Gracey

River is a doctoral student and Crisis Communication Research Fellow at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass communication. His research interests focus on the idea of leadership communication, employee relations, and navigating crises. He also helps produce content and recruiting efforts for the Crisis Communication Think Tank.

River received his bachelor's degree in communications from Augusta University. While there, he worked as a sportswriter for the student newspaper writing stories about local, collegiate, and professional sports. After graduating, River came to the University of Georgia to pursue a master's degree in public relations. During his master's, he served as the graduate assistant to WUGA, the NPR affiliate radio station on campus. He would host a weekly health communication segment, the Georgia Health Report, discussing important health topics going on in the state and across the country.

Outside of campus, he is an avid Atlanta professional sports fan. He also grew up as a fan of UGA athletics well before his time at the university. His inspiration for research, collaboration, and teamwork is heavily inspired by the messaging found in organized team sports, and how it can apply to every life. 

Education

• M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia
• B.A. in Communication, Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Augusta University

Publications

• Shivers, B. N., Jin, Y., Mains, G., Wang, Y., Gracey, R., Coombs, W. T., & van der Meer, T. G. L. A. (2025). Cultural insights for the READINESS framework: A qualitative study of practitioner and scholar perspectives. Public Relations Review, 51(5), 102632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2025.102632

Conferences

• Gracey, R. "Organizational Readiness for Workplace Silence: Understanding Employee Doubt and Doubt-triggered Internal Risks and Crises," AEJMC, San Francisco California, August 2025. (3rd Place Top Student Paper).
• Gracey, R. “Manzanar Free Press,” American Journalism Historians Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 2024.