected officials and business and nonprofit leaders.

Hollihan will make two presentations. First, he will give a campuswide presentation on Friday, April 18, titled "Angry, Disinterested, and Cynical: Public Attitudes Toward the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election." The talk, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in the Leon and Peter Peters Auditorium, is free and open to the public.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, April 19, he will speak on "Globalization, Democracy, and Citizen Deliberation: A Call for Progressive Social Action." The conference will then proceed with student presentations.

For more information contained in this release, please go to the following Web site:
Department of Communication at Fresno State