FACULTY NEWS
Faculty News and Awards HELLO
Welcome new faculty members
THANK YOU
SUMME R 2 018
JENNIFER HARKER has joined the College of Media as an assistant professor in the Advertising and Public Relations program. Harker earned her Ph.D. from the School of Media and Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Roy H. Park Doctoral Research Fellow and taught courses in public relations writing. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Harker was the senior director of marketing and communication at Cal Farley’s, one of the nation’s largest privately-funded child and family service organizations, located in Amarillo, Texas. She is a frequent presenter and has an expertise in sport crisis communication.
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JASPER FESSMANN is a new visiting assistant professor in the Advertising and Public Relations program. Fessmann is a frequent presenter and guest lecturer and has conducted numerous workshops and seminars on public interest communications, crisis management and public relations. He recently earned his Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Florida. His research program focuses on developing the foundation of the emerging field of public interest communications - using strategic communications to advance social causes. Previously, he was the owner and CEO of Fessmann Concept, a public relations and management consulting company in Berlin, Germany.
JAY GILMORE has joined the College as a visiting assistant professor for the new Sports and Adventure Media major. Gilmore brings extensive experience as a producer and reporter for media outlets including American Sports Network and Sinclair Broadcast Group WZTV Fox 17, and as a sports director for Meredith Broadcasting WGCL TV and Scripps Broadcasting WPTV. Previously, he was an adjunct instructor at Middle Tennessee State University and Nashville State Community College. Gilmore received his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama.
Teaching Assistant Professor TOM STEWART retired after 18 years with the College. Stewart began teaching parttime in 2005 and became a full-time faculty member in 2011. He has taught courses in news reporting, media ethics and law, news writing and copy editing. He has led important revisions to the Journalism curriculum and has served as coordinator of multiple sections of the introductory media writing class. Stewart is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and has been an advisor for the College of Media’s SPJ chapter. Prior to joining the College, Stewart worked at the Tribune-Review in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he spent three decades rising through the ranks from a part-time reporter and copy editor to editor of the newspaper. Even in retirement, Stewart plans to continue teaching courses in news writing and media law and advising the College on adapting curriculum in those areas.
