Faculty & Staff
Faculty & Staff
Our faculty are experts in their fields of research and study, thought-leaders in the industries they serve and dedicated to inspiring our students through critical thinking, ethical reasoning and skills building. They are frequently called on by media to apply their knowledge to what is going on in the world today.


Carolina Acosta-Alzuru
Professor
About: Carolina Acosta-Alzuru teaches public relations, cultural studies and qualitative methods. Scholarship foci: melodramas (telenovelas and Turkish dramas), culture and society. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of […]

Keith Adams
Facilities Coordinator
Keith Adams is a facilities manager at Grady College.

Laetitia Adelson
Grady College Career Consultant
Laetitia, a senior career consultant for the UGA Career Center, serves as Grady College’s career consultant. To schedule an in-person or virtual/online appointment with Laetitia Adelson, please do so through […]

Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn
Director of the GAVEL Lab; Professor
About: Dr. Ahn teaches undergraduate-level research methods, graduate-level user experience research, communication theory, and advertising and society. Her research examines how social media, video/internet games, and immersive virtual environments influence […]

Emuel Aldridge
Senior Lecturer
About: Emuel Aldridge is a graduate of UGA and has worked in the NMI since 2006. He currently teaches three courses at the NMI: New Media Production, teaching students how […]

Thomas (TJ) Alexander
Administrative Associate I, Dean’s Office
Since July 2016, Thomas (TJ) Alexander has been the first point of contact for visitors and callers to Grady College. As the dean’s office administrative associate, he provides secretarial support […]

Beth Allinger
Director of Finance and Administration
Beth Allinger is director of finance and administration at Grady College.

Karen Andrews
Director of Special Events and Student Leadership
Karen Andrews is director of special events and student leadership at Grady College.

Laurie Anglin
Administrative Specialist I, Peabody Awards Program
Laurie Anglin has worked at Grady College since May 2010. Prior to UGA, Laurie held positions such as controller, senior accountant, auditor and teller in the accounting field for various […]

Karin Assmann
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Karin Assmann teaches video journalism, multimedia production, reporting and storytelling, as well as graduate courses on journalism and mass communication theory. She studies the sociology and business of news […]

Sophie Barnes
Administrative Associate, Journalism Department
Sophie Barnes is an administrative associated for the Department of Journalism.

Mary Ellen Barto
Talking Dog Agency Manager
Mary Ellen Barto has more than 30 years experience working in advertising and media agencies, client marketing organizations, and as an industry consultant. Prior to joining UGA, Mary Ellen worked […]

Moni Basu
Charlayne Hunter Gault Distinguished Writer in Residence; Director of the MFA Narrative Nonfiction Program
About: Moni Basu, otherwise known as Prof B, teaches feature and narrative nonfiction writing. She is the director of the low-residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction and the Charlayne Hunter-Gault writer […]

Joshua Bell
Systems Administrator
Joshua Bell has worked in IT for more than 22 years, the past nine as a systems administrator at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA. Joshua and […]

Laurena Bernabo
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Bernabo teaches undergrad courses in global and domestic media industries and representations. Her primary research focus is global television flows, with an emphasis on translation. View Curriculum Vitae […]

James Biddle
Principal Lecturer
About: James Biddle is an award winning filmmaker and editor who specializes in the teaching of post production workflow and management, audio design, Steadicam operation, visual efx, and the artistic […]

Matthew Binford
PhD student
Matt Binford is a first year PhD student specializing in journalism and political communications. His research interests typically focus around knowledge gain and retention from nontraditional news sources. Matt’s secondary […]

Jim Black
Instructional Resources Coordinator
After graduating Grady College in 1986, Jim Black worked in the television production industry for 30 years as a lighting cameraman for field and studio shows. Jim worked in TV news, […]

Barbara Bond
Administrative Fiscal Specialist
Prior to Grady College, Barbara Bond spent the last ten years in the health care industry – nine years as a lead certified pharmacy technician and one year as a […]

Darlene Bradley
Fiscal Specialist
Prior to Grady College, Darlene Bradley worked with UGA Finance and Administration since 1994, starting in the accounts payable department then moving to the budget office. She was born in […]

Amanda Bright
Senior Academic Professional; Director, Cox Institute Journalism Innovation Lab
ABOUT Amanda Bright teaches capstone journalism and news literacy classes and digital design. She serves as the managing editor for Newsource’s digital products and is the instructor and assistant editor for The Oglethorpe […]

Rebecca Burns
Part-time faculty
About: Burns serves as publisher of The Red & Black Publishing Company, Inc., an independent student media nonprofit that publishes the largest student newspaper in Georgia, provides journalism training, produces […]

Michael Cacciatore
Co-Director, Center for Health & Risk Communication; Associate Professor; Assistant Department Head
About: Dr. Cacciatore teaches research methodology and introduction to public relations in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations. His research focuses on science and risk communication with an emphasis […]

Dodie Cantrell-Bickley
Senior Lecturer
About: Thirty+ years in various television news positions including anchor, investigative reporter, executive producer and News Director. As News Director launched one of the first local news websites in the […]

Olivia Carino
Part-time Instructor
Olivia Carino (AB ’18, MA ’21) graduated in December 2018 with a degree in Communication Studies and a Minor in Sociology. In July 2019, she discovered her passion for web […]

Glen Caruso
Part-time faculty
About: Glen Caruso thrives in the world of Generative AI, modern marketing, and marketing technology. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at industry giants like Adobe, Oracle, and Microsoft […]

Shira Chess
Associate Professor
About: Shira Chess teaches courses in media studies and media writing. Her research focuses on digital media studies with an emphasis on gender and gaming. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., […]

Nick Chiles
Writer in Residence
About: Nick Chiles is a writer in residence teaching Feature Writing courses. Previously he was the writing coach at the Grady Writing Lab for journalism students and an industry fellow […]

Sung In Choi
PhD student
Sung In Choi is a Ph.D. student at Grady College.

Cheryl Christopher
Administrative Associate, Entertainment & Media Studies Department
Cheryl Christopher is an administrative assistant for the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies.

David Clementson
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Clementson teaches undergraduate- and graduate-level public relations. His research examines the effects of public figures and politicians dodging questions. When he isn’t on campus teaching, running experiments, and […]

Tracy Coley
Part-time Instructor
Tracy Coley (ABJ ’90, MFA ’19) worked for nearly 30 years as a writer, editor, graphic designer, and student mentor in marketing and communications for the University of Georgia. She […]

Sara Cook
Senior Director of Development
Sara Cook grew up in Athens and has more than 20 years’ experience in fundraising and foundation experience. Prior to Grady College, Sara held positions as the Senior Director of […]

Maria Cooper
Academic Advisor III, Journalism Majors
Maria Cooper is an academic advisor at Grady College.

Tom Cullen
Lecturer
About Originally from the United Kingdom, Tom Cullen specializes in teaching public relations writing and communication. Cullen also serves as Program Manager to the Crisis Communication Coalition (CCC). View Curriculum […]

Charles N. Davis
Grady College Dean, Professor
About: Charles N. Davis is the Dean of the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. He was appointed in 2013, after a […]

Sabrena Deal
Senior Lecturer
About: Deal teaches Graphic Communication and Advertising Message Strategy. She works with undergraduate students to develop an understanding of basic design concepts, common design challenges, idea generation, brainstorming, and content […]

Ben Deutsch
Part-time Instructor
Ben Deutsch retired from The Coca-Cola Company in December 2017 after a 25-year career, the last 11 years of which he served as Vice President, Corporate Communications. In this global […]

Christine Drayer
Associate Director for Programming Peabody Awards
Christine Drayer is the associate director for programming for the Peabody Awards.

Jeffrey Duncan
PhD student
Jeffrey Duncan is a third-year Ph.D. student focusing on entertainment media law. His research examines the social and physical effects of entertainment media using mixed methods, including traditional legal analysis, […]

Ashton Hedrick Edenfield
Academic Advisor
Ashton Edenfield joined the academic advising team in July 2021. Prior to serving Grady College as an advisor, she worked in an administrative role in Franklin College undergraduate advising here […]

Nicholas Eng
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Eng teaches public relations foundation and ethics. His research investigates the interplay between message features and audience factors in shaping psychological and behavioral responses to messages about health, […]

Sara Ervin
PhD student
Sara Ervin is a third-year PhD student in Grady College at the University of Georgia, concentrating in crisis communication. Her research interests are in emergency preparedness and disaster management. Specifically, […]

Nathaniel J. Evans
Associate Professor
About: Dr. Evans teaches advertising and society, advertising management, and graduate level advertising foundations courses. His research interests examine consumers’ processing and evaluation of immersive and non-traditional advertising formats that […]

Matthew Nolte Evans
Assistant Professor
About: Matthew Nolte Evans is an award-winning writer and Assistant Professor of Screenwriting in the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. […]

Carlo Finlay
Senior Academic Professional, Assistant Director of Carmical Sports Media Institute
Carolo Finlay is the associate director for the Carmical Sports Media Institute.

Sarah Freeman
Director of Communication
Sarah Freeman (MA ’20) has more than 25 years experience in marketing and public relations. She has worked at Grady College since October 2013 following a brief time at the […]

Melissa Garber
Director of Undergraduate Services
Melissa Garber is the director for undergraduate services at Grady College.

Marcella Genut
Academic Advisor, Prospective Students
Marcella Genut (AB ’18) joined the academic advising team in January 2022. Prior to serving Grady College as the prospective student academic advisor, she worked for the CDC and nonprofit […]

Chris Gerlach
Academic Professional
About: With an educational background in integrated marketing communications, a passion in technology, and experience in interactive digital media, Chris Gerlach brings an unorthodox background and unique perspective to the […]

Brent Griffis
Administrative Associate
Brent Griffis began his public-sector career as an administrative assistant at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. After honing the skills necessary to meet the needs of a busy professional […]

Jennifer Griffith
Principal Lecturer
About: Dr. Griffith teaches Advertising Message Strategy and the capstone campaigns course for advertising majors. She is the advisor to Grady’s student-run advertising agency. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., English, […]

Neila Grimsley
Program Coordinator, Virtual Fitness Buddy (VFB) Ecosystem Project; and the Center for Children’s Health Assessment, Research Translation, and Combating Environmental Racism
Neila Grimsley works with Dr. Grace Ahn across multiple federally-funded projects. She is currently the program coordinator for the Translation Core of the Center for Children’s Health Assessment, Research Translation, […]

Sarah Elizabeth Grizzle
PhD student
Sarah Grizzle is a specialist in environmental communication, media and cultural studies, as well as television and film production. Her research focuses on the protection of the environment using mass […]

Hallie Grose
Administrative Associate
Hallie Grose has worked at UGA since July 2018. Before Grady College, she worked in University Housing as an assignments specialist. Hallie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from […]

Jay Hamilton
Department Head; Professor; Jim Kennedy New Media Professor
About: Dr. Hamilton teaches cultural, critical, and historical approaches to media studies. His research addresses alternative media and democratic communication. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of Iowa […]

Jeong-Yeob Han
Associate Professor
About: Dr. Han teaches communication theory, research methods, and technology and health. Research foci include health communication and technology, new media effects, and research methods and design. View Curriculum Vitae […]

Benjamin Min Han
Associate Professor
About: Dr. Han’s research focuses on global media, race and ethnicity, Korean popular culture, and the cultural intersections between East Asia and Latin America. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., Cinema […]

Taejah Harper
Development Associate
Taejah Harper (ABJ ’20) serves as development associate for Grady College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Grady, as well as a minor in sociology from Franklin College. […]

Bryan Harris
Part-time faculty
About Harris is the Founder and CEO of 25 Hits, a strategic communications consulting firm. He a 20+ year veteran in the communications field who has led complex and high-profile […]

Haley R. Hatfield
PhD Student
About: Haley R. Hatfield is a PhD student in Mass Communication concentrating in Advertising at the University of Georgia. Haley’s research explores race-related media effects with an emphasis on Whiteness and […]

Keith Herndon
William S. Morris Chair in News Strategy and Management; Executive Director, James M. Cox Jr. Institute and Professor of Practice in Journalism
About: Dr. Herndon teaches the introductory course Media, News and Consumers, Business of News, Financial Journalism and Food Journalism as a special topics course and as independent study. He holds […]

Missy Hill
Director of Programming and Development, Department of Advertising and Public Relations
Missy Hill has more than 18 years of experience in marketing, advertising and corporate communications. She has worked at Grady College since 2015. Prior to working at the University of […]

Itai Himelboim
Thomas C. Dowden Professor of Media Analytics; Director of the SEE Suite: Social media Engagement & Evaluation; Associate Professor
About: Dr. Himelboim, the Thomas C. Dowden Professor of Media Analytics and director of the SEE Suite, studies the role social media plays in news, politics and international communication. Through […]

Andrea Hudson
Lecturer
About Andrea Hudson teaches a variety of journalism classes, including photojournalism and reporting and writing across platforms. Her research is grounded in women’s studies and visual communication. View Curriculum Vitae […]

Janice Hume
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Carolyn McKenzie and Don E. Carter Chair for Excellence in Journalism, Professor
About: Dr. Janice Hume teaches media history, ethics & diversity, and media credibility. Her research concerns American journalism history, public memory and media coverage of death. View Curriculum Vitae Education […]

Anne Hurne
Student Affairs Professional III, Graduate Studies Office
Anne Hurne is a student affairs professional at Grady College.

Brown James
PhD student
Brown James is a second-year Ph.D. student and lecturer at Grady. Using primarily qualitative methods, his research specifically examines the intersection of news media and the American legal system, ranging […]

Brittany Nicole Jefferson
PhD student
Biographical Statement Brittany is a first year PhD student in journalism. She specializes in examining how audiences use digital media to discuss, react to and create news content in online […]

Yan Jin
C. Richard Yarbrough Professor in Crisis Communication Leadership; Professor of Public Relations; Director of Crisis Communication Think Tank; Associate Director of Center for Health & Risk Communication
About Dr. Yan Jin teaches undergraduate Public Relations (PR), PR Research, PR Administration, AdPR Health, Crisis Communication, and PR Campaigns courses. She also teaches doctoral-level mass communication theory and graduate […]

Mark Johnson
Principal Lecturer
About: Mark E. Johnson teaches photojournalism, multimedia journalism, video journalism and graphic design courses, serves as the college’s Chief Technology Officer and is director of the National Press Photographers Association […]

Andy Johnston
Editor in Residence
Johnston has covered sporting events on every level in his 33 years as a writer and editor for daily newspapers and websites. He was recognized as one of the country’s […]

Lori Johnston
Lecturer; Director, Cox Institute Journalism Writing Lab
About: Lori Johnston teaches a variety of journalism classes, including reporting and writing across platforms, religion reporting, home and garden reporting, critical writing, feature writing and investigative reporting. View Curriculum Vitae […]

Jeffrey P. Jones
Executive Director Peabody Awards, Lambdin Kay Professor
About: Dr. Jones directs the George Foster Peabody Awards, and is Lambdin Kay Professor in the Entertainment and Media Studies Department. His research specialty is television studies, with a focus […]

Sam Jones
Part-time Instructor
Sam Jones received his master’s degree in journalism from UGA in 2020. Upon graduation, he began writing a daily newsletter and regular features for MLSsoccer.com, the official site of Major […]

Thomas E. Kadri
Assistant Professor, courtesy appointment from University of Georgia School of Law
Education Ph.D., Yale Law School J.D., University of Michigan Law School M.A., University of St. Andrews View Curriculum Vitae About Thomas E. Kadri joined the University of Georgia School of […]

Anandam Kavoori
Professor
About: Dr. Kavoori is currently engaged in a program of autoethnographic and narrative writing. View Curriculum Vitae Education MFA, Narrative Non-Fiction writing, University of Georgia (currently enrolled). Study in A […]

Diana Keough
Part-time Instructor
Diana Keough (MFA ’21) is an award-winning veteran multimedia journalist who covered a broad range of health and science topics on the medical beat for news outlets including The (Cleveland) […]

Ted T. Kim
CAM Program and Research Manager
About Dr. Ted Kim manages and coordinates the programming and administrative aspects of the Communication and Media (CAM) Fellows Program at the Cox International Center. His duties include providing instructional, […]

Jooyoung Kim
Director, James M. Cox Jr. Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research; Dan Magill Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Sports Communications; Professor
About Dr. Kim is the director of the Cox International Center and the executive director of the Cox Center CAM Fellows Program. His research focuses on the interaction between advertising […]

Teressa King
Executive Assistant to the Dean
Teressa King is the executive assistant to the dean at Grady College.

Leslie Klein
PhD student
Leslie Klein is a Ph.D. student in Grady College concentrating in Journalism. Her research explores the intersection of media law and scholastic journalism. She aims to use her research to […]

Nathaniel H. Kohn
Professor
About: Dr. Kohn teaches advanced screenwriting, producing for film/television, documentary film, and qualitative methods; directs the Cannes Film Festival and Cannes Lions Study Abroad Programs; directs Roger Ebert’s Film Festival; […]

Neil Landau
Associate Professor; MFA in Film, Television and Digital Media
About: Neil Landau is an award-winning screenwriter, producer, author and screenwriting professor. View Curriculum Vitae Education Master of Fine Arts, Screenwriting, University of Georgia Bachelor of Arts, Film/Television, University of […]

Kim Landrum
Senior Lecturer
About: Landrum teaches Graphic Communication and Advertising Message Strategy. She works with undergraduate students to develop an understanding of basic design concepts, common design challenges, idea generation, brainstorming, and content […]

David Lawson
Lecturer, Sports Media
David Lawson in a lecturer at Grady College.

Darryl Ledbetter
Part-time faculty
About:: His professional background includes work in both the print and broadcast media. He’s currently the award-winning Atlanta Falcons Beat Writer for The Atlanta Journal Constitution. He has appeared on […]

Sanghoon Lee
Clinical Associate Professor, MFA Film
About: Sanghoon Lee teaches in our MFA Film, Television and Digital Media program. When he is not teaching, he is a director, producer, writer and cinematographer for independent film projects. […]

Krysten Lewis
Academic Advisor
Krysten Lewis joined the academic advising team in July 2019. Prior to serving Grady College as an advisor, she worked as an academic advisor in the UGA Honors Program. Krysten […]

Lexie Little
PhD Student
About: Alexia (Lexie) Little is a first-year PhD student specializing in journalism. Her research interests center around media history, specifically how media have constructed conceptions of collective memory, culture, and […]

Kyser Lough
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Lough studies visual communication and solutions journalism, with an emphasis on photojournalism. He teaches graduate-level visual communication method & theory, as well as undergraduate photography and journalism ethics […]

Helen Mahany
Academic Advisor, Double Dawgs
Helen Mahany joined the academic advising team in July 2019. She is a proud UGA alumna of 2016. After graduation, she moved to Nashville to work at Vanderbilt University Medical […]

Anettra Mapp
Business Manager
Anettra Mapp serves as Business Manager for Grady College Journalism Department, Cox Insititute, Carmical and Carter chair programs as well as Grants Coordinator for the college. Anettra is a double […]

Booker T. Mattison
Associate Professor
About Booker T. Mattison teaches Screenwriting and Directing for the Screen courses, in addition to creative jobs as an author and filmmaker. View Curriculum Vitae Education Master of Fine Arts, […]

Tyler Mazurek
New Media Certificate Faculty Advisor
Tyler was first acquainted with the New Media Institute as an Entertainment and Media Studies student. In order to explore his growing interest in user experience design, development, and all […]

Don McClain
Application Programmer Specialist
Don McClain is an application programmer specialist at Grady College.

Michelle McFalls
Academic Advisor, Advertising Majors
Michelle McFalls is an academic advisor at Grady College.

Juan Meng
UGA Athletic Association Endowed Professor; Department Head; Professor
About: Dr. Juan (pronounced as “Dren”) Meng is the Head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of […]

Samantha Meyer
Director of Experiential Learning
Samantha Meyer (ABJ ’13, MA ’14) graduated from the University of Georgia majoring in public relations and women’s studies during her undergraduate studies, and Grady’s 4+1 program for her master’s […]

Vicki Michaelis
John Huland Carmical Chair in Sports Journalism & Society
About: Vicki Michaelis is the director of the John Huland Carmical Sports Media Institute at UGA. She teaches classes in the institute’s undergraduate Sports Media Certificate program. View Curriculum Vitae […]

Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Mohammed teaches courses in global media industries and entertainment. Her research focuses on Global South media industries, feminisms, decolonization and social movements. Personal website: wunpini.com Other Affiliations: African Studies […]

Stephanie Moreno
Scholastic Outreach Coordinator
Stephanie Moreno (ABJ ’06, BA ’06, MA ’20) is the director of the Georgia Scholastic Press Association, a 95-year-old organization housed at Grady College that supports middle and high school […]

Leah Moss
Instructor
Leah Moss serves as the Emerging Media faculty advisor in the New Media Institute. An alumna of the first cohort of the Emerging Media Master’s concentration, Moss now leads the […]

Diane Murray
Director of Alumni Relations and Outreach
Diane Murray serves as Director of Alumni Relations and Outreach for the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. Prior to joining Grady, she served […]

Lauren Musgrove
Assistant Professor
ABOUT Professor Musgrove is an 8-time Southeast Emmy winning filmmaker. Her work explores places of vulnerability and inspiration in the human condition, often involving scientific research and fantastical imagery. She […]

Rongting Niu
PhD Student
Rongting Niu is a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Grady College. Her research focuses on psychological processing in crisis and risk communication. Educational […]

Ramsey Nix
Part-time faculty
About: Part-time instructor Ramsey Nix previously worked as Assistant Professor of Mass Communications at Piedmont College, where she taught journalism courses and advised the student newspaper. Previously, she served as […]

Eric Novotny
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Eric Novotny (PhD – Communication, Michigan State University, 2020) is a postdoctoral research associate in the Games and Virtual Environments Lab (GAVEL) within the Grady College of Mass Communication and […]

Glen Nowak
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Co-Director of Center for Health & Risk Communication, Professor
About: Nowak is responsible for developing and managing the College’s new Center for Health and Risk Communication, which seeks to foster an interdisciplinary approach to health and risk-related Communication projects, […]

Kajal Patel
Academic Advisor, AdPR
Kajal (pronounced Kah-juhl) Patel graduated from the University of Georgia in 2020 with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in human development and family sciences. She previously served as […]

Ashley Patterson
Part-time Instructor
Ashley Patterson is an Atlanta-based script supervisor who has worked on a wide range of film productions: from independent films such as “Whistleblower” and “Devil’s Knot,” to visual-effect driven films […]

Jonathan Peters
Department Head, Associate Professor
ABOUT Dr. Jonathan Peters is the head of the Department of Journalism and holds a faculty appointment in the School of Law. He teaches and researches media law and policy. […]

Ivanka Pjesivac
Associate Professor
About: Dr. Pjesivac teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in digital storytelling, public opinion, and international communication. She studies international and cross-cultural communication, media trust and credibility, and effects of digital […]

Marilyn Primovic
Ph.D. Student
Marilyn Primovic seeks to understand the ways media influences consumer decision making. Completing both her B.A. in journalism and M.A. in advertising and public relations from the Grady College in four years, […]

Glenna Read
Associate Professor of Advertising
About: Dr. Read teaches Media Strategy and Insights and Analytics. Research interests are media psychology/effects, identity and representation, and psychophysiology. View Curriculum Vitae Education: Ph.D., Mass Communication, Indiana University M.A., […]

Emeritus and Retired Faculty
Grady College builds on the legacy of its outstanding faculty, many of whom grace us with their presence for years following their retirements. If you’re looking for a beloved Grady […]

Karen Miller Russell
Jim Kennedy New Media Professor, Professor
About: Karen Miller Russell is Jim Kennedy Professor of New Media and Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor, teaching public relations and media history and advising the college’s Integrated ADPR master’s […]

Karen Andrea Robayo Sanchez
PhD Student
Karen Andrea Robayo Sanchez is a Ph.D. student in Mass Communication and Public Relations Studies at the University of Georgia. Her research interests are international communication, leadership, gender equality and […]

Jackson Schroeder
PR Specialist
Jackson Schroeder is the public relations specialist for Grady College’s external relations team. He graduated from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with a bachelor’s degree in journalism news […]

Rebekah Seabolt
Global Studies Program Manager
Rebekah Seabolt has been global studies coordinator since 2021. She earned a bachelor of arts in public health from Georgia College and State University in 2011 ad a master of […]

Ja Kyung Seo
PhD student
Research interests: Seo’s research interests lie in health communication. Seo is interested in understanding the psychological mechanisms by which people make healthy decision-making and engage in health behaviors. Another research […]

Brittany Shivers
PhD Student
Brittany Shivers’ research focuses on the psychological processing of disinformation and conspiracy theories, as well as the societal implications of information disorder exacerbated by social media. She is also interested […]

Chris Shumway
Senior Lecturer
About: Chris Shumway teaches classes in Video Journalism and manages Grady’s video production facilities, which include a digital newsroom, TV studio and field equipment supply room. View Curriculum Vitae Education […]

Jennifer T. Smith
Academic Advisor, EMST and Journalism
Jennifer Smith graduated from Georgia Gwinnett College with her BBA in Marketing in 2011. She has been with UGA for the past 11 years working with the UGA Graduate School, […]

Kristen Smith
Principal Lecturer
About: Ms. Smith teaches Graphic Communication, Advanced Graphic Communication and the History of Graphic Communication. She is a faculty adviser to Talking Dog, the student-led advertising and PR agency. View […]

Jeff Springston
Director, Master of Fine Arts Programs, Professor
About Dr. Springston teaches public relations, media and health, and research methods. Research foci include health and risk communications. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., Organizational Communication, The Ohio State University […]

Nandita Sridhar
PhD student
Biographical Statement Nandita Sridhar is a PhD student at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Entertainment and Media Studies. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Nandita spent […]

Maggie Stephens
Awards Coordinator
Peabody is happy to announce that Maggie Stephens has joined our team in the newly created position of Awards Coordinator. Maggie will oversee the administration of the awards process, events […]

Kyla Sterling
Instructor
Kyla Sterling began her New Media Institute journey in 2018 as an Emerging Media Master’s student. Now, as faculty advisor for the New Media Certificate program, she oversees students’ journeys […]

Kirsten Strausbaugh
Senior Lecturer
About: Dr. Strausbaugh teaches advertising message strategy, campaigns, and graphic communications. Service areas include acting as Faculty Advisor to the UGA AdClub. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., Mass Communication, University […]

Jonathon Streetman
IT Manager
Jonathon Streetman is the IT Manager at Grady College.

Welch Suggs
Associate Professor
About: David Welch Suggs, Jr., is an associate professor at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. in July 2011 after careers as a journalist, as a policy advocate, […]

Shuoya Sun
PhD student
Shuoya Sun is a first year PhD student at Grady College. Her research interests mainly focus on how information presented in digital ads and its relation to the context would […]

Ruoyu Sun
Assistant Professor
About: Dr. Sun teaches Public Relations Management and Crisis Communication. Her research specialization focuses on corporate communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D. in Communication, University […]

Christopher Thompson
IT Professional Associate
Chris Thompson graduated from Athens Technical College with an associate’s degree focused on applied science in emerging technologies. He comes from a long background in the service industry as well […]

Kayla Timmons
Payroll Specialist
Kayla Timmons is the payroll specialist at Grady College.

Andrew Todd
Broadcast Engineer
Andrew Todd is a broadcast engineer at Grady College.

Bryan Trude
Lecturer
Dr. Trude earned his PhD in May 2022. His research interest is on the utilization and evolution of new and emergent forms of media, and how the changing uses of […]

Wes Unruh
CACHE Lab Administrator
Wes Unruh is the CACHE Lab administrator at Grady College.

Charlotte Norsworthy Varnum
Part-time Instructor; program coordinator, News Literacy Certificate
Charlotte Norsworthy Varnum (ABJ ’19, MA ’20) is a part-time instructor at Grady College and serves as program coordinator for the Cox Institute’s News Literacy Certificate. Varnum is also executive […]

Ralitsa Vassileva
Lecturer
About: Ralitsa Vassileva teaches undergraduate Newsource and Multiplatform Newsroom Projects courses. Her Newsource class learns how to report, produce, and present newscasts that go live on local cable. Her Multiplatform […]

Tudor Vlad
Executive Director of the Cox International Center, Senior Research Scientist
About: Dr. Vlad’s research focuses on media challenges in emerging democracies and impact of midcareer training programs for journalists. He conducted workshops for journalists around the world. Education Ph.D. Philology, […]

Denetra Walker
Assistant Professor
About Dr. Walker’s teaching specialties focus on how social justice and race issues are covered in journalism. View Curriculum Vitae Education Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of South Carolina M.A., Mass […]

Megan Ward
Administrative Director
About: Originally from Jupiter, Florida, Megan Ward fled the gator state to be a double-dawg, earning both her Bachelors and Masters in Public Relations from Grady College. An NMI alumna herself, […]

Joseph Watson
Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communications
Joseph Watson, Jr. is the inaugural Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communications at Grady College. In this role, Watson oversees the first program in the nation to provide […]

John Weatherford
Senior Lecturer
About: View Curriculum Vitae Experience John Weatherford serves on the faculty of the New Media Institute in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. […]

Sonja R. West
Otis Brumby Distinguished Professorship in First Amendment Law
About Sonja West is a faculty member in the School of Law and was recently named the inaugural holder of the Otis Brumby Distinguished Professorship in First Amendment Law, a […]

Danna L. Williams
Business Manager, Business Office
Danna Williams is the business manager at Grady College.

Keith Wilson
Assistant Professor
ABOUT Keith Wilson is a director, creative producer, and visual artist whose work has been exhibited at Sundance, Berlinale, South by Southwest, Hot Docs, the U.S. National Gallery of Art, […]

Bartosz Wojdynski
Jim Kennedy New Media Professor; Director of the Digital Media Attention and Cognition (DMAC) Lab; Associate Professor
About: Dr. Wojdynski teaches courses in multimedia journalism, interactive media, and psychological effects of communication technology. He researches the effects of design and presentation characteristics in digital media on attention, […]

Jiyoung Yeon
PhD Student
Jiyoung Yeon is a first-year Ph.D. student fascinated by the impact of humor and entertainment media on citizen attitudes. Exploring online humor, memes, and uncivil content using psychology and quantitative […]

Hye Jin Yoon
Associate Professor, Advertising
About: Hye Jin Yoon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Georgia. Her research expertise is in humor advertising and humor […]

Aarum Youn-Heil
PhD Student
Aarum Youn-Heil is a PhD student in Mass Communication and Entertainment Media Studies at the University of Georgia. Her research interest is interracial communication and how it relates to media. […]

Dayne Young
Program Coordinator
Dayne Young (ABJ ’11) is the program coordinator for the Carmical Sports Media Institute and the New Media Institute, a role he began in 2022. He graduated from the University […]

Wenqing Zhao
PhD student
Wenqing Zhao is a doctoral student in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations at UGA. Her research revolves around health, crisis, and conflict communication. She is a lab manager […]
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The Latest
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Faculty in the news
Nick Chiles
Congratulations to Nick Chiles, our Writer in Residence in our Dept. of Journalism, on having “Disruptive Thinking,” a book he co-wrote with T.D. Jakes, on the New York Times bestseller list. The book spent four weeks on the Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous list.
Sanghoon Lee
Congratulations to Sanghoon Lee of our UGA MFA Film faculty, on the availability of the film “Art & Pep” on Peacock June 1. Lee was director of photography for this LGBTQ+ documentary. (June 1, 2023)
Charles Davis
Dean Charles Davis was interviewed for an article published in Atlanta Magazine titled, “Journalism is struggling. In Atlanta, new indie outlets are finding ways to make it work-and brining in important voices.”
Mark E. Johnson
Congratulations to Mark E. Johnson, senior lecture and chief technology officer, on being named the 2023 NPPA Educator of the Year. (March 7, 2023)
David Clementson
David Clementson, asst. professor in public relations, writes a feature picked up widely about politicians and their health, Politicians’ health problems are important information for voters – but reporters and candidates often conceal them (March 6, 2023). David Clementson, assistant professor in Public Relations, published an article in The Conversation titled, “All presidents avoid reporters, but Biden may achieve a record in his press avoidance.”
Carolina Acosta-Alzuru
Professor in Public Relations, talks with Kera News about how fans of Turkish dramas are refocusing social media efforts on helping victims of the earthquakes. (Feb. 16, 2023)
Joseph Watson, Jr.
Talks with Fox News about the controversial angle some media have taken in reporting about Georgia’s new election law. (Feb. 10, 2023)
Keith Herndon
The William S. Morris Chair in News Strategy and Management; Executive Director, James M. Cox Jr. Institute, is interviewed on the Evening Debrief by Scripps News about the importance of news literacy during #NewsLiteracyWeek. (Jan. 26, 2023)
Karin Assmann
Karin Assmann of the Journalism Department has her research on the state of whistleblowers’ trust in journalism picked up by Nieman Lab. (Jan. 17, 2023.)