Grady College welcomes new full-time faculty

With the start of the academic year, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is proud to welcome four new full-time faculty.

Nicholas Eng and Ruoyu Sun are new faculty members in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, while Benjamin Han and Lauren Musgrove are new to the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies.

Nicholas Eng joins AdPR as an assistant professor of public relations. Dr. Eng recently earned his doctoral degree from Pennsylvania State University, and his research foci are the interplay between messages and audiences in responses about health, science and the environment. Prior to his graduate studies, Eng worked in advertising and public relations in both agencies and social enterprises. He has a master’s degree from North Carolina State University and a bachelor’s degree from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

He is motivated by having a meaningful impact on the world. “That is why a lot of my research has a prosocial aspect to it, as I seek to understand how we can shape people’s behaviors toward a healthier individual and planet,” Eng said.

Benjamin Min Han joins EMST as an associate professor. Dr. Han’s research focuses on television studies, race and media, and global media, especially the intersections between Korea and Latin America media and culture. He is the author of “Beyond the Black and White TV: Asian and Latin American Spectacle in Cold War America.” He taught communication courses at Tulane University, and received his doctorate degree in cinema studies from New York University. He has a master’s degree from University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Han is motivated by intellectual curiosity and meeting new people with diverse backgrounds. He is relocating to Georgia with his wife and eight-year-old son.

Lauren Musgrove joins EMST as an assistant professor. Professor Musgrove is an eight-time Southeast Emmy-winning filmmaker and the co-founder of Purple Magnet Productions, a women-owned production company committed to supporting a more inclusive and geographically expansive industry. She has a number of productions to her credit including serving as co-producer and director of “People of Alabama” documentary video series which received an INMA Global Media Award, and “A Day in the Life of America,” which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and is available on PBS. She has an MFA in Film and Media Art from Emerson College in Boston and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama.

“We are thrilled to be back in the South,” said Musgrove, who is moving to the area with her husband, Will, and their Boykin Spaniel, Tallulah, who was born in Georgia.

Ruoyu Sun (MA ’17), returns to AdPR as an assistant professor of public relations. After earning her master’s degree at Grady College in public relations, Dr. Sun continued her studies at the University of Miami, recently graduating with a doctorate in communication. Her research specialization focuses on corporate communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship management. Sun earned a bachelor’s degree in international journalism from BNU-HKBU United International College in China.

She is excited to be back in Athens at UGA. “As an alumna of UGA and the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, I have a deep sense of connection to the university. What excites me most is the opportunity to rejoin this vibrant and innovative community as a faculty member and contribute to its growth.”

Grady College is pleased to welcome several new part-time instructors as well including:

• Sam Jones, Journalism
• Diana Keough, Journalism
• Ashley Patterson, EMST
• Kamille Whittaker, Journalism