DePaul University’s College of Communication will kick off its new Latino media and communication program this fall with “Origins: A Photographic Journey to the Latino Roots” on Sept. 30.

Jacqueline Taylor, dean of DePaul’s College of Communication, said the new Latino academic program includes partnerships with a number of Latin American universities and will offer an undergraduate minor as well as undergraduate and graduate concentrations. The minor program teaches students to think critically about all aspects of media and communication, with a particular focus on Latino media and communities, and how to create communication strategies that effectively reach the Latino population.

The Sept. 30 “Origins” exhibition is one of four special events that will be held during the 2010-11 academic year to highlight Latino people and culture as part of the academic program’s inaugural year. The exhibition celebrates the photojournalism and digital media of students from DePaul and the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City and will be followed by a special reception for students, artists and dignitaries. Ambassador Manuel Rodriguez Arriaga, General Consul of Mexico, will be the guest of honor and will cut the inaugural ribbon with Taylor.

This celebration takes place during Hispanic Heritage month and is part of the many activities in Chicago honoring the bicentennial anniversary of Mexican independence. The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. in the College of Communication’s lower level auditorium at 14 E. Jackson Blvd., Chicago. Wine, hors d'oeuvres and music will accompany the launch of this exciting new academic program.

The exhibition presents digital photography and essays related to Mexican culture and the cultural identity of Mexican immigrants in Chicago. It will be conducted simultaneously in Chicago and Mexico City via video screens projecting a real-time celebration in both cities, allowing Chicago and Mexico City to share in the event.

Cristina Benitez, director of the new Latino media and communication program, remarked, “This reception highlighting the photojournalism of DePaul and Universidad Panamericana students is the perfect way to kick off this important new initiative at DePaul. Latino media and cultural influences are expanding around the country. DePaul is leading the communication field’s response to this significant shift with this exciting curricular initiative.”

For more information about the Latino media and communication program, please visit http://sr.depaul.edu/catalog/catalogfiles/Current/College%20of%20Communication%20Undergraduate%20Studies/pg41.html or contact Benitez at cbenite2@depaul.edu.

About the College of Communication

DePaul’s College of Communication is the second-largest provider of master’s degrees in communication in Illinois. It is the third-largest provider of bachelor’s degrees in communication in the state and second-largest in the Chicago area. Graduate programs include journalism; media and cinema studies; public relations and advertising; and organizational and multicultural communication. It offers undergraduate programs in journalism; media and cinema studies; public relations and advertising; and communication and media.

About DePaul

With more than 25,000 students, DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States and the largest private, non-profit university in the Midwest, The university offers approximately 275 graduate and undergraduate programs of study on two Chicago campuses, four suburban campuses and three international locations. Founded in 1898, DePaul remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds. For more information, visit www.depaul.edu.