Westchester Community College, State University of New York

Contact Information

Phone: 914-606-6136
Office location: HAAB – Room #133
Email: eric.luther@sunywcc.edu
Title(s): Associate Professor; Curriculum Chair Journalism

Eric Luther, Curriculum Chair as well as Chair of the Department, came to Westchester Community College in the fall of 2010 after several semesters of adjunct teaching in the area, as well as over a decade of journalism/media career experience, mostly television news. He received his Bachelor of Humanities from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) and his Masters of Arts and Humanities Education from NYU. Multimedia Journalism, Understanding Mass Media, Broadcast Journalism, and TV Production are just a few of the courses he’s taught here at Westchester Community College.

In addition to his teaching and chairing work, Eric has contributed greatly to various college committees including the Middle States Self-Study Faculty Subcommittee, as well as both the Strategic Planning and Academic Advising Self-Study Task Forces. Eric lives with his husband, Mike, and their lucky dogs in Carmel, NY.

Department/School:
Area of Arts & Communication/School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Degree Information:

BA, Liberal Arts, SMU, Dallas, TX
MA, Arts & Humanities Education, NY, NY

Courses Taught:

COMM 101: Understanding Mass Media
COMM 106: Multimedia Journalism
COMM 109: Speech Communication
COMM 119: Broadcast Production (online)

Contact Information

Phone: (914) 606-6565
Office location: Hankin Academic Arts Building (HAAB) #212
Email: julio.rodriguez@sunywcc.edu

Title: Instructor of Communications and Department Co-Chair

Department/School:
Department of Communications & Media Arts, and Journalism
School of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Courses Taught:

• COMM 101 Understanding Mass Media
• COMM 109 Speech Communication
• COMM 109 Speech Communication – Hybrid
• COMM 109 Speech Communication – Online
• COMM 115 Group Discussion and Decision-Making
• COMM 115 Group Discussion and Decision-Making (synchronous; LIVE online)

Specialization/Areas of Research Interest:
Strategic communications; integrated marketing; public relations; website re-development; digital media; graphic design; social media; course development; online teaching

Julio A. Rodriguez-Rentas is an instructor and co-chair of the Department of Communications & Media Arts, and Journalism, in the School of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, at the State University of New York (SUNY)—Westchester Community College. Prior to that, he has served as adjunct instructor in the Department, as well as having an adjunct teaching appointment at the graduate level at Iona College (New Rochelle, NY), where he developed a new course that was made mandatory for all students in the Mass Communication Department. He has also taught at Pace University (Pleasantville, NY) and Western Connecticut State University (Danbury, CT). Professor Rodriguez also has extensive experience training faculty and staff. In a previous full-time capacity, he facilitated numerous individual and group training workshops assisting faculty and staff in their online course instruction, teaching pedagogies and instructional technologies across all of Pace University’s campuses in New York City and Westchester County.

Throughout his professional career, he has worked on staff and/or as a consultant to a variety of institutions such as nonprofit community organizations; an NGO bank corporation; an advertising agency; a regional dance company; a law school; a private national university; and most recently at New York Medical College (Valhalla, NY), where he was brought on to manage its website redevelopment project and strategic integrated marketing initiatives.

Professor Rodriguez continues to publish and presents at a number of local, regional and national conferences on research topics. He is a member of the National Communication Association (NCA), New York State Communication Association (NYSCA), and the New Jersey Communication Association (NJCA). Professor Rodriguez holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration as well as a Master’s degree in Media Communication.

Select Papers Presented

Ziek, P., Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A. (2018, April) Appreciative Inquiry and Higher Education. 22^nd Annual Conference for the New Jersey Communication Association (NJCA), Lincroft, NJ.

Rodriguez-Rentas, J., Sugerman, R., Ziek, P. (2017, October) Positive Psychology, Appreciative Inquiry and Higher Education. 75th Anniversary Conference for the New York State Communication Association (NYSCA), Callicoon, NY.

Smulowitz, S., Ziek, P., Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A., Pappalardo, R. (2014, November) Corey Booker, Events and Public Relations: A Case Study on Spurring Urban Revitalization. Pre-Conference  on Communication, Health and the Quality of Life in Urban Areas, National Communication Association (NCA) 100th Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A. (2014, March). A Study of College Student Communication Preferences and its Implications on Online Education. Paper presented at the Media Literacy Research Symposium, Fairfield, CT.

Select Peer-Reviewed Publications

Ziek, P., Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A. (2018, January) Appreciative Inquiry and Higher Education.

Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A., & Pappalardo, R. (2016). I’m a Star. Give Me an ‘A.’. In J. S. Wrench, D. Flayhan, & J. Schuman (Eds.), Casing Sport Communication. (pp. 232-238).  Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A., & Ziek, P. (2016). The Corporate Social Responsibility Save. In J. S. Wrench, D. Flayhan, & J. Schuman (Eds.), Casing Sport Communication (pp. 172-175). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Pappalardo, R., Rodriguez-Rentas, J. & Ziek, P. (2015) Roadmap to CSR Success: 5 Steps to an Effective Cause Related Marketing-Based Initiative. CSR & Green PR Strategies and Tactics. New York: PR News Press.

Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A., Kirshbaum, C., Ziek, P. (2015). An Investigation of Educational Student Services Reputation and Internal Stakeholders. Change Management: An International Journal (formerly International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change in Organizations), 14(2). Champaign, Ill.: Common Ground Publishing, LLC.

Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A. (2014). Communication Preferences in Higher Education. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 18(3), 925. (Fall 2014).

Rodriguez-Rentas, J. A., & Ziek, P. (2014). Can Superman win this one?. In J. S. Wrench, D. Flayhan, & J. Schuman (Eds.), Casing Public Relations (pp. 192-196). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Degree Information:
Master of Arts in Media and Communications
Dyson College of Arts & Sciences, Pace University—Westchester

Bachelor of Business Administration
Lubin School of Business, Pace University—New York City

Institution Service or Academic Service:
Co-Chair, Department of Communications & Media Arts, and Journalism
Chair, Search and Screen Committee for Instructor of Communications and Media Arts
Member, WCC Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Member, Online Education Committee, Faculty Senate
Resource Member, Academic Technology Committee (ATC), Faculty Senate
Resource Member, Electronic Resources Committee (ERC), Faculty Senate
Mentor, Connections Faculty/Student Mentor Program

Memberships and Professional Associations:
National Communication Association (NCA)
New York State Communications Association (NYSCA)
New Jersey Communications Association (NJCA)

Contact Information

Phone: 914-606-6141
Office location: Academic Arts Building – Rm #208
Email: rodeena.stephens@sunywcc.edu
Title(s): Instructor
Department/Division: Communication & Media Arts

Degree Information:

• MA, Communication Arts, NYIT, Old Westbury

Institution Service:

• Faculty Consultant, Viking News

Courses Taught:

• COMM 109 – Speech Communication,
• COMM 101 – Understanding Mass Media,
• COMM 112 – Introduction to Media Writing

Honors and Awards:

• Dynamic Women Who Leave No One Behind Award by National Council of Negro Women
• Journalism Scholarship Award by Society of Professional Journalists/Press Club of Long Island
• Liz Hoover Award, Outstanding Volunteer Service, New York Women in Communications

Publications and Presentations:

• New York Women In Communications Aloud Blog – www.nywici.org/poster/rodeena-stephens
• Wikipedia contributor – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_E._Glaser
• Panelist, Alzheimer’s: A Black Women’s Crisis

Rodeena Stephens is a Tenure-Track Instructor, and Department Co-Chair, Communications and Media Arts & Journalism Department at Westchester Community College. As department co-chair, she works on program review, general education assessment; provides leadership in the development and review of long- range goals and objectives, coordinates textbook and course software selections and other responsibilities. Rodeena teaches courses in Speech Communication, Understanding Mass Media, and Introduction to Media Writing.

Rodeena created a new course; ”Introduction to Media Writing,” a required course for the Communications and Media Arts degree. She also designed the online course for “Introduction to Media Writing.” The course introduces students to various aspects of media writing, such as: journalism, social media, public relations, advertising, and marketing,

In 2019, Rodeena joined the Faculty Senate, and Curriculum Committee. She formerly served as faculty consultant for The Viking News. In 2018, during her tenure as faculty consultant, The Viking News won the David L. Adams Apple Award at the Spring National College Media Convention. Coming in second place, this was the first award in 20 years for The Viking News.

In 2018, and 2019, Rodeena developed, and facilitated workshops for New Student Orientation. She was a panelist for, “Cardi B: Modern Day Icon,” hosted by the “Dance Collaborative.” She has served as MC for the Academic Recognition Ceremony since 2018. In 2020, Rodeena participated in the New Faculty Orientation; “Faculty Perspectives on Teaching and Learning,” hosted by the Center for Teaching and Learning. She shared effective strategies on how to use Twitter in the classroom to foster student engagement. As a result, Rodeena was invited to present a similar discussion to “Writing Across the Curriculum.”

In her personal time, Rodeena heads the Communications Department of The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York; one of New York’s largest religious institutions. She leads the team responsible for developing communication strategies that include web, marketing, social media and public relations. With her extensive knowledge of digital marketing, she leveraged digital platforms to increase awareness and evolve the church’s digital presence.

An advocate for families in need, Rodeena co-developed an outreach initiative that provides free toys, gifts, food, and personal care items to families during the holidays. She established partnerships with Target, Toys 4 Tots, and Emmis Communications’ WBLS/WLIB FM, to help secure funding and sponsorship for this initiative.

Rodeena’s Professional Affiliations include Women’s Leadership Institute, Public Relations Society of America (New York Chapter), and New York Women In Communications, where she spearheads the organization’s social media strategy. She also served as a board member for Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning.

Community Awards and Certificates include: the Journalism Scholarship Award by the Press Club of Long Island, Dynamic Women Who Leave No One Behind Award by the National Council of Negro Women, Mental Health First Aid by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare; Certificate of Merit by the Office of the County Executive, Westchester County; and Certificate of Recognition by the office of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Rodeena received her MA Degree (with distinction) from New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury. Rodeena resides in New York with her husband, Warren.