Dr. Mike Nitz
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
B.A. Augustana College
M.A. & Ph. D. University of Arizona

Where did you grow up and go to school? How did you come to Augustana?
I lived in Miller, SD and Rapid City, SD (which I call home). I graduated from high school in Pipestone, MN. At Augustana, I majored in communication studies and minored in modern foreign languages (German and Norwegian). I went to the University of Arizona for my Masters and Ph. D. (Communication and Marketing). I taught at the University of Idaho and the University of North Dakota before coming back to Augie. I was a Fulbright professor for one year in Hamburg, Germany and a guest professor for one semester at American College of Norway in Moss, Norway. I majored in communication studies because my wife says I love to talk :-)

Why should a student major in communication studies?
Communication is essential to personal, academic and professional success. It is the core to all we do. Communication is central in the growing fields of health care and information technology. National surveys of human resource managers indicate that communication skills are critical to successful job performance in any field. Executives in Fortune 500 companies highly value communication as a strategic management function. Finally, when one considers the age of increasing talk, media technology, and information age in which we live, communication studies is key in providing students the requisite competency and critical thinking ability to succeed. Communication studies focuses on how people use messages to generate meanings within and across contexts, cultures, channels, and media.

What types of careers do communication studies majors typically pursue after graduation from Augustana?
Majors have gone into a variety of careers - corporate communication, public affairs, marketing, media, public relations, government, international affairs, sports management and many more.

You are the faculty advisor for PRSSA. What is PRSSA and why should students join it?
PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) is a nationally-affiliated student group here on campus. PRSSA gives students hands-on experience in designing and implementing communication campaigns for local clients. It enables students to network with professionals in their field both here in Sioux Falls and in the five-state region. PRSSA offers students field trips, internships and over $20,000 in scholarships.

You are also the Coordinator of Norwegian Programs at Augustana. What types of student and professor mobility are currently going on? What do you foresee for the future?
We have students going back and forth between several Norwegian institutions and Augustana, and we have a growing, multi-faceted internship program. Every January, we take faculty to Norway to help them develop exchanges. Most exciting is our nursing exchange with Bodo University College. This January, Augie students got to participate in a mountain rescue with the Norwegian Air Force. I hope to continue to build on this and add community and business leader exchanges as well. Ultimately, I hope to have a Norwegian Program in place that incorporates language, study abroad, exchanges and a rich, multi-disciplinary curriculum that positions Augie for the 21st century and beyond.

Do you speak Norwegian?
Ja, jeg kan snakker norsk. Aber ich spreche Deutsch besser.
(Yes, I can speak Norwegian. But I speak German better.)

Why is study abroad so important?
Simply put, you can never fully understand and experience a culture without being immersed in it from the inside.

What types of internships are available for communication studies students? How about in Norway or other foreign countries?
Communication studies offers a wide variety of internships through PRSSA, local sports teams, professional agencies, the Career Center, and alumni contacts. In Norway, we have the HECUA program, American Scandinavian Foundation, and the American Chamber of Commerce. Internationally, we have an untapped resource here on campus. The U.S. Department of Commerce has an office in the Madsen Center that offers internships with U.S. companies in nearly every country in the world!

You are teaching a UMAIE course in Norway and Germany in January 2008. Please tell us about it.
The course is international PR. We will visit both countries for about ten days each. We will visit companies, historical sites, learn about the culture of food and drink, and academic institutes. I am excited because the course will bridge traditional culture with modern, contemporary perspectives. Oh, and did I mention really good food and drink?

What is your favorite class to teach?
PR. It is the class that gives me the best balance of mixing in current communication research theories and keeping up to date with professional developments through guest speakers, PRSSA networking, and field trips. And of course, PRSSA is the perfect complement to this class. PRSSA has taught me so much.

Do you have any current research interests?
Media coverage of political and environmental issues from an international comparative perspective. Currently, I am looking at how culture can be a frame influencing media coverage and public opinion.

What are some of your interests outside of work?
Traveling, canoeing, hiking, reading, watching movies and sports, and spending time with family.

Are there accomplishments or things you're proud of that you'd like to share with us?
I am most proud overall of my students' achievements. PRSSA students win awards and it is a joy to watch them have success as students and alums. Academically, I am most proud of my international accomplishments such as my Fulbright professorship and being a Fulbright Senior Specialist. Personally, I am proud of my wife for her support, common sense background and for providing me with two super wonderful daughters!

Do you interact with students outside the classroom?
Yes, through PRSSA activities, class trips, sporting and other Augie events. It is amazing in a big town like Sioux Falls, how much you run into students from a small campus like Augie. That is great!

Do you have a favorite meal in the Huddle or Commons?
Gotta be the grilled cheese combo in the Huddle! I like the desert bar in the Commons too :-)

What is the best part about being a part of the Augustana community?
The word community. Augustana is a place where one is free to teach, research, and serve. There is an inherent interdisciplinary work ethic and the support one gets from all levels of campus is incredible. Augustana is the best place I have worked.