Graduate Students
Graduate Student Admission Ambassadors—click here
Susan Allen earned her M.Ed. degree from the University of Vermont and an M.A. degree in Humanities from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with a focus in intercultural communication, public relations, and negotiation. Susan has taught courses in communication delivery and theory, interpersonal communication, and negotiation both at the University of Maryland and George Washington University. Her current research deals with persuasive and public relations strategies used by activist groups, including al Qa'ida, and negotiation in formal and informal settings. In July 2009, Susan presented a paper on Muslim civil rights groups at the NCA summer conference on intercultural dialogue that was held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Deepa Anagondahalli received her M.A. degree at the Eastern Michigan University and her B.A. at Ethiraj College - Chennai, India. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Intercultural Communication. Her research focuses on the cognitive patterns exhibited by different cultures in processing and reacting to crisis and risk related messages. She currently teaches COMM 482: Intercultural Communication.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; danagond@umd.edu
Julio J. Bermejo is pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication with a specialization in Public Relations. He received a M.S. in Public Relations (2008) from Stirling University in Britain and a B.A. in English (1994) from Stanford University. Julio has been in the public relations field for more than a decade and has experience in government and military public affairs, private industry and nonprofit organizations. His research interests include the intersections among public relations, diversity and environmental activism and the growing cause-related marketing industry. He teaches two sections of COMM 107, Oral Communication: Principles and Practice.
Jennifer Bly received her B.A. degree in English (with minors in art and Spanish) from Shippensburg University. She is currently pursuing her M.A. degree in communication with a focus on rhetoric & political culture. She teaches the course Oral Communication: Principles and Practice. Her research interests include the rhetoric of globalization, transnationalism, and cultural identity.
Vanessa Boudewyns received her M.A. and B.A. degrees from the University of Minnesota and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Social Influence & Persuasion. She takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of message design and behavior change, incorporating research from psychology, social marketing, and health communication. Her research focuses on the underlying values, attitudes and beliefs of target populations and how different communication strategies, channels, and messages can be used to impact those health beliefs and, in turn, change behavior. Her professional experience includes working as a Public Health Analyst for a company that specializes in health communication and social marketing for federal and state government agencies, nonprofits, and commerical organizations.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; vbp@umd.edu
Rowena Briones earned her M.A. degree in Communication from the University of Maryland and her B.A. degree in Communication Studies (with minors in Marketing and Theatre & Drama) from The College of New Jersey. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication with a focus on public relations and health communication. Rowena's research interests include the intersections of public relations, social media, and health and risk communication campaigns. Her professional experience includes working as a Research Analyst for a firm that specializes in health and communication marketing for non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. Rowena currently teaches two sections of COMM 232: News Editing in Public Relations. You can follow her on Twitter at @RLBriones.
Skinner 2100 ; 301-405-8976; rbriones@umd.edu
Tom Campbell earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Communication from Morgan State University in 2003. Since that time he has served in the Army, including a 14-month tour in Iraq. He is now pursuing a Master's in Communication with a focus in Public Relations, as a part of a U.S. Army graduate program. His research interests include terrorism and counterterrorism messages and how publics make meaning of these messages.
Sabine Chai received an M.A. in Communication from San Diego State University (2005), as well as a Master of Theology (2001) and a B.A. in Chinese Studies (2003) from the University of Vienna, Austria. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Intercultural Communication and Negotiation. Sabine has taught courses in intercultural communication, negotiation, communication theory, quantitative research methods, and public speaking. Chai has joined the faculty in the Department of Communication at Western Kentucky University. Contact information: 141 Fine Arts Center, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101.
Ioana Cionea earned her masters' degree in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University in 2006 and a Bachelor of Laws from Dimitrie Cantemir University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 2004. Ioana specializes in interpersonal and intercultural communication with a focus on argumentative behaviors. Ioana has taught courses in public speaking, critical thinking and speaking, argumentation and debate, and environmental communication. To view Ioana's CV, click here.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; icionea@umd.edu
Steven D. Cohen is pursuing a Ph.D. in communication with a specialization in communication education. He earned a Master in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Florida, and an Advanced Toastmaster designation from Toastmasters International. An expert on public speaking, Steven researches and writes about the techniques that professional speakers use to design and deliver powerful messages. He currently teaches COMM 107, Oral Communication: Principles and Practices, at the University of Maryland and SPCH E-110, The Art and Practice of Public Speaking, at Harvard Extension School. Steven is the author of two books: Public Speaking: The Path to Success and Lessons from the Podium: Public Speaking as a Leadership Art.
Skinner 2100; 301-405-8976; sdcohen@umd.edu; www.stevendcohen.net
Davey Connor earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marine and Environmental Science from the United States Coast Guard Academy and then spent four years driving ships to catch smugglers and protect boaters on the high seas for the Coast Guard. He decided to return to academia to earn his Master's in Communication, and hopes to eventually apply his skills in the non-profit sector.
Sreashi Das has a B.A. (2003) and an M.A. (2005), both in English, from Calcutta University, India. She has worked as a copywriter in an advertisement agency and later received an M.A. in Communication from Villanova University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication with an emphasis in Intercultural Communication.
Abbe Depretis received her B.A. degree at the University of Pittsburgh and her M.A. degree at the University of Maryland. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with a focus on Rhetoric & Political Culture, and she is particularly interested in issues of rhetoric and social change. More specifically, her dissertation area involves the rhetoric of the 1960s and 1970s, and she is currently pursuing research regarding the Chicago Eight Trial of 1969-1970. Ms. Depretis is currently teaching on the faculty at Christopher Newport University.
Theresa Donofrio received her B.A. degrees in Speech Communication and Political Science (with a minor in Women's Studies) from Miami University and her M.A. degree in Communication from the University of Maryland. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric & Political Culture and working as the Program Coordinator and Lecturer for the Honors Humanities program. Theresa's research interests include collective memory and memorialization, media studies, and the rhetoric of public tragedies.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; t.a.donofrio@gmail.com
Sarah Evans (M.A., Wake Forest University; B.S. Bridgewater College) is pursuing her Ph.D. with a focus on Persuasion & Social Influence, and she is interested in public understanding of science and the influence of information seeking and processing on perceptions of risk, learning, and attitude change. Her most recent research focuses on message design and effects in the context of nuclear energy and pesticide exposure.
Taliaferro 0125; 301-405-1639; sevans1@umd.edu
Lindsey Fox earned a B.A. from the University of Richmond in Rhetoric and Communication Studies and an M.A. from the University of Arkansas in Communication. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication, specializing in rhetoric and political culture, and teaching courses in critical thinking and speaking.
Skinner 0109; 301-405-0759; lmfox@umd.edu
Elizabeth Gardner received her B.A. at Houghton College and her M.A. in Communication at the University of Maryland. She is now pursuing her Ph.D., specializing in rhetoric and political culture. Her research interests include the rhetoric of social movements, reform, and religion.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; egardner@umd.edu
James G. Gilmore, who is pursuing a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric & Political Culture, earned his M.A.T. in Theology and the Arts from Fuller Theological Seminary and his M.A. in Theatre from Bowling Green State University. In addition to his studies, he also is a senior researcher and digital media consultant for Dewey Digital LLC, advising political and corporate clients on their social media and web outreach. Broadly, his research focus is the intersection between religion, political thought, and culture, with the goal of working to construct a religiously- and culturally-relevant progressive politics.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; gilmorej@umd.edu; http://www.jamesggilmore.com
Amanda L. Irions is pursuing a Ph.D. with an emphasis in persuasion and social influence. She is interested in how romantic partners use influence techniques during conflict and in the effect of these techniques on their relationships. She teaches two sections of COMM 107, Oral Communication: Principles and Practice.
Ahnlee Jang earned her B.A. from the Nanjing University (Chinese Language) and her M.A. from the University of Southern California (East Asian Languages and Cultures) and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with emphasis in public relations. She is interested in applying social network perspective understand organizations and publics. Her current research includes examination of activist groups’ social capital, public relations strategies in religious organizations, and the affect of culture in communication/networking behavior of publics.
Skinner 0109; 301-405-0759; ajang@umd.edu
Melissa Janoske earned her M.S. in Corporate and Professional Communication from Radford University, and her B.S. in Organizational Communication from Radford University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. Her research interests include social networking, social capital, and crisis communication. She teaches public relations and writing courses.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; mjanoske@umd.edu
Leysan Khakimova is a Ph.D. student with an emphasis in Public Relations. She received her B.A. in Arabic Language and Literature from the Kazan State University, Russia, and her M.A. degree in Intercultural Communication and Conflict Management from the University of Kansas. Her thesis focused on the relationship between Ethnic Identity, Self-Construal, and Conflict Management Style, among young Americans and Arabs in the U.S. In her Ph.D. program she continues to study the influence of culture and identity on communication with a special focus on the Middle East. Her recent research projects focused on public diplomacy and blogging in the Arab World.
Hyunhee Kim, APR, received her M.S. degree at Syracuse University and her B.A. degree at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with a focus on public relations. She teaches sections of COMM 107: Oral Communication Principles and Practices.
Skinner 2100; 301-405-8976; hkim@umd.edu
Jarim Kim received her M.A. at Purdue University and her B.A. at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in public relations.
Skinner 0109; 301-405-0759; jrkim@umd.edu
Rowena Kirby-Straker earned her M.A. in Communication and Development from Ohio University and is pursuing a Ph.D., focusing on Persuasion and Social Influence. Rowena has worked for more than 15 years in the Caribbean multi-island nation of St. Vincent & the Grenadines in the field of environmental communication. Her research interests include emotional appeals and risk communication.
Taliaferro 0125; 301-405-1639; rowiekirby@yahoo.com
Ben Krueger received his M.A. degree at the University of Maryland and his bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University. He is pursuing a Ph.D., specializing in rhetoric and political culture. His current research interests include the rhetoric of social movements, particularly as they relate to issues of religion and war. Krueger is currently teaching in the Department of Communication Studies at Winona State University.
DooHee Lee (M.A., Public Relations, Ball State University, 2007; M.A., Mass Communication, KyungHee University, 2005; B.A., Journalism, KyungHee University, 2000) studies public relations, focusing on strategic management and segmentation of publics. He served in the Korean Army as a Public Affairs Officer for two and a half years. Currently he teaches COMM 107.
Abbey Levenshus is pursuing her Ph.D. with a public relations focus. Her research centers on government public relations, including crisis communication, the intersection of faith, values and politics, and the impact of interactive Web tools on government and political communication. She received her M.A. in Public Communication from American University. Her professional experience includes serving as Communication Director for a U.S. Representative, a political technology company, and an information technology management consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
Tiffany Lewis received her B.A at the University of Washington and her M.A. at the University of Montana. She is pursuing her Ph.D. with a focus on Rhetoric and Political Culture and teaching a course on critical thinking and speaking. Her current research interests include women's public address and the rhetoric of the American West.
Skinner 2100; tiffanyjoylewis@gmail.com
Jessica Lu received her B.A. in Communication, with a specialization in rhetorical studies and minors in English and Africana Studies, from Villanova University. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Communication with an emphasis on Rhetoric & Political Culture. Her research is focused on the rhetorical construction, maintenance, and enactment of race and cultural identity in American society. She teaches two sections of COMM107, Oral Communication: Principles and Practice.
jhl.jessica@gmail.com; www.jessicalu.com
Sean Luechtefeld is a third year graduate student in the Department of Communication. He holds an M.A. (Wake Forest University, 2009) in Communication, a B.A. in Communication Studies (Florida State University, 2007), and a B.S. in Political Science (Florida State University, 2007. He is pursuing his Ph.D. with an emphasis in rhetoric and political culture. His research agenda examines the rhetoric of economics, focusing specifically on how candidates in presidential races make meaning of economic downturn for their constituents. Sean teaches COMM230: Argumentation & Debate.
Skinner 2100; 301.405.8976; sdl@umd.edu; http://seanluechtefeld.com
Liang Ma earned her M.A. degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University and her B.A. degree in English from Dalian University of Foreign Languages, China. She is pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Public Relations. Liang’s research interests include organizational image repair, conflict management, negotiation, persuasion, and crisis communication.
Kelly Madden is pursuing her Ph.D., specializing in Persuasion and Social Influence. She received her M.A. in Communication from Villanova University and her B.A. in Journalism and Psychology from Penn State University. Her research focuses on the effects of political media coverage and political cynicism. Kelly teaches Oral Communication: Principles and Practices.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; kmadden@umd.edu
Ling Na received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and M.A. in Linguistics from Syracuse University. She's a Ph.D. student studying persuasion and social influence. Her research interests are health communication and persuasion. Her research goal focuses on facilitating disease prevention and risk reducation and providing social support for people living with terminal illnesses and stigmatized diseases.
Jade Olson is pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Political Culture. She received her M.A. in Communication from the University of Maryland in 2011 and her B.A. in Rhetoric and Media Studies from Willamette University in 2009. Her research focuses on discourses of global warming and contemporary radical social movements, specifically rhetorics of animal rights and transit. She is also interested in argumentation, contemporary rhetorical theory and discourses of American environmentalism. She teaches COMM200: Critical Thinking and Speaking, as well as COMM107: Oral Communication: Principles and Practice and UNIV101: The Student in the University.
Mike Paquette is pursuing his Ph.D. with a public relations focus. He has a diverse background in communications that includes working as Communication Associate for the NEA Foundation, serving as an account executive for a public relations firm, and teaching Web design courses in Bolivia as a Peace Corps volunteer. He has a B.A. in Public Relations from Gonzaga University.
Sejal Patel (M.A. Rutgers University, 2004; B.A. Rutgers University, 2000) is a Ph.D. student studying Social Influence and Intercultural Communication. Sejal has been researching the concept of trust within culture from an emic perspective. She is also interested in information seeking behaviors and the implications of these behaviors on health-related decision making processes.
Taliaferro 0125 ; 301-405-1639; sejal_r_patel@hotmail.com
David Payne (M.A. University of Hawai'i at Manoa, 2001; B.A. University of Maryland College Park, 1995) is a Ph.D. student whose interests include intercultural, interpersonal, and humor communication as studied through a quantitative perspective.
Skinner 0109A; 301-405-0775; dapayne@umd.edu
Adam Richards (B.A., Wake Forest University, M.A., University of Montana) is pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication with an emphasis in Persuasion and Social Influence. His research interests include decision making in the contexts of health communication and interpersonal conflict.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; asr@umd.edu
Alyssa Samek received her M.A. in Speech Communication at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO and her B.A. in Communication Studies and English at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Political Culture and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies. Her research investigates the intersection of rhetoric, identity, gender, sexuality, and politics. She currently teaches COMM107: Oral Communication: Principles & Practice and LGBT200: Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies.
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; asamek@umd.edu
Robin Scholz received her B.A. in Communication Arts and Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her M.A. in Communication and a Graduate Certificate in Rhetorical Leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Political Culture and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies. Her current projects include Midwestern suffrage and progressivism in the early twentieth century.
Abigail Seiler is pursuing an M.A. in Communication with a focus on rhetoric and political culture. She earned her B.A. in Communication from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in Anthropology of Food from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her research interests include social movements and social change, especially in regards to food, agriculture and gender. She teaches Critical Thinking and Speaking and Oral Communication: Principles and Practices.
Skinner 2100; abby8@umd.edu; aseiler8@gmail.com
Jenny Shi earned her M.A. degree in Interpreting & Translating from the Newcastle University (United Kingdom) and her B.A. degree in English and Translation Studies from Xi’an International Studies University (China). She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis on Intercultural Communication. Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies, Jenny worked as Inward Investment Advisor for England Regional Development Agency One NorthEast in Great Britain to develop the North East of England’s relationship with China with the aim of encouraging the movement of business investment and technology between each location.
Sanja M. Sipek is a Ph.D. student whose interests encompass intercultural communication, conflict management, and crisis communication. She earned her M.A. in Public Communication from the American University, Washington, D.C. and a B.A. in English and French from the University of Zagreb, Croatia.
Skinner 0109; 301-405-0759; ssipek@umd.edu
Yvonne Slosarski received her B.A. in Communication and Culture, with a minor in Creative Writing, from DePaul University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric & Political Culture. Yvonne's research interests include the rhetoric of social movements and elections, as well as narratives surrounding civic engagement.
Beth Sundstrom received a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Brown University with a specialization in health communication and women's health and a B.A. from Tulane University in political science. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Health Communication and Public Relations, with interests in social marketing and women’s health. Her most recent research includes web-based survey design and qualitative research to investigate contraceptive use dynamics. She is currently teaching COMM 351: Public Relations Techniques
Skinner 2101E; 301-405-8264; bsundstrom@gmail.com
Artesha Taylor received her B.A. and M.A. from San Diego State University. She is currently pursing a Ph.D. with a focus in Rhetoric and Political Culture. Her research interests include African American rhetoric, feminist rhetorical theory and criticism, public sphere, and the rhetoric of social movements. She teaches sections of Comm 360: The Rhetoric of Black America.
Skinner 0109; ataylor1@umd.edu
Jill Cornelius Underhill received her M.A. degree at the University of Maryland and B.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Persuasion & Social Influence.
Jill’s research program takes an empirical approach to studying the intersection of persuasion, emotion, and cognition in order to better understand the processes mediating and moderating message reception, acceptance, and behavior change. Specifically, her research focuses on how emotional appeals can elicit attitude and behavior change within political, social, and health communication contexts.
Taliferro 0125; 301-405-1639; jmc12@umd.edu
Stephen Underhill (B.A. Political Science, Sonoma State University; M.A. Communication Studies, University of Portland) studies Rhetoric and Political Culture, focusing on Cold War political rhetoric. He is a former Editor-in-Chief of Sonoma State University's STAR Newspaper; and also a former Judicial Administration Fellow through California State University, Sacramento's Center for California Studies. Mr. Underhill is a member of the Northwest Communication Association and the National Communication Association, where he has presented conference papers. He currently teaches Argumentation and Debate and is an archives technician at the National Archives, College Park.
Skinner 0109; 301-405-0759; sunderhi@umd.edu
M. Karen Walker received her M.A. degree at the University of Maryland and her B.A. at DePauw University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in Rhetoric & Social Change. Ms. Walker’s dissertation project elaborates the rhetorical dimension of Nye’s soft power thesis, relying on dramatistic theories and methods applied to discourses associated with the U.S.-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement. Professionally, Ms. Walker is a strategic communications consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton’s Center of Excellence for Human Capital, Learning, and Communications, serving intelligence community and national security clients.
703-625-1298 (cell); m.karen@rhetoricalens.info; www.rhetoricalens.info
Paula Lazili Weissman received her M.A. from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A from the University of Massachusetts. She is currenlty pursuing her Ph.D. with an emphasis in public relations. Her research interests include media effects, health communication, and risk communication.
Shady Grove Campus, Building III, Room 5121; pweissma@umd.edu
Ric Winston (B.A. Communication, West Chester University, 2000 & M.A., University of Maryland, 2003) is a student of modern public address whose scholarly interests include presidential rhetoric, popular culture, and the historical progression of Blacks in America. Ric is also interested in media, television, and film criticism.
ricwinston@msn.com; http://www.wam.umd.edu/~rwinston/home.htm
Ning Xie received her B.A. from Hebei University (China) and she also received part of her undergraduate education in the U.S. and the U.K. She was an exchange student in the School of Journalism and Media Studies in San Diego State University (U.S.). She has also studied abroad in a summer program of International Relations at the University of Oxford (U.K.). Ning’s interests include intercultural communication, political communication and public relations.
Bo Yang received her M.A. in Strategic Public Relations from the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism at the University of Southern California and her B. A. in English from Beihang University in China. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Communication with an emphasis in persuasion and social influence.
Eva Zhao received her M.Phil degree in communication from Hong Kong Baptist University and her BA degree with the major of journalism from Fudan University, China. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D with an emphasis in media effects and social influence.
Lin (Julie) Zhu (M.A. in Communication, University of Texas at Arlington; M.A. in Linguistics, Beijing Foreign Studies University; B.A. in English, Yantai University) is currently pursuing her Ph.D. degree with an emphasis in intercultural communication. Her master's thesis discussed mass media effects on stereotypical perceptions of Chinese and Americans in university settings.
Skinner 0109; 301-405-0759; juliezhu@umd.edu
Amy Zimmerling is an M.A. student with an emphasis in Public Relations. She received her B.A. in English at Trinity College (CT) and her M.E.M. in Ecology at Duke University. Her research focus is the effectiveness of conservation-oriented communication campaigns, particularly with regard to creating positive spillover and promoting a general environmental ethic.
