Communication Faculty Profiles
Mark Shifflet, PhD
Associate Professor of Communication
Mark Shifflet brings his experiences from both the academic and professional world to the classroom where he teaches courses in Web and multimedia development, media law, and media theory. As both a Fulbright Scholar studying media systems in China and a former professional in the international telecommunications industry, he is interested in helping students develop a global understanding of communication systems that are becoming increasingly important for students as they prepare for careers with ties to an increasingly global communication industry.
T. Dean Thomlison, PhD
Professor of Communication
Simply put, Dean Thomlison enjoys people. His enjoyment of human interaction led him to an illustrious career as an educator, consultant, mediator, and trainer. He is a nationally-recognized expert in interpersonal communication. During more than 35 years of university teaching experience, he authored and contributed to several texts and numerous scholarly articles. As a Kellogg National Leadership Fellow, he studied intercultural communication in multinational corporations, institutes, and governments throughout the world. Professor Thomlison completed post-doctoral training at the Intercultural Training Institute at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Tamara Wandel, PhD
Assistant Professor of Communication
Having served as a director of public relations in New York, Tamara Wandel appreciates the diverse and fast-paced nature of integrated communications. She believes experiential learning is key to bridging the gap between theory and practice. She and her students have collaborated to receive grants from the Maurice Robinson Constitutional Rights Fund as well as other national funding sources. Each semester her classes collaborate with a nonprofit organization to conduct a needs assessment and execute a communication campaign. She is currently under contract with Wadsworth Publishing to write a textbook that focuses on mass media and persuasive writing. She is a recipient of an international MarCom Creative Award for her work in service learning and media relations.
Jie Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor of Communication
Jie Zhang, "Jessica," began her "professional" career in communications as a freelance reporter for a Shanghai radio station when she was twelve years old. Since then, she had added a wide range of activities to her resume, ranging from editor to graphic designer to media planner. She recently completed her PhD at the University of Texas at Austin where she specialized in researching some of the recent trends in the use of media technology that are transforming the advertising industry. She takes a strong hands-on approach in her classes in order to prepare students for the rapidly changing field of advertising.
