International Communication Student Forum

The International Communication Student Forum (ICSF) is the student organization of the International Communication Program. The ICSF furthers the objectives of the IC program by encouraging students to make specialized academic and professional contributions to the field. ICSF is a student-led organization that promotes interaction among students, faculty, alumni and professionals working in the field of international communication. ICSF also creates opportunities for networking and information sharing.

ICSF encourages students to:

• Directly influence the quality of the IC program experience
• Meet and network with other IC students
• Discuss issues relevant to the IC field and studies
• Plan and attend IC related events

The mission and purpose of the ICSF are:

• To promote the social, economic and academic rights of International Communication students
• To increase interaction between the students and faculty of the International Communication Program at American University
• To provide an effective resource for student participation and input into the continuing development of both the general field of International Communication and the specific program in International Communication at American University
• To facilitate the formation of a more coherent identity for students involved in all aspects of this interdisciplinary field

International Communication Student Forum Board

Steph Eng is a second year MA IC candidate with an interest in environmental sustainability and agricultural development as it relates to global food security.  She studied abroad in Rome and dreams of calling that city home one day.  After graduating from UC Davis with majors in communication and sociology, and a minor in Italian, she thoroughly enjoyed working at LivingSocial here in DC.  She is passionate about sports and travel and plans to attend the next World Cup in Brazil.

Alison Ring is a second year MA International Media candidate with an interest in public health and development. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., where she majored in public relations and studied for a year in Florence, Italy. After completing her undergraduate degree, Alison worked for the New England Patriots and then in development communications at Children’s Hospital Boston and Tufts University before enrolling at AU. When she’s not studying, Alison enjoys reading anything other than her textbooks and spending time with friends going to the movies or checking out the many museums in DC. She also practices yoga and is an aspiring surfer.  Alison is originally from Bridgewater, Mass., and comes from a big Italian family with 16 first cousins. She also has two sisters and three stepsisters. They all enjoy spending time together at the beach and telling stories around the fire pit while roasting marshmallows.

Mariam Samsoudine is an MA IC candidate interested in the role of Cultural Diplomacy in Intelligence and Security.  She graduated from Revelle College at the University of California San Diego, obtaining a BA in Political Science with a focus on International Relations, and a minor in French Literature. As an undergraduate student, she spent a year in France at the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), where she developed interests in cross-cultural communication and the role of media in conflict.  Having worked for several years in events and hospitality, Mariam is a “foodie” and likes to plan and attend events.  She is passionate about travel, and enjoys exploring new cities and cultures.

Taria Thomas is a second year MA IC candidate. She attended Cornell University and has a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations.  Taria is interested in studying International Communication with a specific interest in Europe after an internship with the International Labor Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.  During her two years between undergraduate and graduate school she worked as a paralegal in a prestigious law firm in Philadelphia.

Jessica Andrews is a first year MA IM candidate, interested in the role media can play in the advancement of developing nations. She did her undergrad at Arizona State University in broadcast journalism and will always be a Sun Devil for life. For her honors thesis, she chose to do a creative project and created a 30 minute documentary about the Lodestar Day Resource Center, a homeless resource center in central Phoenix. Jessica has studied in both Greece and Italy and after graduating from ASU, moved to Amsterdam and worked as an Au Pair. She was a competitive swimmer for most her life, so she loves swimming and has taught and coached swimming for eight years, including in Amsterdam. Jessica also loves traveling, like everyone in the IC/IM programs and can’t wait for her next trip! And she is still in search of the best Mexican food in DC, so if anyone knows a place, let her know! 

Claire Baumann is a first year student pursuing a Masters in Public and Cultural Diplomacy.  She currently works as a Teaching Assistant for a Cross-Cultural Communication undergraduate class and also conducts research for American University on the impact of study abroad programs.  Claire comes to DC from New York City after working for an educational tour operator where she managed and led travel programs for leading US cultural institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Claire also worked in Public Programs at the American Museum of Natural History, as well as a communications consultant for La Casa Cultura Solidaria in Cusco, Peru.  Her travel includes Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, Russia, Montenegro, and The United Arab Emirates. Additionally, she has lived in Italy, Costa Rica and Peru. Claire holds an undergraduate degree in History, minor in Art History and concentrations in Anthropology and Fine Arts from Douglass College, Rutgers University.

Evan Carlson is a first year student in the International Communications Program at the School of International Service. He comes to Washington, DC having spent the last 5 years working as a Press Secretary and Communications Director for political campaigns from local to the national level. He has worked directly with Governors, Senators and Vice President Joe Biden.  Evan’s interest in international relations lies in the political messaging that takes place between states, transnational corporations and global civil society organizations.

“Given there so many competing interests around the world, it is critical for organizations and governments to effectively shape their arguments in order to successfully implement policy in a global sphere,” Evan explains. “This is even more important as nations emerge into new eras of democracy such as those involved in the revolutions of the Arab Spring. How these governments present themselves to the world over the coming months and years will shape international policy in the region for decades.”

Caitlin Morrison is a first year student in the IC program and specializing in Public Diplomacy. When not in class, she works with Professor Levinson on cutting-edge topics in social enterprise and communication for developing countries. Caitlin hails from the suburbs of Philadelphia where she has two wonderful sisters (10 and 16) and graduated from Syracuse University in 2010 with a degree in International Relations and German.  During her senior year at Syracuse she wrote an Honors thesis that integrated diplomacy and language, entitled "Man vs. Machine: Interpreting the Ambiguities in Diplomatic Negotiations," and used this as a starting point for some possible career fields. Before joining the IC Progrom, Caitlin worked as an annuity specialist with Prudential Financial and as a bilingual nanny a German family. Caitlin was excited to join the IC program at AU, and plans to study how linguistics relates to strategic communication.  She believes that the heart of international relations is communications, and draws inspiration from the quote: "The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."  Caitlin hopes to find a place where she can mitigate this illusion and foster true communication in her future work.

Shayna Padovano is a first year IC student currently pursuing a self-designed  concentration in International Business Communication, and has a sub-interest in Cultural Diplomacy. She is a Lead Project Coordinator and Research Associate at the Center for Research on Collaboratories and Technology Enhanced Learning Communities (COTELCO), housed in the School of International Service. Shayna came to American University after five years as a producer, writer, and actress in New York City. She has also lived in Italy where she studied, performed, and taught theatre and English in Reggio Emilia, Padova, Arezzo, Spoleto, and Florence. Shayna grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and Singapore, and has travelled extensively throughout South Asia. These experiences greatly influenced Shayna's commitment to doing work on an global scale. Shayna holds a BFA in Theatre Arts and a Minor in Italian Studies from Boston University. 

Z'leste Wanner is a first year IC student interested in innovation, entrepreneurship and global knowledge sharing networks and transfer.  Regionally she is focused on South America, after having spent over three years living in Chile studying and then returning to work as an English teacher, translator and for an executive education company that coordinated programs between US MBA schools and executives across Latin America.  She also has experience working with local social development programs in Brazil and Colombia.  Currently, she interns at Partners of the Americas, with their Youth Sports Management Exchange and A Ganar programs.  Before coming to AU she was working in San Francisco with an entrepreneur to develop two start-up companies, focusing on communications and business development.  Her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara is in Global Studies.

Amy Wozniak is a first year International Communications student, interested in public diplomacy and the geopolitics of information and its effects on national security. She currently works as a research associate in the COTELCO Research Lab on campus, using data-mining and content analysis software on large text-based datasets. Before coming to American University, Amy taught English in Thailand, and travelled in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, and Malaysia. She pursued a Certificate in Global Affairs from New York University while she was working full-time as a sales representative in New York City. Her undergraduate degree is in Business Administration from the University at Buffalo.

Don't Forget to Join the ICSF Listserv

The best way to stay informed about ICSF events and news of interest to IC students is to join the ICSF mailing list. It’s simple:

1. Send an e-mail to:listserv@american.edu

2. Leave the subject line blank

3. In the body of the message, type: subscribe ICSF-L Firstname Lastname (i.e. subscribe ICSF-L Nanette Levinson)

4. Send the message, and you will receive a confirmation message, usually within a few minutes