About the Authors

Jeanne Persuit (Ph.D., Duquesne University, 2009) teaches courses in integrated marketing communication (IMC), public relations, advertising, rhetorical theory, and communication ethics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Before returning to Duquesne University for her Ph.D., Dr. Persuit worked in IMC in the consulting engineering field and was a marketing communications manager for a Fortune 500 manufacturing company. While a doctoral student at Duquesne, Dr. Persuit helped pilot the IMC Commission – a group of undergraduate and graduate students who worked on projects for clients on- and off-campus – and she wanted to work with Dr. Bolduc on a similar project at UNCW. 

Brandi Watkins is an assistant professor of public relations at Virginia Tech. Watkins received her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi University for Women and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. Watkins’ research interests include the use and influence of social media to build relationships between organizations and their public. Much of her work to date has been in the context of professional sports. She will teach writing and editing for public relations, and social media theory and practice. Watkins has contributed chapters to two books and has written for the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education and the International Journal of Interactive Communication Systems and Technologies. Three more journal articles have been accepted for publication.

Dr. Christina L. McDowell is an Associate Dean/Associate Professor of Marketing & Business Communications at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her practitioner side teaches marketing, specializing in integrated marketing communication (IMC), and as you peel away the layers, philosophically, you’ll find an aspiring rhetorician. Communicative engagement is the entry point for her research interests in which she actively investigates social, civic, economic, and moral problems. She applies her knowledge and skills to help others, pursuing service where she can be most productive and beneficial in and outside her professional field. In the community, she provides marketing and communication consultation, including speaking or delivering workshops. 

 

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact Jeanne Persuit at persuitj@uncw,edu