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Faculty

Dr. David Arant Professor and Chair B.A., psychology, Davidson College; M.Div., theology, Emory University; M.A., journalism, University of South Carolina; Ph.D., mass communication research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Arant teaches mass media ethics and law. His professional experiences include daily newspaper reporting and editing/reporting for the religious press. He has been president of the SPJ's Mid-South Pro Chapter and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists national ethics committee. His research includes publications in Journal of Mass Media Ethics , Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly , Communication Law and Policy , Newspaper Research Journal and Nieman Reports .
Dr. Carrie Brown-Smith Assistant Professor Carrie Brown-Smith teaches reporting, media writing and mass communication theory and serves as the director of the Teen Appeal program, a citywide high school newspaper funded by the Scripps Howard Foundation. Her courses emphasize using social and digital media tools to enhance journalism's core values such as accuracy. She got her PhD from the University of Missouri, her MA from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and her BA in journalism and conservation biology from the University of Wisconsin, in the state where she was born and raised. Brown-Smith does research on social media and newspaper's efforts to grapple with changes to newsroom structure, culture, and daily routines in the digital age. She has worked as a daily newspaper reporter and editor, and also managed a training program for the Committee of Concerned Journalists for three years. This job took her to newspapers across the United States, both big and small, to talk with newsrooms about how they could best handle the changing economic and technological realities of their business while remaining true to their values.
Pamela Denney Instructor B.A., journalism and art history, Syracuse University; M.A. journalism, University of Memphis. Denney has worked as a writer, editor, and development officer for newspapers, magazines and academic institutions, most recently with Contemporary Media in Memphis, where she was a copy editor for the Memphis Flyer. Before joining the Flyer staff, she was a grant writer and adjunct journalism professor for the University of Memphis. Previously, she worked in Los Angeles for Copley Los Angeles Newspaper as a news editor, wire editor, copy editor and city editor. While working as the city editor at The Outlook in Santa Monica, the daily won the top award for general excellence from the California Newspaper Publishers Association. In addition to teaching and coordinating the department's media writing curriculum, Denney is the food editor of Memphis magazine and writes the magazine's popular food blog called Memphis Stew.
Darrin M. Devault Instructor/Coordinator B.A., M.A., journalism, The University of Memphis. Devault serves as instructor and coordinator of the department’s online B.A.degree program in public relations. He has professional experience as a newspaper reporter/photographer, public relations and marketing director, and digital and social media content developer. Devault has taught college courses in journalism since 1999. He is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and PRSA Educator's Academy. He also serves as faculty adviser of the U of M chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
Dr. Rick Fischer Professor B.A., psychology/speech communication, Southern Illinois University; M.S., systems management, University of Southern California; M.A., speech-communication, San Jose State University; Ph.D., journalism, Southern Illinois University. Fischer was a Navy public affairs officer. He is an accredited public relations professional and was inducted into Public Relations Society of America College of Fellows in 2001. He is active in Public Relations Society and in the student society (PRSSA). He is the former president and board chair of the Memphis PC Users Group.
Dr. Joseph Hayden Associate Professor B.A., English, Centre College; M.A., journalism, University of Missouri; M.A., history, Vanderbilt University; Ph.D., history, Indiana University. Hayden has professional experience in television news as a writer, reporter and producer. He is the author of two books on presidential-press relations (Covering Clinton and A Dubya in the Headlights) and a third on American journalists at the end of World War I (Negotiating in the Press). His interests include writing and foreign languages. He recently published The Little Grammar Book (Marion Street Press, 2012) and is currently working on a companion volume dedicated to writing style. In 2008, he received the Thomas W. Briggs Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Dr. Thomas Hrach Assistant Professor B.A., history, University of Michigan; M.A., journalism, Kent State University; Ph.D., mass communications-journalism, Ohio University. Hrach is a former reporter and news editor at The Marietta Times in Marietta, Ohio, and he has other related experience in the newspaper business. He has numerous awards for his newspaper work as a writer. His areas of teaching expertise center on journalism history, newswriting, editing, online journalism and legal issues for journalists. His research interests focus on journalism history and online journalism.
Candace Justice Assistant Professor B.A., journalism, University of Mississippi; M.A., journalism, Memphis State University. Justice worked as a reporter, editor and columnist for The Memphis Press-Scimitar, wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column about television and has done freelance feature articles for various magazines. She is the general manager of The Daily Helmsman, the student newspaper on campus. In 2001, she won the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Lurene Cachola Kelley Assistant Professor B.A., journalism, Gonzaga University; M.A., journalism, Memphis State University; Ph.D., journalism/organizational communication, University of Memphis. Kelley worked as a television news reporter and is currently involved in local television production as both a producer and talent. She has served as a media consultant for government and educational institutions. Her teaching interests are television writing, reporting and editing. Kelley is an active member of the Memphis City Schools Telecommunications board and the University of Memphis Journalism Alumni board. Check out the University of Memphis Broadcast News Social Network! Find out what our current students and alumni are doing in the world of media! http://umbroadcastnews.ning.com
Otis Sanford Hardin Chair of Excellence in Journalism B.A., journalism, University of Mississippi. Sanford began his professional newspaper career in 1975 at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., as an entertainment and feature writer and later covered police and local government. He joined The Commercial Appeal in 1977 as a general assignment reporter and was part of the reporting team that covered the death of Elvis Presley in August 1977. He also covered the federal court beat for seven years before being promoted to assistant metro editor. Sanford joined The Pittsburgh Press in 1987 as assistant city editor; moved to the Detroit Free Press in 1992 as deputy city editor; returned to The Commercial Appeal in 1994 as deputy managing editor. He was promoted to managing editor in 2002 and was named editor for opinion and editorials in 2007. At The Commercial Appeal, Sanford launched The DeSoto Appeal edition in 2000 and spearheaded the creation of The Teen Appeal student newspaper. He also launched the citizen editorial board in 2007. He joined the U of M faculty in January, 2011. Sanford is past president of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association, and past chairman of the Mid-America Press Institute. He currently writes a weekly Viewpoint column for The Commercial Appeal and also serves as political commentator for WREG-TV Channel 3 where he provides daily commentary and appears on Informed Sources, a weekly public affairs TV show.
Ronald E. Spielberger Associate Professor B.S., journalism, Memphis State University; M.A., journalism, Ohio State University. Spielberger is on the Board of Directors of the Memphis Advertising Federation and is an active consultant and judge for organizations including E. I. DuPont deNemours Co., Inc., Vision Educational Foundation and Richards Medical Company. He is Executive Director of College Media Advisers, a 700-member national organization.
Dr. Sandra H. Utt Associate Professor B.S.J.Ed, journalism/English, West Virginia University; M.S., journalism, West Virginia University; Ph.D., journalism/mass communication, Ohio University. Utt has been a public relations and advertising research and graphics consultant. Her teaching interests are theories, design and advertising. She and Dr. Elinor Kelley Grusin are currently co-editors of Newspaper Research Journal. She is an active participant in journalism and mass communication academic and professional organizations and has published numerous scholarly articles.
Dr. Erin Willis Assistant Professor B.A., marketing, University of Missouri; M.A., strategic communication, University of Missouri; Ph.D., journalism, University of Missouri. Willis started her career in public relations in Chicago at Cushman/Amberg Communications, and moved on to media relations and copywriting at Grand Crowne Resorts in Branson, Mo. Concurrently, Willis founded and edited Vue Magazine, a publication for visitors to Branson and the tri-lakes area. Later, Willis moved on to be the marketing director for the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre. Her areas of teaching include PR writing, case studies, and campaigns. Her research interests focus on health communication, new media, and computer-mediated communication.
Robert L. Willis Instructor B.A., journalism, University of Oklahoma; M.A., public relations, Ball State University. Willis has experience in newspaper reporting, editing and advertising sales, planning and coordinating, executing and managing public relations and advertising programs and activities for several companies in the private sector. He is the business and advertising coordinator of The Daily Helmsman, the student newspaper on campus.
Dr. Jin Yang Associate Professor B.A., English, Shanxi University; M.A., communication, Pittsburg State University; Ph.D., journalism, Southern Illinois University. Yang has been a reporter, a bilingual broadcaster, a public relations officer, and a web developer. Her teaching areas are visual communication, web site management and Internet journalism. Her research interests are international communication, Internet news and new media technology. She has published in Mass Communication and Society, International Communication Gazette, Newspaper Research Journal and Journal of Interactive Advertising. Please learn more about Dr. Yang at umdrive.memphis.edu/jinyang/InternetJournalism/.