Section F: Information About the Faculty
F-01. Full-Time and Part-Time Faculty Credentials and Responsibilities
This section of the CEPR Application provides a profile of our full- and part-time faculty. The information is organized as follows:
- Statement of Confidentiality
- Full-Time Faculty Members
- Full-Time Faculty Teaching Within Public Relations
- Documentation of Research/Scholarship, Professional/Public Service
- Teaching Awards
- Part-Time/Adjunct Faculty
- Teaching Percentage / Full-Time vs. Part-Time
- Summary
Statement of Confidentiality
Because this is a public-facing web page, it is best to keep some faculty data confidential and provide that information offline to the review team. That information includes faculty members’ CVs, faculty demographic data (including gender and ethnicity), and faculty qualifications and teaching loads (including years of teaching, years at CSUF, years at rank, highest degree earned, tenure status). Documents with this data will be provided in electronic form but will not be made available on this website.
Full-Time Faculty Members
The Department of Communications has a 37 full-time faculty consisting of ten full professors, four associate professors, 11 assistant professors, nine lecturers, and three faculty members participating in the Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP). FERP members (indicated by the * below) teach up to half-time for up to five years after retirement and are considered full-time faculty for voting and enfranchisement purposes under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
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Professors
Jeffrey Brody* Carolyn Coal Emily Erickson, Ph.D. Kuen-Hee Ju-Pak, Ph.D.* Dean Kazoleas, APR, Ph.D. Cynthia King, Ph.D. Micheal McAlexander Robert Meeds, Ph.D. Henry Puente, Ph.D. Jason Shepard, Ph.D. Andi Stein, Ph.D.* Doug Swanson, APR, Ed.D. Mark Wu, Ph.D. |
Associate Professors
Christina Ceisel, Ph.D. Roselyn Du, Ph.D. Chelsea Reynolds, Ph.D. Frank Russell, Ph.D. |
Assistant Professors
Elise Assaf, Ph.D. Julio Bermejo, Ph.D. Gayle Brisbane, Ph.D. Jasmine Meertins, Ph.D. Jiwoo Park, Ph.D. Penchan Phoborisut, Ph.D. Waleed Rashidi, Ed.D. Cylor Spaulding, Ph.D. Ricardo Valencia, Ph.D. Jess Vega-Centeno, Ph.D. Miya Williams Fayne, Ph.D. |
Full-Time Lecturers
Jesus Ayala
Walter Baranger
Amber Chitty-Wilson
Pete Evanow
Beth Georges (sabbatical for the 2021-2022 academic year)
Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA
Keith Kesler
Michelle Kurland
Ron Romain
Jesus Ayala
Walter Baranger
Amber Chitty-Wilson
Pete Evanow
Beth Georges (sabbatical for the 2021-2022 academic year)
Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA
Keith Kesler
Michelle Kurland
Ron Romain
Full-Time Faculty Teaching Within Public Relations
Full-time faculty who teach most often within public relations include the following (hyperlinks to LinkedIn pages):
Elise Assaf, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 362 COMM 465
Julio Bermejo, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 464
Amber Chitty-Wilson, Course taught: COMM 495
Pete Evanow, Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 474
Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA, Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 462, COMM 464, COMM 466T, COMM 474
Dean Kazoleas, APR, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 462, COMM 464, COMM 469, COMM 470
Keith Kesler, Courses taught include COMM 474
Cynthia King, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 464, COMM 465
Waleed Rashidi, Ed.D, Courses taught include COMM 497T
Cylor Spaulding, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 362, COMM 464, COMM 474
Doug Swanson, APR, Ed.D, Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 464, COMM 466T, COMM 474
Ricardo Valencia, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 466T, COMM 470
Elise Assaf, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 362 COMM 465
Julio Bermejo, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 464
Amber Chitty-Wilson, Course taught: COMM 495
Pete Evanow, Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 474
Ken Hagihara, APR, Fellow PRSA, Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 462, COMM 464, COMM 466T, COMM 474
Dean Kazoleas, APR, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 462, COMM 464, COMM 469, COMM 470
Keith Kesler, Courses taught include COMM 474
Cynthia King, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 464, COMM 465
Waleed Rashidi, Ed.D, Courses taught include COMM 497T
Cylor Spaulding, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 362, COMM 464, COMM 474
Doug Swanson, APR, Ed.D, Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 464, COMM 466T, COMM 474
Ricardo Valencia, Ph.D., Courses taught include COMM 361, COMM 362, COMM 466T, COMM 470
Documentation of Research/Scholarship, Professional/Public Service
Department of Communications faculty were asked to report their research/scholarship activity since 2014.
Here is a compilation of those reports. Department of Communications faculty were also asked to report their professional/public service activity since 2014. Here is a compilation of those reports.
Here is a compilation of those reports. Department of Communications faculty were also asked to report their professional/public service activity since 2014. Here is a compilation of those reports.
Teaching Awards
Department of Communications faculty have been bestowed with numerous teaching awards since 2014.
Here is a list of those awards.
Here is a list of those awards.
Part-Time/Adjunct Faculty
Here are the part-time/adjunct faculty who taught at least one course in Spring and Fall of 2021. Part-time faculty who teach most often within public relations include Emily Barnes, Debra Conkey, and Gregg Schwenk.
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Spring 2021
Assaf Avni Davis Barber Emily Barnes Erik Blair Debra Conkey Richard Favela John Hart Anne LaJeunesse Marie Loggia-Kee Holly Ocasio-Rizzo Marisuz Ozminkowski Robert Quezada Sue Schenkel Gregg Schwenk Maryanne Shults Brian Song Bill Thompson Rob Vanriel |
Fall 2021
Assaf Avni Davis Barber Erik Blair Richard Favela John Hart Vik Jolly Anne LaJeunesse Marie Loggia-Kee Jackie Moe Holly Ocasio-Rizzo Marisuz Ozminkowski Robert Quezada Sue Schenkel Gregg Schwenk Jay Seidel MaryAnne Shults Bill Thompson Rob Vanriel |
Teaching Percentage / Full-Time vs. Part-Time
The table below shows the percentage of COMM undergraduate courses taught by Full-Time and Part-Time faculty members.
Summary
The Department of Communications is one of the largest academic units at Cal State Fullerton; its public relations program is one of the largest units of its kind in the country. The Fall 2021 enrollment was 1,679 majors. The Department’s 37 full-time faculty are experienced teachers, scholars, and practitioners in mass communications. The public relations profession is especially well-represented, with eleven full-time faculty and three part-time faculty teaching PR courses. The full-time faculty include three with APR accreditation (Hagihara, Kazoleas, Swanson) and one member of the College of Fellows (Hagihara). The faculty members have a profound impact on the academic and professional community, as well as on COMM students preparing for careers in PR and related communication professions.
F-02. Academic Advising and Career Counseling – Methods and Record-keeping
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Department of Communications students are served by a myriad of advisers, including faculty, as well as full-time advising professionals, who are committed to helping students navigate the educational system strategically and efficiently.
This section of the CEPR Application provides the following information relevant to academic advising in the undergraduate program in general and the Public Relations Concentration in specific:
This section of the CEPR Application provides the following information relevant to academic advising in the undergraduate program in general and the Public Relations Concentration in specific:
- Advising of Students Upon Matriculation
- Advising Resources - TDA, Student Success Dashboard, Student Success Center
- Advising Checklists
- CSUF Career Center and Other Resources
- Student Degree Completion and Satisfaction
- Summary
Advising of Students Upon Matriculation
Cal State Fullerton supports a multi-layered approach to advising to provide comprehensive information regarding academic requirements, professional career and industry-related preparation, as well as faculty mentorship and research opportunities.
Upon matriculation, both first-time freshmen and transfer students are required to attend a mandatory advising and orientation session or complete an online version. The sessions provide advisement regarding the general education program and major-specific requirements, as well as an overview of campus resources and services.
The orientation program is facilitated by the office of CSUF Outreach, Recruitment and Orientation, which coordinates with the College of Communications through its Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Rob Flores. Department of Communications faculty members participate in each of these orientation and advising workshops, and COMM commits resources by compensating one faculty member to lead program-specific advising sessions at each session throughout the summer and intersession.
Upon matriculation, both first-time freshmen and transfer students are required to attend a mandatory advising and orientation session or complete an online version. The sessions provide advisement regarding the general education program and major-specific requirements, as well as an overview of campus resources and services.
The orientation program is facilitated by the office of CSUF Outreach, Recruitment and Orientation, which coordinates with the College of Communications through its Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Rob Flores. Department of Communications faculty members participate in each of these orientation and advising workshops, and COMM commits resources by compensating one faculty member to lead program-specific advising sessions at each session throughout the summer and intersession.
Advising Resources - TDA, Student Success Dashboard, Student Success Center
After orientation, continuing students are strongly encouraged to participate in regular academic advising opportunities. During the academic year, students regularly seek advising assistance from faculty members, who by contract are considered academic advisers. Students may find their assigned concentration adviser listed on the Web and in the department office. All faculty members have posted office hours for advising and can be reached via e-mail from the College of Communications Website. Students are strongly encouraged to make contact with a faculty adviser in their first semester on campus.
Faculty members also have access to students’ degree progress reports – the Titan Degree Audit (TDA) – through the online portal. All students can track their degree progression via the TDA, a highly interactive degree requirement-tracking tool.
The TDA includes information on:
The TDA uses a simple +/- system to indicate which requirements have been met and which need to be met for graduation. Students learn how to access and interpret their TDA during orientation. Students also have access to the tutorial (linked above), and can meet with an adviser at any time.
Faculty members have access to a wealth of data on the Student Success Dashboard. Through the portal, faculty can access real-time information on class headcounts, grade distributions, GPAs, as well as student engagement with Canvas in their courses.
Faculty members also have access to students’ degree progress reports – the Titan Degree Audit (TDA) – through the online portal. All students can track their degree progression via the TDA, a highly interactive degree requirement-tracking tool.
The TDA includes information on:
- General Education requirements
- Major requirements
- Graduation requirements
- Grade Point Average (CSUF, Major, and Cumulative)
- Classes in progress
- A list of potential classes to fulfill both GE and Major requirements not yet complete
The TDA uses a simple +/- system to indicate which requirements have been met and which need to be met for graduation. Students learn how to access and interpret their TDA during orientation. Students also have access to the tutorial (linked above), and can meet with an adviser at any time.
Faculty members have access to a wealth of data on the Student Success Dashboard. Through the portal, faculty can access real-time information on class headcounts, grade distributions, GPAs, as well as student engagement with Canvas in their courses.
Student names removed above for confidentiality.
In 2019, the College of Communications Student Success Center opened in a new, larger space on the second floor of College Park. The center provides year-round academic advising and related resources, including information about major and overall degree requirements, registration assistance, academic probation advising, clarification of university policies and procedures, and referrals to appropriate campus resources.
The Student Success Center has four full-time academic advisers. Assistant Dean Rob Flores oversees the center’s daily operations. Full-time academic advisers Connie Chen and Stephanie Malone help students with general education and major requirements. Academic adviser and retention specialist Axis Avalos focuses on freshmen and sophomores. He also works with students on academic probation.
Graduation Specialist Tammy Rogers serves as the lead academic adviser and oversees the graduation checkout and approval process for all students in the college. Additionally, since 2002, Rogers has provided direct oversight of the Department of Communications compliance with ACEJMC’s 72-hour credit standard of courses completed outside of journalism and mass communications.
Once students apply for graduation, they are encouraged to visit the College of Communications Student Success Center to review their progress toward graduation and get assistance navigating through the approval process.
In addition to academic guidance, students receive guidance on curricular and co-curricular issues through their peers and advisors who work with the student clubs and organizations. The Assistant Dean oversees student clubs and organizations. He is a student advocate for issues such as academic appeals, academic major policies and procedures, access for students with disabilities, learning disabilities, faculty, staff or student conflict, general education policies and procedures, harassment and student discipline.
The Assistant Dean represents the College on various campus-wide committees, thereby providing both direct and indirect value for students in the Department.
The Student Success Center has four full-time academic advisers. Assistant Dean Rob Flores oversees the center’s daily operations. Full-time academic advisers Connie Chen and Stephanie Malone help students with general education and major requirements. Academic adviser and retention specialist Axis Avalos focuses on freshmen and sophomores. He also works with students on academic probation.
Graduation Specialist Tammy Rogers serves as the lead academic adviser and oversees the graduation checkout and approval process for all students in the college. Additionally, since 2002, Rogers has provided direct oversight of the Department of Communications compliance with ACEJMC’s 72-hour credit standard of courses completed outside of journalism and mass communications.
Once students apply for graduation, they are encouraged to visit the College of Communications Student Success Center to review their progress toward graduation and get assistance navigating through the approval process.
In addition to academic guidance, students receive guidance on curricular and co-curricular issues through their peers and advisors who work with the student clubs and organizations. The Assistant Dean oversees student clubs and organizations. He is a student advocate for issues such as academic appeals, academic major policies and procedures, access for students with disabilities, learning disabilities, faculty, staff or student conflict, general education policies and procedures, harassment and student discipline.
The Assistant Dean represents the College on various campus-wide committees, thereby providing both direct and indirect value for students in the Department.
Advising Checklists
For advising on major course elective options and concentration prerequisite sequences, the Department provides annually updated checklists that allow students to chart their progress. Faculty advisers utilize these checklists during advising meetings with students.
Currently, student participation in academic advising in the Department of Communications is highly encouraged, but not mandated (with the exception of students placed on academic probation). Strengthening opportunities for student completion and graduation is a component of the University’s Strategic Plan. The campus is committed to providing students with tools, resources and support to average 15 units per semester to encourage graduating in four years. This strategic goal is being met in the College of Communications Student Success Center by having access to advisers on a drop-in basis or by scheduling appointments year round.
At the university level, students in all colleges have access to the Academic Advising Center (AAC) which provides students with walk-in advising regarding general education requirements, general policies and procedures and advising to undeclared students.
Currently, student participation in academic advising in the Department of Communications is highly encouraged, but not mandated (with the exception of students placed on academic probation). Strengthening opportunities for student completion and graduation is a component of the University’s Strategic Plan. The campus is committed to providing students with tools, resources and support to average 15 units per semester to encourage graduating in four years. This strategic goal is being met in the College of Communications Student Success Center by having access to advisers on a drop-in basis or by scheduling appointments year round.
At the university level, students in all colleges have access to the Academic Advising Center (AAC) which provides students with walk-in advising regarding general education requirements, general policies and procedures and advising to undeclared students.
CSUF Career Center and Other Resources
The CSUF Career Center guides students in the transition from the university to the workplace. The Career Center offers a variety of programs and workshops scheduled in person and online throughout the year. It offers one-on-one guidance with portfolio and resume creation, cover letter writing and other important career entry tools/skill sets.
The Office of International Programs provides information and assistance for international students attending CSUF and for U.S. students planning to study abroad. The Division of Student Affairs evaluates and investigates discrimination complaints filed by students and serves as a resource to facilitate conflict resolution. The Student Conduct Office (formerly Judicial Affairs) promotes academic integrity and appropriate standards of conduct for the academic community and investigates alleged violations of university standards.
The Department of Communications takes pride in the many resources available to help students succeed inside and outside of the classroom. From initial contact with potential students, and then all the way through the matriculation process, students receive the necessary academic and career advice that promotes degree completion and successful entry into the professional world.
The Office of International Programs provides information and assistance for international students attending CSUF and for U.S. students planning to study abroad. The Division of Student Affairs evaluates and investigates discrimination complaints filed by students and serves as a resource to facilitate conflict resolution. The Student Conduct Office (formerly Judicial Affairs) promotes academic integrity and appropriate standards of conduct for the academic community and investigates alleged violations of university standards.
The Department of Communications takes pride in the many resources available to help students succeed inside and outside of the classroom. From initial contact with potential students, and then all the way through the matriculation process, students receive the necessary academic and career advice that promotes degree completion and successful entry into the professional world.
Student Degree Completion and Satisfaction
Tammy Rogers, employed as an academic advisor at CSUF since 2002, oversees the graduation approvals for undergraduate students in the Department of Communications (and two of the other departments in the College of Communications). She utilizes a Microsoft Access database to track the status of graduation applicants, including informal notes about advising interactions, students’ enrollment statuses, course approval submissions and other supporting information. Students’ entering cohort term and classification (first-time freshmen or upper-division transfers) are also included to monitor students in key cohorts to support timely graduation (four-year graduation rates for first-time freshmen and two-year graduation rates for transfer students).
Tammy also tracks data such as the graduation rates within the college. The below chart is part of her research as she tracks the number of College of Communications students who graduate. Her research shows a steady increase in the number of students completing their degrees. Freshmen who entered CSUF in Fall 2015 had a 5% increase in graduation rates over freshmen who entered the university the year prior. A similar increase was seen in transfer students. Transfer students who entered the university in Fall 2017 graduated at a 5% higher rate than students who entered the university in Fall, 2016. While it is impossible to determine all factors responsible for the increase, one likely scenario is that students are getting better advising and more frequent advising within the College of Communications.
Tammy also tracks data such as the graduation rates within the college. The below chart is part of her research as she tracks the number of College of Communications students who graduate. Her research shows a steady increase in the number of students completing their degrees. Freshmen who entered CSUF in Fall 2015 had a 5% increase in graduation rates over freshmen who entered the university the year prior. A similar increase was seen in transfer students. Transfer students who entered the university in Fall 2017 graduated at a 5% higher rate than students who entered the university in Fall, 2016. While it is impossible to determine all factors responsible for the increase, one likely scenario is that students are getting better advising and more frequent advising within the College of Communications.
The table below shows College of Communications’ first-time freshmen (four-year) and upper division transfer (two-year) graduation rates based on “college/major at entry.”
The College of Communications uses an exit survey to collect data from students regarding advising within the college. All graduating seniors at the university are asked to respond to an exit survey about their experience at Cal State Fullerton. The 2019 survey can be accessed at this link.
The survey findings show:
The survey findings show:
- 93% of students report that they have visited an adviser in the Student Success Center at least once
- 61% of students agree or strongly agree that it was easy to schedule their advising appointment in the Advising and Student Success Center
- 78% reported they had sufficient time with an adviser
- 81% said their adviser was able to answer their questions clearly
- 78% reported they had a better understanding of the Titan Degree Audit
- 79% felt more confident in managing personal plans and goals for success after visiting an adviser
Summary
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The Department of Communications takes pride in the many resources available to help students succeed inside and outside of the classroom. From initial contact with potential students, and then all the way through the matriculation process, faculty are able to work closely with students to make sure undergraduates receive the necessary academic and career guidance that promotes degree completion and successful entry into the professional world.
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