The Communication Studies department will lose a prominent member of their faculty staff at the end of this spring semester. Dr. Patricia Lee Bloxom will leave her position at Longwood when this semester comes to a close.
Dr. Bloxom, a lecturer of Mass Media since Fall 2012, has taught five courses a semester. Overall, she has covered Media and Society, Public Speaking, Media Criticism, Media and Reporting and Writing, Principle of Page and Digital Design, Conflict Resolution and Internship Supervision.
“I've enjoyed teaching the students at Longwood, and am sorry to be leaving,” said Dr. Bloxom in regards to her nearby departure from the university. She will take leave at the end of this semester.
Dr. Bloxom received her Ph.D. in Media, Art and Text at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, as well as her Masters in Writing and Rhetoric (2007). She also earned her Bachelors in American Studies and English at Wellesley College, Massachusetts (1983).
Jameka Williams, a student of Dr. Bloxom's, had switched her major to Communication Studies in the middle of her freshman year. She has taken Dr. Bloxom's courses every semester since then, with the exception of this current spring semester. Williams has taken Public Speaking, Media and Society, Digital Page Design and Writing and Reporting with her.
“In her classes she always inspired me to do better, especially in public speaking. I am always being told that I have a soft voice, but her comments on my work just made me do better and better. I also just loved talking with her after class,” said Williams.
Dr. Bloxom’s favorite experiences while working within Communication Studies has been continuing to watch students grow and build a strong sense around what they aspire to do within the department.
When asked about the most rewarding experience, she replies, “Building a relationship with students, that's what I was told before I came. I really never understood what that meant before, even though I've been here two years, watching students continually grown and learn.”
Gabrielle Espiritu, another Communication Studies student, has taken Principles of Page and Design, Basic Media and Reporting and Writing and Media Criticism with Dr. Bloxom.
Espiritu describes a time during her sophomore year when she was to do a final project for Principles of Page and Design and create a website without using a pre-made template.
“I couldn't get mine to work because of an HTML issue and Dr. Bloxom stayed with me for a long time, probably close to a half an hour or an hour to get it to work. She didn't get angry or frustrated with me, she just kept helping me. It really showed that she cared about me succeeding. She's a very selfless professor,” said Gabrielle.
Gabrielle also recalls another memory of Dr. Bloxom's persistence and effort in assisting students' potential and growth. Espiritu was preparing for her first interview for an internship, in which Dr. Bloxom was there to help guide her every step of the way, running through questions that would have been asked in her interview and continually following up on her progress.
“She not only cared about what was happening in her classroom[,] but about what was going on in other classes and your personal life. She was very easy to talk to when I needed some advice or wanted to just chitchat,” said Espiritu.
The Communication Studies lecturer will miss seeing the continued success of her students, as well as the memories inside the classroom.
“Actually seeing students present their work, the really good presentations that come out of it and the students' growth are my favorite aspects of working here,” said Dr. Bloxom.
“She would ask us questions and really care about how the class felt on a certain issue. She was very understanding and very thoughtful. I will defiantly miss her and am very upset she is leaving,” said Gabrielle.
Natalie Joseph, a Communication Studies major and long-time student of Dr. Bloxom, who recalls a time when Dr. Bloxom wrote Joseph a letter of recommendation for her to become an Ambassador.
“She stands out because of her mellow personality and calm teaching style,” said Natalie. “I'll probably miss her personality the most. She is such a calm and warming presence to have around the COMMunity and she will be missed greatly,” said Joseph.
Jameka Williams adds, “Dr. Bloxom stood out to me, because I always knew she truly cared about the success of her students. Not that everyone else didn't[,] she just took so much care and time in explaining things in order to make sure we knew exactly what she wanted. I will truly miss her warm and caring spirit and I wish her all the best in the future!”
