C U R R I C U L U M V I T A E
Dr. Dennis Robertson Visiting Professor & Interim Chair, Department of Communication The University of Texas at Tyler 903-566-7066; 903-845-1999 [email protected]
Education
Ph.D., Journalism/Public Relations, University of Texas, Austin, 1995
M.A., Communication Management, University of Southern California, L.A., 1990
M.A., Journalism/Public Relations, California State University, Fullerton, 1982
B.A., Mass Communication, Ambassador College, Pasadena, California, 1977
Teaching Experience
September 2018 to the Present: Visiting Professor & Interim Chair, Department of Communication, The University of Texas at Tyler. Departmental administrator with teaching emphasis in Communication Theory.
August 2012 to August 2018: Professor of Journalism & Mass Communication, East Texas Baptist University. Teaching emphasis in mass communication, public relations, and journalism. Additional duties include academic advising, serving as advisor for the student-produced weekly newspaper, and managing the campus radio station. Classes include Mass Media Writing, Introduction to Mass Communication, Writing for Digital Media, Digital Design and Production, Public Relations, Public Relations Campaigns, Public Relations Case Studies, Public Relations Writing, Mass Communication Law and Ethics, and Introduction to Mass Communication.
July 2008 to July 2012: Vice President for Student Affairs, East Texas Baptist University. Provided leadership and vision in administration of a comprehensive range of programs and services for students; created a campus culture that promoted the academic achievement and personal development of all students while providing oversight and assistance with student-related conduct and crisis response. Provided oversight for 14 departments on campus, Additional responsibilities included managing budgets, resources and oversight of dining services and residence halls.
August 2005 to July 2008: Professor of Journalism & Mass Communication & Chair, Department of Communication, East Texas Baptist University. Teaching emphasis in mass communication, public relations, and broadcast journalism. Administrative duties included academic advising, budgeting, and personnel issues. Classes taught included Writing for Mass Media, Mass Media Law, Public Relations, Radio Broadcasting, Broadcast News Reporting, and Introduction to Mass Communication, Digital Communication (Adobe Creative Suite), Audio Production, and Journalism 101. Built new state-of-the-art radio broadcast facility. Adviser to the university’s broadcast and newspaper production facilities.
August 2001 to August 2005: Associate Professor of Communication, University of Texas, Tyler. Taught courses in news writing, mass communication theory, multimedia production, and public relations. Academic adviser. College senator. Faculty adviser to the American Advertising Federation student chapter.
August 1998 to August 2001: Associate Professor of Radio/Television, Arkansas State University. Teaching emphasis in new media, radio production, television production, and broadcast news. Taught courses in Programming & Audiences, Broadcast Sales, and Web Authoring.
August 1990 to May 1997: Associate Professor of Communication and Chair, Department of Communication at Ambassador University, Big Sandy, Texas. Developed and supervised an academic unit consisting of two areas of emphasis: speech communication and mass communication, with 6 full-time faculty and 6 adjunct faculty. Budget authority for $1.5 million media fund. Built flag-ship public radio station and served as General Manager. Adviser to the university newspaper. Taught courses in radio production, television production, mass media writing, and a general education course entitled Mass Media and Society.
Professional Work Experience
August 2008 to the Present – Field reporter for Bloomberg News, Washington, D.C., covering the U.S. Federal Court in the Eastern District of Texas. Cover major trials involving top technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, etc. Trial coverage, interviewing, and writing for Bloomberg’s Financial World Report.
August 1980 to August 1990, Public Relations Director and Assistant Professor for Mass Communication at Ambassador College and its International Cultural Foundation, Pasadena, California. Developed global communication materials for the college and foundation. The foundation built schools, libraries, and educational programs in developing countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Israel.
August 1977 to August 1979 – Managing editor of The Good News magazine in Pasadena, California.
August 1974 to August 1977: Morning drive-time disc jockey for KBAC radio in Pasadena, California. Produced commercials, station IDs, and other broadcast material for the station. Covered local news stories and worked as associate news director.
August 1974 to August 1977: Editor-in-Chief, The Portfolio, a weekly university newspaper in Pasadena, California. Worked with reporters, designers, and photographers producing the weekly publication.
Creative Professional Achievements
Studio Design Presentation & Technical Study. 2016. A presentation to the Federal Communication Commission, Washington, D. C., leading to the creation of 94.9 FM, KETB, Marshall, TX.
Jim & Ethel Dickson Research and Study Endowment Grant. 2015. Examination of the Ida B. Wells papers at the University of Chicago Special Collections. Research focused on the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight newspaper published by Ida B. Wells in the 1880s.
Diffusion of Innovations Research Grant. 2002. Awarded by the UT Tyler College of Arts and Sciences for a communication study entitled “The Diffusion of Innovations Model and the Role of Discontinuance in the Adoption Process.” Presentation to the University community at the conclusion of the study.
What do Mike Wallace, Matt Lauer, and David Letterman Have in Common? 2001. Consultation with three internationally recognized television talents as a Faculty Fellow for the National Association of Television Programming Executives, Washington, D.C. Paper presentation at the conclusion of the fellowship.
Writing News for the CBS Network. 2001. One of 15 national Faculty Fellowships awarded by the Radio Television News Directors Association, Washington, D. C. to write news for CBS-affiliated stations.
Faculty Fellow. 2000. One of 10 national faculty fellows working with the International Radio-Television Society, New York, NY. Paper presentation at the conclusion of the fellowship.
The Advance of Digital Media in the New Millennium. 2000. Winner of the Coltrin Award for Excellence in Communication Education, New York, 2001.
American Influence on Arab Television Productions and Media Content. 2000. Middle East Studies Grant awarded by Arkansas State University to investigate Middle East television organizations and program content issues in the Arab world. Field research conducted in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Oral presentation to University community at the conclusion of the study.
Voice Talent for World War II Documentary Film. 1998. Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR. Narrator for documentary film presented at the Arkansas Film Festival. Redesigning, Re-formatting a Student-Run Weekly Newspaper. 1996. Won Best Overall University Newspaper in Texas award at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association’s annual conference.
Studio Design Presentation & Technical Study. 1993. A presentation to the Federal Communication Commission, Washington, D. C., leading to East Texas’ first flag-ship National Public Radio station, 97.1 FM, KBAU.
Boys at Play. 1987. Photo montage presented to editors at the National Geographic magazine, Washington, D.C.
Life on the Streets of Santa Barbara. 1985. Winner of Best Photographic Exhibition at the Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, CA.
Academic Presentations
“Best Practices in Sustainability Communication.” A paper presented at the Association for Business Communication’s annual conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 2012.
“Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Health Communication: The impact of poor communication on a standard healthcare assessment instrument.” Top Four Faculty Paper. A paper accepted for presentation at the Southern States Communication Association’s annual conference, Savannah, GA, April 2008.
“Crisis Communication at Pennzoil Corporation: Television, radio, and print strategies during a landmark legal battle.” A paper presented at the Southern States Communication Association’s annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, March 28-April 1, 2007.
“The Memphis Free Speech and Headlight: a minority newspaper that championed equal rights.” A paper presented at the 29th Annual Southwest Symposium of the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication, Louisiana State University, October 27-28, 2006.
“A Bastion on Beale Street: the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight’s Crusade for Equality.” A paper presented at the American Journalism Historian’s Association conference in Cleveland, Ohio, October 2004.
“Surfing a New Wave of Media Consolidation: The FCC’s Quest to Deregulate Media Ownership.” A panel presentation at the Southern States Communication Association conference in Tampa, Florida, April 4, 2004.
“Race and the Media: We’ve Come a Long Way Baby, Haven’t We?” A panel presentation at the Southern States Communication Association conference in Birmingham, Alabama, April 3, 2003.
“Cross-cultural Diffusion of the Entertainment-Education Strategy: employee directives in the United Arab Emirates.” A paper presented at the annual conference of the Southern States Communication Association in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, April 2002.
“Crisis Communication at Pennzoil: An Organization’s Corporate Communication Response During a Landmark Legal Battle.” A paper presented at the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix, Arizona, August 9, 2000.
“Pioneers of the Digital Domain: Early Adopters of Digital Television Transmission.” A paper presentation at the Public Service Broadcasting conference at the University of Alberta, in Banff, Alberta, Canada, June 10-11, 2000.
“Programming Theory and the New Millennium: Focused Programming and Focused Audiences.” A panel presentation delivered April 9, 2000, at the Broadcast Educators Association conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The ‘End of Scarcity’ Argument and Diversity of Content: A Critical Analysis.” A paper presentation at the Western Social Science Association conference in San Diego, California, April 28, 2000.
“Uses of Emerging Technology in Rural Health Care Advocacy.” A paper presented at the Southern States Communication Association annual conference in New Orleans, march April 2, 2000.
“Diffusion of Internet Technology Among Health Care Providers in Arkansas.” A paper delivered with Everett Rogers at the 14th Annual Red River Communication Conference, North Dakota state University, April 19, 1999.
“Rush to Judgment: The Threat of Emerging Technology to Accuracy and Ethical Standards for News Reporters.” A paper delivered at the Southern States Communication Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, March 1999.
Professional Development
Association for Education in Journalism/Mass Communication conference., Washington, D.C., 2018.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Austin, Tex., 2016.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Tampa, Fla., 2015.
Southern States Communication Association conference, New Orleans, 2014.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Louisville, Ky., 2013.
Southern States Communication Association conference, San Antonia, Tex., 2012.
Association of Business Communication conference, Honolulu, 2012.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Savannah, Ga., 2008.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Louisville, Ky., 2007.
Southwest Education Council for Journalism/Mass Communication, Monroe, La., 2006.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Baton Rouge, La., 2005.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Tampa, Fla., 2004.
American Journalism Historian’s Association conference, Cleveland, Ohio, 2004.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Birmingham, Ala., 2003 . Southern States Communication Association conference, Winston-Salem, N.C., 2002.
Southern States Communication Association conference, Lexington, Ky., 2001.
Southern States Communication Association conference, New Orleans, La., 2000.
Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, Phoenix, 2000.
Public Service Broadcasting conference, Banff, Alberta, Canada, 2000.
Broadcast Educators Association conference, Las Vegas, Nev., 2000.
Western Social Science Association conference, San Diego, Calif., 2000.
Southern States Communication Association conference, St. Louis, Mo., 1999.
Red River Communication conference, Fargo, N. D., 1999.
Southern States Communication Association conference, San Antonio, Tex., 1998.
Other Relevant Information
Adviser, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. Conference committee. Membership committee. 2014-2016.
Adviser, The Tiger Compass, ETBU’s bi-weekly newspaper, 2012-2016.
Chair, Communication Division of the Southern States Communications Association, 2004-2005.
Senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Texas, Tyler, 2004-2005.
Chair, Traffic & Parking Appeals Committee, University of Texas at Tyler, 2004-2005.
Alternate Senator for the College of Arts and Sciences, the University of Texas at Tyler, 2003-2004.
Member of the University Commencement Committee, the University of Texas at Tyler, 2003-2005.
Member of the University of Texas at Tyler’s Speaker’s Bureau, 2001-2004. Chair, ad-hoc committee for drafting the Media Communication Policy for the Faculty Senate, 2003-2004.
Vice-Chair of the Communication Division of the Southern States Communication Association, 2003-2004.
Secretary and Vice-Chair Elect of the Mass Communication Division of the Southern States Communication Association, 2002-2003.
Chair, Traffic/Parking Appeals Committee at The University of Texas, Tyler, 2003-2004.
Member of the Search Committee for the Herrington Patriot Center director at UT, 2003.
Member of the Search Committee for the Head Baseball Coach, UT Tyler, 2002.
Tenure & Promotion Review Committee for the Department of Communication, UT Tyler, 2002.
Member, College of Arts and Sciences Governance Committee, UT Tyler, 2001-2002.
Member, Arkansas State University’s General Education Committee. Secretary of the committee. Involved in major reform of general education curriculum for the university, 1998-2001.
Member, Arkansas State University’s Doctoral Programs Committee. Review of university doctoral programs, examination of proposed programs, 1999-2000.
Member, Arkansas State University’s College of Communications’ Strategic Planning Committee. Curriculum review, coordination of curriculum among departments, and evaluation of undergraduate/graduate programs in communication, 1998-2000.
Member, Arkansas State University’s Outcome Assessments Committee. Responsible for reviewing campus-wide assessment strategies and advising colleges and departments on current assessment practice, 2000-2001.
Inducted into National Journalism Honor Society, 1994
Inducted into National Academic Honor Society, 1994
Updated 10-30-2018