Get to know Gretchen Ludwig, our new Associate Director

image of gretchen next to title Comm Lead ask me anything

We’re thrilled to welcome Gretchen Ludwig to the Communication Leadership community as our new Associate Director! In her role as Associate Director, Gretchen will be overseeing our teaching and learning experiences in the program. She will lead faculty development by supporting our 40-plus active instructors to create optimal learning environments. In addition, Gretchen will engage … Read more

We’re Standing Against Anti-Asian Hate

red blocks with the words stop asian hate

From Communication Leadership Director Dr. Ekin Yasin: The killings last month in Atlanta are a stark and horrific example of the racism faced by members of Asian and Asian American communities. These events are a part of a concerning increase in racist attacks since the start of the pandemic — Seattle is among the cities … Read more

20 years of innovative visual storytelling

film reel next to title comm lead 20th anniversary alumni film festival and forum

As part of Comm Lead’s 20th Anniversary celebrations, we are excited to host a virtual film festival and forum to showcase multimedia work by Comm Lead Alumni. We will celebrate and promote the work of our alumni as we explore how the medium has changed over the past twenty years that Comm Lead and the … Read more

Behind the scenes of our 20th Anniversary video

Communication Leadership Students are filming Comm Lead 20th Anniversary Video

By Matt Dagele The Comm Lead 20th Anniversary Video was a tremendous project that represents the hands-on, student-first spirit of Communication Leadership and its core tenets, from Storytelling to Values and Community. The project, which I was lucky enough to work closely on, was a testament to the dedication and commitment of those who call … Read more

Memes that save lives: Students reach millions with innovative MaskUp campaign

six memes promoting wearing a mask, each featuring an image of a person wearing a mask with words of encouragement

Can a meme save a life? When there’s a deadly pandemic raging that can only be stopped through individual safety behaviors, the answer is ‘yes.’ And over the past six months, a group of Communication Leadership students have shown just how powerful the right message placed in front of the right audience can be. In … Read more

Transforming Silence into Action: An Anti-Racism Learning Series for Communication & Marketing Professionals

A quote on the beach image says:" The transformation of silence into language and action is an act of self-revelation."

We are in the midst of a national reckoning with institutionalized anti-Black racism in healthcare, policing, and industry. Across the country, politicians, business leaders, and everyday people are asking what it means to stand for Black lives. To do so requires committing ourselves beyond surface-level diversity and inclusion practices and digging deeper into what anti-racism … Read more

The Silver Linings of Distance Learning

six students on a zoom call smile

At Communication Leadership, we pride ourselves on the value that our graduate students get both inside and outside of the classroom — from professional development events, to social connections, and applied learning opportunities. So a coordinated response to the sudden changes brought about by Covid has been vital. We want to share with you our … Read more

Dr. Ekin Yasin takes the helm as Director

ekin talks to a person

The Communication Leadership graduate program is excited to formally announce Dr. Ekin Yasin as the new Director, effective July 2020! Ekin was appointed to the Department of Communication faculty in 2013, joined Comm Lead as Associate Director in 2016, and served as Co-Director from 2019-20. Prior to her time in Seattle, she held a teaching … Read more

Congratulations to Communication Leadership’s 2020 Award Winners

On June 12, we celebrated the 2020 graduating class, and the inspiring work Comm Leaders have done throughout the year. Although there were no high-fives or turning of tassels, the live virtual celebration was made special by the presence of our community, and the outpouring of well wishes and cheers from attendees across the globe. … Read more

Welcome to the Livestream Era

Comm Lead student Richard McLean, who is a live multi-camera video production and events professional, and bought the necessary equipment to enable us to livestream admission information sessions and connect with prospective students across the globe in real time.

by Anu Hastings Comm Lead attracts applicants from all over the world. And even in normal circumstances, we deal with the impact of distributed teams, snarly traffic, and other barriers to in-person communication. All these challenges had us thinking about the futuristic potential of livestreaming and remote conferencing technology “before it was cool.” So last … Read more

Facts Over Fear: A communication campaign against Islamophobia

Facts Over Fear: A communication campaign against Islamophobia

by Elliot Trotter It’s never been like Aneelah Afzali to wait for change to arrive. A graduate of Harvard Law School, in response to growing Islamophobia in the United States, Aneelah stepped away from her career as a lawyer to found the American Muslim Empowerment Network at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound in Redmond. She is an activist, … Read more