Graduate Update Program

Marlene Neill, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Graduate Program Director

The spring semester was a busy one for our graduate students and faculty as four journalism students and one American Studies student successfully defended their master’s theses or projects. All five students will be graduating on Friday, May 12.

Master’s Program:

“Automotive Photography as a Branding Tool” (Podcast series), Kaitlyn Clink; https://spotify.link/wRBPG5ckmyb –Committee Chair Dr. Clark Baker, Committee Members Dr. Alec Tefertiller and Dr. Chris Pullig.

“Fisheye Farms: fighting for a regenerative community in Detroit,” (feature reporting), Anna Timmis – Committee Chair Professor Bob Darden, Committee Members Dr. Brad Owens and Dr. Jon Singletary.

“Promise that You will See about Me: For Seeds not in the Sun, ” (Photo exhibit), Morgan Carter – Committee Chair Dr. Clark Baker, Committee Members Professor Bob Darden and Daniel Beard.

Master’s Theses:

“Examining effectiveness of Image Repair Theory through social media responses: A case study of the Dan Snyder and the Washington Commanders,” Kerry (KJ) Burkley – Committee Chair Dr. Alec Tefertiller, Committee Members Dr. Elizabeth Bates and Dr. Daniel Shafer

“At the Crossroads of the American Dream and Mass Media in a Global Pandemic as Seen Through The Lens of Small Business in Franchising,” Monica Feid – Committee Chair Marlene Neill, Committee Members Dr. Cassy Burleson and Dr. Chris Pullig.

Faculty Research:

In addition, we had several students and faculty present research at spring academic conferences:

Dr. Alec Tefertiller presented two papers at the AEJMC Midwinter Conference in Oklahoma on Feb. 24-25. “I Just Want to Watch Something I Can Ignore: GratificationSeeking and Mood Management in Motivations for Ambient Television,” which was a collaboration with our graduate students, Kaitlyn Clink and Devan Sutton; and “#NintendoYearInReview: Video Games, Media Dependency and the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which was a collaboration with Anthony Palomba from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Marlene Neill and Madison Walkes, graduate student, presented research at the International Public Relations Research Conference (IPRRC) in Orlando on March 2. The study was titled “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pursuit of Professional Development Opportunities in Public Relations.” Their coauthor was Dr. Sharee Broussard, director of Public Affairs & Community Services at Mobile County, Alabama.

Dr. Marlene Neill will be presenting grant funded research at the International Communication Association Annual Conference in Toronto on May 28. The study is titled “The State of Ethics Competencies, Training & Moral Efficacy in Public Relations,” and was funded by the Arthur W. Page Center.