Dr. Dale Van Cantfort Reflects on Mass Communications Memories
This summer, we've asked some of our Piedmont faculty to answer a simple prompt: tell a story that matters to you. Our third highlight, Dr. Dale Van Cantfort, is a pillar of our mass communications program. Known to his students as “DVC,” his career at Piedmont and his students' success are a testament to his teaching and expertise. Read on for some of his favorite memories of being here!
Having spent 24 years at Piedmont University there are so many “stories” that come to mind it is hard to select just one. So, I will build them into one big story about our Mass Communication alumni. Over 250 students have graduated with either a Mass Communications, a Sports Communications, or a Film Production major from Piedmont. Each graduate, in their own way,has built a special story.
Early in the century, we had an international student from Sweden who has gone on to work for CNN International. A young lady who served as Editor-in-Chief of The Roar, the student-run newspaper at Piedmont University, now is the CEO of her own public relations firm. Another young lady came to Piedmont as a first-generation college student; she graduated with honors and is now a member of a production team that has earned two Emmy awards.
We have had a number of non-traditional students in the MCOM Department. Two standout as over-achievers. One had two young children in tow for most of the time she was in our department. Several years ago, she was recognized as one of the “forty under forty” in the state of Georgia. This fall her oldest child will start college on his own! The other over-achiever went on to be the Editor-in-Chief of the local newspaper.
If sports are “your bag” then you will be happy to hear about three alumni who have “hit it BIG” since leaving Piedmont. One young lady, who played both tennis and golf at Piedmont, went on to work for the Golf Channel. That cable channel is owned by NBC, the network that in recent years has produced the TV broadcasts of the Olympics. If you watched any of that coverage, chances are you saw graphics that were produced by a Piedmont alum. Another of her classmates was happy to go back home to Knoxville, TN to serve as the “voice” of the Knoxville Ice-Bears. This spring, he recently voiced his 400th broadcast for the Ice-Bears. And, if you are into the baseball sensation that is playing before sold-out stadiums, Banana Ball, then you may have seen or heard a Piedmont alum who currently serves as the voice of the Texas Tailgaters!!
Other Mass Communication graduates are leaving their mark in more traditional – yet equally impactful – roles. Alumni are working as teachers, public relations professionals, college recruiters, and radio hosts across Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee. A recent graduate now serves as a public information officer with a sheriff's department, using their skills to build trust and transparency.
What ties it all together? A Piedmont education. Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and a liberal arts foundation, students are trained not only to think critically but to adapt, lead, and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
As the Mass Communication Department looks ahead, its alumni continue to define success across industries. Each one is a chapter in a living legacy – and the next generation is already writing their opening lines.