Mission
The Department of Communication Studies is dedicated to its students by providing innovative and diverse leadership, intellectual rigor, and collaboration in a culture of scholarship.
Programs
Are you passionate about connecting with others and seeking a career that builds relationships? Consider the Communication Studies program at Ashland University. This comprehensive program will prepare you for a broad range of careers in communication.
Are you an effective communicator looking to expand your skills? Do you want to play an integral role in the ever-changing, dynamic field of communication? Look no further than Ashland University’s Public Relations and Strategic Communication program.
In today’s complex, digitally connected world, companies...
Do you have passion for sports and an interest in communication? Consider merging your interests in the Sport Communication program at Ashland University.
No other sport communication program in the country takes the same full-circle approach to the field as we do, making this program stand...
Are you a dedicated professional looking to improve your strategic communication skills?
Ashland University's Master of Arts in Strategic Communication & Leadership (MASCL) program is one of the most innovative programs nationwide.
Are you passionate about connecting with others and seeking a career that builds relationships? Consider the Communication Studies program at Ashland University. This comprehensive program will prepare you for a broad range of careers in communication.
Curriculum
Organizations
Student Organizations
Communication Studies students will find many opportunities to be involved in the department. Being an active member of the department will help you build character, gain leadership skills, encourage scholarship and create lasting professional relationships with your professors and peers, all of which help you build your portfolio.
Students who have shown excellence in scholarship within the department and the University may be asked to join Lambda Pi Eta (LPE). LPE is the National Communication Association's official honor society at four-year colleges and universities. There are LPE chapters worldwide.
Public Relations Student Society of America
The Ashland University chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) was formed in Spring 2013. PRSSA is the foremost organization for students interested in communications and public relations. PRSSA helps you enhance your education, broaden your network and launch your career in public relations.
Sport Communication Club
A student-run organization dedicated to the study and practice of sport communication. Membership is open to all students on campus.
For information, please contact the faculty advisor, Dr. Cory Hillman, chillman@ashland.edu
Professional Associations
National Communication Association
International Communication Association
Eastern Communication Association
Central States Communication Association
Western States Communication Association
Southern States Communication Association
Ohio Communication Association
Public Relations Society of America
Faculty
335, Center for the Arts
419.289.5748 / chillman@ashland.edu
Department of Communication Studies
333, Center for the Arts
419.289.5733 / sorr3@ashland.edu
Department of Communication Studies
329, Center for the Arts
419.289.5143 / drandall@ashland.edu
Department of Communication Studies
Department News
Pacinelli is first AU student to pass universal accrediting board certificate in Principles of Public Relations exam
Ashland University senior Bella Pacinelli has become one of fewer than 500 public relations students nationwide to successfully complete and pass the Universal Accrediting Board Certificate in Principles of Public Relations Exam. She is the first AU student to achieve this honor.After completing 10 hours of course modules that included lessons on campaign design and development, communication theories and models, media relations, ethics, research methods, information literacy, strategic social media, and crisis communication, Pacinelli joins the elite group of students who have earned this certificate.Completing the UAB exam was not initially on her agenda until a few months ago when she approached AU Communication Studies Professor Shawn Orr about what her job opportunities post-graduation might include. Though Pacinelli is a journalism major, she was not sure if she wanted to jump into that field right away.Knowing that Pacinelli is minoring in public relations, Orr proposed the idea of taking the UAB exam as a way to stand out from other students and gain a bit more knowledge in the field since she had not taken some of the courses that PR majors typically take. After discussing the idea with her close family and friends, it did not take long until Pacinelli was fully on board to take the exam.There were several steps to the process that included becoming a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, having Orr register her for the course, paying a course fee, completing the 13 modules and lastly scheduling and completing the final exam at a testing center.“I was really nervous,” Pacinelli said. “I put a lot of money into it and I put a lot of time into it. At the end of last semester, that’s what I spent my time doing. Plus I got COVID over break and...Read more
Ashland University PRSSA students receive Honorable Mention in national Bateman Case Study Competition
For the first time ever, an Ashland University team was selected to receive an honorable mention accomodation for their CountAUIn campaign. Less than 25% of all campaign submissions for this national competition are selected for recognition by the 34 judge panel, with the top three finalists competing for a scholarship. This year's honorable mention accomodations represented 14 colleges and universities across the United States and included Ashland University, Syracuse University, DePaul University, Eastern Illinois University, Washington State University, Kent State and Ohio University among others.
Every Bateman competition team was tasked with understanding and reaching undergraduate students at their academic institution with key campaign messaging, and then selecting a second public to focus on based on demographic and psychographic information about their community population. The CountAUIn team selected Ashland County Amish and Old Order Mennonite residents as their second public for this campaign after careful primary and secondary research of these segments. To reach campaign objectives, a variety of strategies and tactics to engage AU students were utilized including coffee sleeve advertising, pledge cards, radio and newspaper articles, free promotional pens, tabling events, and an interactive and informational Instagram account. To reach the Amish and Old Order Mennonite population of Ashland County, a group without technology, the campaign utilized two-step theory to focus on building relationships with community opinion leaders, sending out informational letters to the...Read more
Congratulations to the Spring 2020 Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society Inductees
Current MembersCamille Pollutro, PresidentJonathan LarabeeSeth MillerDean Paolucci
Spring 2020 Inductees
Graduate StudentsPamela CiccarelloDarnae LangfordAndrea Thompson
Undergraduate StudentsEsther AbelCassandra AmickMadison GraverAshley Helenthal Jaime JacksonKristine LawsonRachel MillerCameron RidenourStephaine SlackJuliet Touma
Correctional Education StudentsClifford Abshire
Terry BradleyTremaine BrownShawn BurtisAmber ButlerNathan CarterDenise Chaisson-Lapeyrouse
Paul CoteCrystal ClarkSarah ClarkDale ConnerDaniel CosmaKimberly CoxNiketra DeloachTiffany DickersonShelia EddyRonnie EdwardsRandall FieldsJoey FosterDana FrancisPamela FrugeKimmy GableElrick GallowWilliam GeorgiusKyle GibsonLabrandon GilesAmanda GraysonVicki HawksMichelle HigginsGregory HimelClaude HolbertJeremy HolmbergCherylethia HolmesMarquayle JacksonDouglas JamisonWilliam JobeAshley JohnsonBarry JohnsonNathaniel KellyBrian KeyesDeqwane KingChristopher KonkelDenise KruseJason LambertJoshua LathersChristopher LyonsLee MachinaTravis MarcellJeffrey MayforthTelisa McCauley
Jirrico McKeeTrina McQueenSamantha MetzgarEric MillerChristopher MyersRobert PaigeAlairis PayneJeffrey PeelMatt PlattAndre RandolphQuentin RhineTyrone RogersJamey Rose
Andrew SandersWaylon SaulsJoshua Shadd
Rachel ShoafMichael SnellingCharles SnyderWilliam Spitzig
Derrick StaffordAmber SwainRoy TateRussell ThomsTroy ThorntonMegan Titus-JonesBradley TottenRandal TrahanDewayne VasquezJedediah VelasDuane WashingtonChristen WesleyHarold WhittMiles Wood
Michael YambraAmy Yang
Congratulations on your academic excellence, Lambda Pi Eta members!
This year, the Communication Studies Department had to cancel its in-person Recognition Night, during which we highlight and celebrate the academic achievements of our students. Though we're unable to get everyone together in person, we're incredibly proud of our students' accomplishments and are shouting them from the roof- or blog-tops! Be sure to check back all week long to read about the other fantastic things our students have achieved this year!...Read more
This Year's Bateman Case Study Team
Five AU public relations students participated as part of campaign team CountAUIn in this years competition. The campaign was dedicated to assisting the U.S. Census Bureau by working to ensure college students and other select publics understand the importance of completing the Census and how and when that is done. Given the importance of this initiative, the US Census was selected by PRSSA as the campaign client for this year’s competition. Given the importance of this initiative, the US Census was selected by PRSSA as the campaign client for this year’s competition.
Despite facing additional challenges due to the suspension of all face-to-face classes and activities, the Bateman Team remained dedicated to the goals of this year's campaign: to educate and engage.
The first public every Bateman team was tasked with understanding and reaching was undergraduate students at their academic institution. The second public, Ashland County Amish and Old Order Mennonite residents, were selected after careful research of the Ashland community.Team members conducted primary and secondary research to understand what these populations knew and did not know about the census and how to best reach each population with key messaging strategies. #CountAUIn coffee sleeves
To reach campaign objectives, a variety of tactics to engage AU students were utilized including coffee sleeve advertising, pledge cards, radio and newspaper articles, free promotional pens, tabling events, and an interactive and informational Instagram account. To reach the Amish and Old Order Mennonite population of Ashland County, a group without technology, the campaign utilized...Read more
