2010-2011 Donor Honor Roll

Dr. Joyce Flocken

Her extended family includes the Cal State Fullerton community.

Dr. Joyce Flocken considers Cal State Fullerton an important part of her family. For 31 years, she served the university in the Speech Communication Department (now Human Communication Studies) of the College of Communications.

Now retired, Joyce served 10 years as the coordinator of graduate programs, 18 years on the department’s executive committee, and three terms as department chair. She was also elected to the Academic Senate for five terms and became its chair in 1992 in recognition of her leadership skills.

While she was earning her B.A. in art and M.A. and Ph.D. in speech communication, Joyce was constantly encouraged by her family, which she believes contributed to the successful completion of her education. “When you encourage someone, you empower that person, and that is a pivotal role for teachers who care for their students,” Joyce said. She knows that many students are working long hours, but are still shouldering large debt upon graduation. “That bothered me,” she said. “It meant promising students could not afford to enroll in graduate school, and I wanted to encourage these deserving students.”

And so she created the Flocken Family Legacy for Graduate Students that benefits students in Human Communication Studies. “The Fullerton family, including alumni, students, faculty and staff, can make a difference in the fortunes of our students,” Joyce said.

“At Cal State Fullerton, we’re a family working together to make ourselves and our educational progeny better today than we were yesterday.”

For information about giving to the College of Communications, please contact Michael Karg at 657-278-3348 or mkarg@fullerton.edu.