The College of Communication and Information at Kent State University is proud to announce Paul Haridakis, Ph.D., as Interim Director of the School of Communication Studies. Haridakis has previously served as the Director of the school as well as a member of its faculty. He has also served in administrative capacities for the school as director of the Communication Research Center and Graduate Coordinator.
“When I arrived at Kent State in 2015, Paul had just stepped out of his role as school director. I am excited to now have the opportunity to work with him in this role,” said said Amy Reynolds, Dean of the College of Communication and Information. “I have appreciated Paul’s commitment to undergraduate education and the globalization of the school. He has played an important role in empowering our students to understand how a degree in Communication Studies is valuable in all professions.”
Haridakis received his bachelor’s degree in communication in 1981 but it was not the study of communication that first engaged him professionally; rather, it was the law. For over a dozen years starting in 1984, he practiced law, representing and advising companies on employment law issues before obtaining his doctorate in communication from Kent State University.
Along with holding several administrative positions in the School, including Associate Director (2010), Interim Director (2010-2012) and Director (2012-2015), Haridakis has conducted research on media uses and effects, law, public policy, new communication technologies, sports communication, freedom of speech, and the history of communication studies. His recent work has focused on the role of YouTube and other social media in political campaigns and interpersonal communication, user-generated content, mediated interactivity and First Amendment issues related to the regulation of content in various media.
“When I started, there was a real focus in liberal arts and communication studies on obtaining a broad education in social science, the arts and the humanities,” Haridakis said. “While I don’t think that has changed, today I get more practical questions about the types of jobs a degree in communication prepares students for.” With employers routinely listing written and verbal communication skills as their most sought after traits, graduates of Communication Studies are ready for the careers of the future—and they are distinctively positioned for the challenges of today.
“The pandemic has emphasized the sheer power of communication and the critical importance of communication technologies,” Haridakis said. “Our students are equipped with the skills that will enable them to use all communication tools to their fullest potential. As businesses adapt to using these online tools in their operations, our students are going to be in even greater demand. In an interconnected world, effective communication will be the driving force behind employers’ successes. We want to continue attracting top students through our talented faculty, our engaging courses and through growing our scholarship offerings.”
With five concentrations, focusing on media and society, relational and workplace communication, as well as applied, global and general communication, the curriculum in the School is adaptive to a changing world and delivers a broad educational skill set. “Communication studies is an integrative field,” Haridakis said. “It is not a siloed discipline, but a field of study that enables students to draw on and integrate communication and information across the university. And for students who truly want to make a difference in society, societal change first and foremost begins with appropriate and competent communication.”
The School of Communication Studies at Kent State University holds a record of academic excellence and achievement. Students and faculty have demonstrated the academic excellence Kent State University strives for and has earned a ranking as a top program by the Ohio Communication Association. Students gain valuable skills that prepare them for careers across the communication field, and they can also pursue master's degrees within the school or a doctorate which is offered by the College of Communication and Information.