Frank Tutzauer was named the new chair of UB's communication department last week, replacing George Barnett, who is on sabbatical and will return as a professor.
A UB veteran who joined the faculty as a visiting professor 19 years ago, Tutzauer said he is looking forward to leading the department forward in continuing research-related goals of communication study, while also addressing space needs in Baldy Hall.
"I want to make (the communication department) as strong as possible in communication science," Tutzauer said. "We have a small department. We can't be good at everything, so we decided to be really good at a few things. We also want to play to the strengths of our faculty."
Holding a Ph.D. in communication from Northwestern University, he received his first tenure track in 1990, and his research has been published in journals including Behavioral Science, Communication Research and Communication Yearbook.
Department officials said Tutzauer has a shared vision for where they want the communication department to be.
"He's a great colleague, an accomplished teacher and a champion for students," said professor Thomas Feely.
Feely has the unique experience of being taught by Tutzauer during his study at UB, in addition to a working relationship.
"I have had him as a professor seven times, and he was on my dissertation committee," he said.
"I think he's a great person, a great human being. He knows a lot of history of the department," said Mary Cassata, director of the communication undergraduate program. "He cares about everybody - the staff, the faculty, the students."
Tutzauer has already formed several committees to overlook issues including course restructuring, according to Cassata, who serves on one of the committees.
"Are we giving our students what our students want?" she asked. "We're going to look at that within the perspective of the university."
The greatest challenge for the communication department is the need for more space, according to Tutzauer.
"We're in a sort of crunch here in Baldy," he said.
Cassata said the department faculty is currently separated from teaching assistants who are located on a different floor.
"We are looking at the utilization of space," she said. "The dean is working very hard to get us on the same floor."
In addition to the recent appointment of a new chair, the communication department is currently involved in three projects:
- Tutzauer's current research is in interpersonal conflict and deals with a particular type of conflict setting called "Prisoners Dilemma." "If everyone acts in self-interest, they're worse off than if they hadn't," Tutzauer said.
- Communication professor Mark Frank is studying nonverbal behavior and how it relates to deception, particularly in regard to terrorism. The research is made possible by an estimated $535,000 grant from ITT Industries, according to Tutzauer.
- Professor Thomas Feely is promoting organ and tissue donation with an estimated $352,000 in grant money from New York Alliance for Donation. The grant is divided into two parts: $80,000 for promotion through medical school education, and $272,000 for a classroom intervention to increase organ and tissue donation.
The classroom intervention involves an awareness campaign for organ and tissue donation undertaken by students in Advanced Public Relations.
"They design, execute and deliver the campaign," Feely said. "It's a great public relations campaign and students love it."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
