John Chapin, professor of communications at Penn State Beaver, and two Beaver campus alumni, are co-authors of an article, "Who's listening to victims?" which appeared recently in the International Journal of Listening, 27(1), 2-12. Co-authors are Ted L. Froats Jr., who graduated in 2011, and Trey W. Hudspeth, a 2012 graduate. Both received a bachelor's degree in communications from Beaver and studied with Chapin.

Penn State Beaver held its spring commencement Friday, May 4 in the Student Union Building auditorium. Fifty-eight students received master's, baccalaureate, and associate degrees. The academic processional and recessional and convention of proceedings were led by Daniel W. Smith, instructor in business. Donna J. Kuga, director of academic affairs, presented the degrees, which were conferred by Chancellor Gary B. Keefer in conjunction with John Feraco, president of the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board and manufacturing leader for NOVA Chemicals, Inc. Keefer also introduced the commencement speaker, Julian Gray, certified elder law attorney.

John R. Chapin, professor of communications at Penn State Beaver, is the co-author of "Optimistic Bias about Dating/Relationship Violence Among Teens" which appears in the current edition of The Journal of Youth Studies. The article was co-written by Grace Coleman, executive director of Crisis Center North, Pittsburgh. The Journal of Youth Studies is an international scholarly journal devoted to a theoretical and empirical understanding of young people's experiences and life contexts. The article, published by Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group, can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/. Chapin can be contacted at jrc11@psu.edu or 724-773-3877.

Two faculty members at Penn State Beaver have received promotions. John Chapin is professor of communications, and Juliette Storr is associate professor of communications, effective July 1. Chapin has conducted extensive research and written numerous publications about mass media, intimate partner violence, bullying, stalking, racism, and school violence. Storr was recognized for her teaching, research, and publications in inter-cultural communication, business communication, Caribbean journalism and digital technology. She teaches a variety of related classes, including public relations. Chapin can be contacted at jrc11@psu.edu, 724-773-3877, or by visiting http://www.personal.psu.edu/jrc11. Storr can be contacted at jms1015@psu.edu, 724-773-3575, or by visiting http://www.personal.psu.edu/jms1015.

Publications by Penn State Beaver faculty members were recently announced by the Office of Academic Affairs. "Optimistic Bias About Intimate Partner Violence Among Medical Personnel" was written by John Chapin, associate professor of communications, and published in Family Medicine, Vol. 43, No. 6, June 2011. "Cold War Crusader: Arthur Bliss Lane and the Private Committee to Investigate the Katyn Massacre, 1949-1952" was written by Robert Szymczak, associate professor of history, and appeared in Polish American Studies: A Journal of Polish American History and Culture, Vol. LXVII, No. 2, Autumn 2010. Contact Chapin at jrc11@psu.edu or 724-773-3877 and Szymczak at rxs16@psu.edu or 724-773-3895.

Although many Internet services and sites allow customization and personalization that make visits online more efficient and enjoyable, two recent studies found that privacy concerns limit how both the most technology-savvy users and those with less expertise utilize opportunities to customize or personalize their online experiences. Results of the research by Penn State Distinguished Professor S. Shyam Sundar and Sampada S. Marathe of the Media Effects Laboratory in the College of Communications appear in the current issue of Human Communication Research.

An adult learner who enrolled at Penn State after five years of service in the Marines will serve as student marshal for the College of Communications during summer commencement exercises.