Thanking for Thinking: Professors Honored for Innovation, Leadership

A regional workplace solutions company likes the way two

Department of Communication

faculty members think.

University of Cincinnati professors LisaMarie Luccioni and Lisa Newman were included among this year’s honorees for LOTH’s 100 Minds – Thought Leaders in the Greater Cincinnati Region awards. Luccioni and Newman were recognized at an event on Sept. 13 held by the Steelcase-affiliated office products, furniture and services supplier. UC Vice President for Student Affairs and Services and Chief Diversity Officer Mitchel D. Livingston also was named runner-up for the event’s top prize. As part of the 100 Minds initiative, LOTH will make a donation to FallFeast 2012, a Thanksgiving Day charitable endeavor providing food and other services to those in need.

The Thought Leader award praises individuals who have contributed to community building, innovation or leadership within their industry. Dean Gallo, LOTH’s director of business development and a McMicken College of Arts & Sciences alumnus (BA, communication, ’94), helped organize the local event and nominated Luccioni and Newman for the special recognition, which accrued 400 nominations. Gallo commended Luccioni and Newman for their creativity, dedication and leadership.

“LisaMarie and Lisa are among the many people doing great things to help companies innovate; bring opportunities for employment and economic growth to the region; and build a stronger community,” Gallo says. “Doing anything new, unique or different is hard and often thankless. It is the nature of organizations to create repeatable processes and procedures, and being a thought leader is often in direct conflict with this directive. This event was a chance to bring together those that are leading us in a positive way and let them know their efforts are appreciated.”

Head of the Communication Department Stephen Depoe says technology is rapidly changing communication in many settings – interpersonal interactions, the workplace, politics and beyond – and faculty are challenged in the classroom and in their research to maintain a connection to existing theory. The need to recognize and respond to such changes is part of why Depoe is glad to count Luccioni and Newman among the many innovative minds on faculty as the department nears its 50th anniversary in 2014.

“LisaMarie is really innovative in taking this concept of professional image and moving it forward across all fronts, including the way you dress, the way you behave and the way you speak or write. She takes what she learns in the field and applies it to the classroom,” Depoe says. “Lisa has been innovative on projects such as our internship program. She keeps up with the changing job market and is always out there looking for new opportunities that are often dealing with social media-oriented tasks and things of that nature.”