Kennesaw State University Magazine Spring 2011 : Page 7
Campus SoCon 11 explores changing impact on media, business and human interactions When one of the presenters at the opening session of SoCon11 asked the more than 300 participants for a show of hands by those who had launched social media campaigns in each of the past five years, the number of hands diminished substantially each year, with only one or two still raised by the fifth year. The annual social networking gathering that brings together academics, entrepreneurs and media, marketing and technology professionals celebrated its fifth year with a theme demonstrating social networking’s newest frontier — the mobile world. More than 35 presenters led discussions on the cutting edge of the two merging trends. “By all indications, social media is on fire,” said Len Witt, Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication and executive director, KSU’s Center for Sustainable Journalism. “It went from a novelty in 2007 to fully mainstream today. Every demographic group is getting into social networking on the Internet, their phones, e-tablets and now their TVs too.” Witt said he and the Center staff are already planning SoCon12. “It feels really good that we recognized the social network mobile trend early on and have been able to help Georgia businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, students and educators understand its power to make profits, advance causes and turn innovative ideas into reality.” Briefs Vaughn Williams named athletic director National search concludes with hiring of NCAA Division I administrator President Daniel S. Papp, left, and Scrappy the Owl presented KSU’s new athletic director Vaughn Williams at a news conference. Craig Kronenberger, senior vice president of Edelman Digital, spoke at a SoCon panel discussion. Former University of Connecticut Associate Athletic Director Vaughn Williams was named Kennesaw State University’s new athletics director, bringing more than 17 years of NCAA Division I senior athletics administrative team experience to KSU. “It was just a couple of years ago, in 2009, that Kennesaw State’s athletics program made the successful transition to NCAA Division I competition,” said KSU President Daniel S. Papp. “We are now ensuring that we will have state-of-the-art facilities and the essential resources to allow us to compete in the top-tier of collegiate athletics. “We are also embarking on a multi-million dollar fundraising initiative that will be critical to making football part of the KSU athletics program and the person who will lead these important athletic initiatives is Kennesaw State’s new athletic director Vaughn Williams.” At UConn, Williams was responsible for strategic planning, facility master plans and policy and procedure improvement. He also served as chair of the University of Connecticut Sportsmanship/Fan Environment Initiative Committee, which established the Husky Honor Program. “I am very honored and excited to become part of the Kennesaw State University family,” Williams said. “Owl athletics has made incredible progress as it has transitioned from Division II to the Division I level. I look forward to continuing and growing our presence regionally and nationally at the Division I level. The entire university is on an upward path toward excellence in all areas and I want athletics to be a key part of the building process. The vision we have is for us to be champions with integrity in academics, in the community and in athletics.” Williams joins KSU as the institution embarks on adding football and is in the midst of a search for a new men’s basketball coach to replace long-serving former coach Tony Ingle. 7
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