Russell Kivatisky, who founded the Communication Department has retired after 48 years of service to the University of Southern Maine.
After receiving his Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University in 1974, Russ Kivatisky was hired to design and develop a B.A. Program in Communication. He began by creating courses and linking those courses with others throughout the university. It was one of the first proposed multidisciplinary degree programs at USM. By 1976 the Board of Trustees approved this proposal, and the Communication Degree was born. Since that time, the health and well-being of the program and the department have been Russ’s highest priority.
Prior to Russ’s arrival, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences separated the Department of Communication and Theater into two distinct entities. The Communication Department included a debate coach who focused on rhetorical courses in argumentation and persuasion. And a Theater History professor who was interested in R. Buckminster Fuller’s ideas. Fuller was renowned for his comprehensive perspective on the world’s problems, now known primarily as Global Communication. Both faculty members were very interested in system theory and its application to Communication. System theory was a driving force in communication studies and there was a desire to emphasize it in a new major; hence the reason Russ was hired.
The department was housed on a porch in one of the “white houses” on Bedford Street and given a part-time administrative assistant. The three faculty members and part-time assistant all coexisted on that porch until better accommodations were found. In time, more faculty joined the department and with them came the development of new courses and new accommodations.
Chief among the new courses were those related to media, especially media production. The late Kathryn Lasky took the lead in the development of a Media Arts track which, along with the work of Daniel Panici, Dennis Gilbert, Nat Ives, and Jessica Lockhart became the B.A. in Media Studies. David Pierson was the first tenured faculty member hired exclusively for the Media Studies program. Now that fledgling program has its own first-rate production facility and has grown to include Media Production, Media Writing, and Media Criticism. In addition, faculty advisors coordinate with WMPG and the Free Press.
Meanwhile, Lenny Shedletsky, Rebecca Lockridge, Maureen Eben, Richard West, and Julie Zink all contributed to the growth of the Communication Program. Courses in cognition, interpersonal relations, group dynamics, organizational behavior, media theory, and intercultural communication became a stable part of the curriculum. Kivatisky was instrumental in beginning a Public Relations minor, now coordinated by Christian Vukasovich. Russ established a thriving internship program with cooperating community organizations such as the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, IDEXX, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and many others.
As the call for more online courses and programs grew, the department responded. Lenny Shedletsky was a pioneer in this effort and the rest of the faculty followed his lead. The department obtained a grant to further online courses. This led to Kivatisky designing an online major that could be completed in four years. Those courses were initially offered in the fall of 2018 and the first completely online graduates appeared in the spring of 2022.
Kivatisky was an inspiration to students and peers for 48 years. He was frequently deemed “the best Professor at USM” by his students. Students have noted his indelible qualities of passion, relatability, and understanding that positively impacted their personal, educational, and career paths. It was frequently reported that “He Rocks!” and “He’s the Bomb!” Newer idioms have come and gone with a theme that has been consistent; he is a beloved teacher who changes lives.
Russ’s time will be spent enjoying more beach time with the boogie board along with his volunteer work with horses.