Current Graduate Students
Teaching Assistants
Esther Agyeman-Budu - eagyeman@kent.edu
M.A. in Computer Information Science, Rutgers University, 2006
B.A. in Computer Science, Concordia College, 2003
Interests: Tech Media
Jim Belcher - jbelcher@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication Studies, Kent State University, 2004
B.A. in Rhetoric & Communication, Kent State University, 2000
Matt Corr - mcorr@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication, Hiram, 2002
Amy Dalessandro - adaless1@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication Theory, Cleveland State University, 2006
B.A. in Communication, Baldwin-Wallace College, 2004
Interests: Media Effects
Thomas Gore - tgore@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication - Theory & methodology, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, 2003
B.A. in Communication, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, 2001
Interests in Communication: Health Communication (fear appeals & campaign design),
Mass Communication(media effects), and Persuasion (theory & compliance gaining).
Teaching experience: Interpersonal Communication (CSU), Mass Media and Society (CSU), Principles of
Communication (CSU), Oral Communication (LCCC), Health Communication (KSU) and Introduction to
Human Communication (KSU)
Roxanne Hall - rhall13@kent.edu
B.S./B.A. in Advertising, University of Akron, 2002
M.A. in Communication, University of Akron, 2004
Vanessa Heeman - vgette@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication Studies, Lock Haven University, 2006
Interest: Interpersonal
Erin Kleman - eekleman@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication Studies, Kent State University, Kent, OH 2005
B.A. in Communication Arts, Malone College, Canton, OH 2003
Interests: Interpersonal communication, specifically relationship development and cross-sex friendships
Teaching experience: Basic communication course, communication theory, interpersonal communication
Paul Kuffel - pkuffel@kent.edu
Associates of Applied Science in Logistics Management, Community College of the Air Force, 1992
B.A. in Organizational Communication, McKendree College, 1996
MA in Organizational Leadership, Geneva College, 2004
Brian Pattie - bpattie@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication, Oakland University, 2004
M.A. in Communication Studies, Wayne State University, 2007
Interests: Interpersonal Communication, Conflict Management, and Quantitative Research Methods
James Ponder - jponder@kent.edu
B.F.A. in Communication, Emporia State University, Cum Laude, 2005
M.A. in Communication Studies, Wichita State University, 2007
Nicole Reamer - nreamer@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication Studies, University of Toledo, Cum Laude, 2007
Jenny Rosenberg -jrosenb8@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication Studies, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 2007
University of Washington, Seattle, washington, 2005-2006
University of Vienna, Austria, 2003-2005
Research Interests: Interpersonal & Mediated Communication
Teaching experience: Introduction to Human Communication
Carol A. Savery - csavery@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication, The University of Akron, 2005
B.F.A. in Theatre, the University of Calgary, 1990
Interests: organizational intranet blogs, hospice volunteer communication, friendship, diffusion of
innovations, and Canada
Rekha Sharma - rsharma@kent.edu
M.S. in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management
M.A. in Journalism, 2004
B.S. in Newspaper Journalism, 2002
Tessa Smith - tlsmith4@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication Studies, Kent State University, 2006
John Spinda - jspinda@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication Education & Mass Media Technology, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion,
PA 2002 B.S. in Communication from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, PA 2000
Interests: Mass Communication (especially Politics & the Internet), Instant Messaging & Distance
Education technologies.Teaching Experience: High School Video Production Instructor; course designer
for online 7th Grade Geography course, and currently lab instructor for Communication 15000
Students
Susan Baggs - sbaggs@kent.edu
B.A. in History and Public Speaking, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 2002
Interests: mass (particularly political) and interpersonal communication
Teaching experience: Public Speaking/Argumentation coach (Boston University); intern at television
stations in Dublin, Ireland and Boston, MA; intern to White House staff of NBC News in Washington,
D.C.;currently helping instruct sections of the Communication 15000 course (KSU).
Jeffrey Bolt, jbolt@kent.edu
M.A. in communication, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 2004
B.A. in communication, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 2002
Certificate in Public Relations, Millard Fillmore College, Buffalo NY, 2002
Interests: Media effects, Mood regulation, Framing in Print Media, Quantitative Methods
Teaching Experience: Theory and Practice of Oral Discourse, Communication Theory, and Research
Methods. Jeffrey's Webpage
Diane Crossman - gcrossma@kent.edu
M.A. in Liberal Studies, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, 1997
B.A. in Communications, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, 1986
Teaching Experience: Baldwin-Wallace College since 2002. Courses: Intercultural Communication,
Interpersonal Communication, Human Communication, and Public Speaking Cuyahoga Community College
since 2002. Courses: Speech and Interpersonal Communication.
Professional Experience: More than 20 years in media management in areas of advertising, circulation,
marketing, public relations, training & development, project management, and sales.
Gretchen Dworznik - gdworzni@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 2004
B.A. in Radio!Television Communication, Ashland University, Ashland, OH 1998
Interests: I spent 5 years as a television reporter in Ohio and therefore my interests are all mass
communication and television news related. I am also interested in political communication and media
effects.
Teaching Experience: Survey of Communication Theory (The University of Akron) , currently teaching
Comm 15000 at Kent State.
Amber Ferris - aferris@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 2004
B.A. in English, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 2000
Interests: I am mainly interested in the link between interpersonal and media research (cell phones,
specifically), media effects (primarily television), and political dissent
Teaching experience: Theory and Practice of Oral Discourse, Interpersonal Communication,
Communication
Theory, and Foundations of Communication Amber's Webpage
Margaret Garmon - mgarmon@kent.edu
B.A. in Broadcasting-Journalism, Kent State Univ, Ohio, 1971
M.A. in Journalism and Mass Comm: Media Management, Kent State University, Ohio, 2000
Margaret Garmon has almost 35 years of combined experience in news reporting for the Record-Courier newspaper in Portage County, Ohio, and in media relations and public relations for Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She writes a twice monthly column for the Record-Courier. Margaret was an adjunct faculty member in Kent State's School of Journalism and Mass Communication from 1998 to 2003. A Kent State alumna, Margaret earned her bachelor's degree in 1971 with a major in broadcasting and a minor in journalism and her master's degree in 2000 in journalism and mass communication with a concentration on media management. She is now enrolled in the doctoral program in the School of Communication Studies at Kent State. Her research interests are crisis communications and mass media.
Chris Hariasz - hariasz@uakron.edu
M.S., Arts Administration; Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 1987
Magister (Master) in Law; Marie Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland, 1979
Interests in Communication: Mass Communication, Persuasion (esp. advertising), Theatre as
Communication, Intercultural Communication, Visual Communication
Teaching experience: Public Speaking, Classes in various aspects of theatre (University of Akron)
Jodi Hupp - jlhupp@kent.edu
B.A. in English & B.S. in Communication, Univeristy of Akron, 1999
MLIS, Kent State University, 2001
MA in Communication, University of Akron, 2004
Tamara Jarrett - tjarrett@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication & Sport Management, Towson State University, 1991
M.A. in Administration, Georgia Southern University, Georgia, 1993
Sarah Lane - slane1@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication, The University of Akron, 2002
B.A. in Communication, The University of Akron, 1997
Areas of Interest: Political Communication, Mass Media Effects, Public Opinion Theories
Professional Experience: Community Relations Specialist for Summit County Children Services for the
past five years. Duties include: writing, editing and distributing media releases; writing, editing and designing newsletters; designing advertisements; organizing special events; and coordinating a year-long educational program for professionals in Summit County who serve failies and children called the Child and Family Leadership Exchange. Community Involvement: Board member of Summit Athletic Running Club, Active member of the Junior league of Akron.
Peter Miraldi - pmirald1@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication, Cleveland State University, Ohio, 1997
M.A. in Communication, Cleveland State University, Ohio, 1998
Julie Mitchell - jbmitche@kent.edu
B.S. in Communication (interpersonal communication and journalism), University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana (1981).
Interests: Organizational, Instructional, and Interpersonal Communication (and how these three intersect).
Communication and Aging. Teaching experience: Lakeland Community College - Adjunct faculty, speech department, 1984-2004 (taught Public Speaking, Business & Professional Speaking, Interpersonal Communication). Cleveland State University - Levin College of Urban Affairs, and Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management - guest lecturer; Lake Erie College, Painesville, OH - guest instructor, education department. Professional and/or continuing education instructor for numerous colleges and universities from 1986-2004.Currently teach Business & Professional Communication and Interpersonal Communication at Kent State University.
Sheila Rosenthal-Buchwald - srosenth@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication, Kent State University, 1991
M.A. in Organizational Communication, University of Akron, 2003
Lyn Spellman - lspellm1@kent.edu
B.A. in Psychology, Kent State University, 1978
Molly B. Taggart - mtaggar2@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication Studies, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 2004 with a Minor in Sociology and the Political Communication Certificate
Interests: Interpersonal, Political, and Instructional communication.
Teaching Experience: Theory and Practice of Oral Discourse (Comm. 15000)
Jennifer Talbert - jtalber1@kent.edu
M.A. in Communication, Wichita State University, Wichita , KS, 1997
B.A. in Political Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 1994
Interests: I am interested in mass communication, political communication, and forensic
competition.Teaching Experience: Interviewing, Speech for Teachers, Voice and Diction, Presentational Communication, introduction to Human Speech Communication, Persuasion, Small Group Decision Making, Argumentation and reasoning, Historical and Contemporary Public Address, Forensics, as well as Fundamentals of Publc Communication. Current Courses: Small Group Communication & Communication for Teachers.
Kimberly Thompson - kthomp6@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication Studies, Genesco at SUNY, 2005
Paulette Mitchell Tiggs - ptiggs@kent.edu
B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications, Major: Advertising, Ohio State University, 1988.
Interests in Communication: Organizational communication, with an emphasis on
corporate communication.
Audrey Wagstaff - awagstaf@kent.edu
B.A. in Communication, Hiram College, 2005 M.A., in Journalism and Mass Communication, Kent State University, 2007 Areas of interest: Mass Media Effects, particularly in relation to scholastic journalism; Intercultural Communication, with an emphasis on the Latino population.
Michele Williams - mwilliams@malone.edu
B.A. in Communication Arts & Business, Malone College, 1992
MA in Business Administration, Malone College, 1997