Michael Smith, Ph.D.

Mike enjoys running and playing the guitar.

Mike joined the Communication Department in 1993 having spent four years as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Purdue University. He has also taught courses at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana as well as at Central Michigan University. Mike graduated in 1983 from Central Michigan University with a B.A.A. in Public Relations and Communication and received an M.S. in Administration and a Master's in Communication in 1985, both from Central Michigan. Mike recently earned his Doctorate in 1996 from Purdue University.

Mike's current research areas include public relations and activism, service-learning in communication, and public relations education. Two of his chapters on public relations and activism appeared in books that won PRIDE Awards for the best book in Public Relations from the National Communication Association (NCA) in 1996 and 2001. Recently Mike was appointed Director of La Salle's Graduate Program in Professional Communication.

In addition to his departmental duties, Mike also serves on the Faculty Senate and chairs the Faculty Mediation Committee. He helped plan the 1998 Conference on Public Relations Education and the 2001 NCA Summer Conference "Communication: The Engaged Discipline." He is a member of the NCA Task Group on Service Learning, and chaired the NCA Peace and Conflict Communication Commission.

His community involvement has included presentations on media writing for La Salle's Nonprofit Center; service with the American Stroke Association's Marketing Committee; and media relations work for Philadelphia 2000, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that hosted the 2000 Republican National Convention.

Mike enjoys running and playing the guitar. He also serves as music minister of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in North Wales, PA.

OFFICE:
Com Center 213

PHONE:
215-951-1981

EMAIL:
msmith@lasalle.edu

PERSONAL SITE:
www.lasalle.edu/~msmith/index.html