Invited Leaders

Leaders in Scholarship

Dr. Linda Aldoory, Associate Professor, University of Maryland (College Park), Department of Communication. Aldoory studies health communication, specifically women's health, and gender and diversity in health public relations. Her current research focuses on how public health campaigns and mass media affect health attitudes and decision making for women and adolescents. She has been published in the top ranked journals such as Journal of Communication and Health Communication, and is a research consultant for the CDC, FDA, and the Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Aldoory is former editor of the Journal of Public Relations Research. She is also a fellow in the university's Academy of Excellence in Teaching and Learning and a former Lilly Fellow for Teaching Excellence. Courses she typically teaches include public relations theory and writing, health communication, and qualitative research methods. (Click for more.)


Leaders in Practice

Michael O’Brien, former President of the Global Consumer Practice at Cohn & Wolfe, is the Executive Vice President and Director, New York Client Service, at Ketchum. In this capacity, O’Brien focuses on enhancing and expanding client relations while also coaching and mentoring client directors in New York, and serving as a member of the New York executive team. Mr. O'Brien is also a professional PRSA mentor to the Marist Red Foxes Chapter of PRSSA. (Click for more.)

Marist College Leaders

President Dennis J. Murray

Dr. Dennis J. Murray was appointed President and Professor of Public Policy at Marist College in 1979. During his tenure as President, he has guided the College through an exceptional period of growth. Enrollments have doubled, many new academic programs have been established and the academic profile of the entering freshmen has risen significantly. More than $150 million has been invested in the campus, including new academic buildings, new student residences, a new Student Center, an expanded recreation center and a state-of-the-art digital library. (Click to read more.)

Executive Vice President Geoffrey L. Brackett
Dr. Brackett comes to Marist after having served 20 years at Pace University in many capacities, most recently as Provost for and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs from 2007 to 2010.  He graduated with honors with a BA at DePauw University, and then took a DPhil in English Literature at the University of Oxford.  He started at Pace as an Assistant Professor of English on the New York City campus in 1990.  He served as Chairman of the Department of English from 2005 to 2006 and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs from 2006 to 2007.  (Click to read more.)


School of Communication & the Arts Dean Steven Ralston

Prior to joining Marist, Dr. Ralston was professor and chair of the Department of Communication at Northern Illinois University, where he oversaw the university's largest undergraduate major and a sizeable Master of Arts program. Previously, he was professor and chair of the Department of Communication and Visual Art at the University of Michigan-Flint, and director of the Oral Communication Proficiency Program and assistant director of the Teaching and Learning Center at East Tennessee State University. He has also served on the faculty at Iowa State University and Creighton University. (Click to read more.)

School of Communication & the Arts Assistant Dean Missy Alexander

Dr. Alexander began teaching in 1991 at New York University, where she earned her Ph.D. She joined the Marist faculty in 2001 and as an associate professor has overseen the graduate program in communication since its inception in 2004. In addition, she teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in communication. Dr. Alexander’s expertise lies in the academic study of communication; theory, research, ethics, and cultural consequences of media change. (Click to read more.)

Chief Public Affairs Officer Tim Massie

Tim Massie joined Marist College in 1994 and, as chief public affairs officer, is the official Marist spokesman. Tim directs the college's regional, national and international media relations efforts, arranges the college's participation in a wide variety of community events, works closely with government officials at all levels, and provides Marist students with opportunities to become involved in activities that make their Marist experience unique. Mr. Massie is also a professional PRSA mentor to the Marist Red Foxes Chapter of PRSSA.(Click to read more.)


Marist Faculty

• Dr. Yasmin Gopal, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Media Arts. Dr. Gopal teaches a variety of advertising courses and currently teaches an upper-level undergraduate course in gender, culture, and communication.
• Dr. Mark Van Dyke, Associate Professor, Department of Communication. Dr. Van Dyke teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in public relations, leadership, conflict and negotiation, and intercultural communication. He is also the faculty advisor to the Marist Red Foxes Chapter of PRSSA. (Click for more.)
• Dr. Audra Diers, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication. Dr. Diers is a strategic communication researcher. Much of her work focuses on stakeholder communication -- especially during crises. However, she is also interested in political communication -- particularly, the use of the rhetoric of political violence as a strategic tactic to gain compliance for ideas, perspectives, and policy. (Click for more.)
• Ms. Jennie Donohue, M.B.A., Professional Lecturer, Public Relations. Jennie Donohue is an award-winning public relations professional with more than 20 years of corporate, agency and public/non-profit experience. Over the years she has held various communication positions with industry-leading organizations such as The Kellogg Company and Fidelity Investments as well as top global public relations agencies Golin/Harris and Manning, Selvage & Lee. She joined the Marist faculty in 2010 and teaches courses in organizational communication and public opinion. (Click for more.)

Marist Students
Marist Red Foxes PRSSA President Sabrina Clark and Executive Board 

(Click here for a listing of executive board members.)