Phone: 507-389-5523
Email: amy.lauters@mnsu.edu
Amy Lauters is the most recent addition to the mass communications department. Lauters earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a master's degree in communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Minnesota. She taught at Wichita State University for two years before joining the MSU faculty in 2008. She was also the program director for WSU’s TRIO Communication Upward Bound.
Phone: 507-389-5524
Email: charles.lewis@mnsu.edu
Chuck Lewis is an alumnus of MSU's mass comm program. He began teaching at MSU in 1986 as a teaching assistant while earning a master's degree in history. After earning that degree, he taught full time in the mass comm program for two years before enrolling at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a Ph.D. in mass communication. He then returned to the MSU mass comm faculty and has earned tenure and the rank of professor. His teaching specialties include introductory mass comm courses, basic and advanced reporting, history, ethics and visual communication. Before joining the MSU faculty, he worked as a newspaper reporter, photojournalist and professional photographer.
Phone: 507-389-5801
Email: jane.mcconnell@mnsu.edu
Jane McConnell, chair of the Department of Mass Communications, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Iowa. She has extensive experience in public relations and specializes in teaching public relations writing and research, mass comm ethics and history. She taught in the public relations sequence of the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma for five years before joining the MSU faculty in 2001.
Phone: 507-389-1814
Email: ellen.mrja@mnsu.edu
Ellen Mrja earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication at Minnesota State University, Moorhead. She earned a master's degree and achieved ABD status in journalism and mass communication at the University of Minnesota. She has taught at MSU since 1978 and is a tenured associate professor of mass communications. Her teaching specialties at MSU include mass comm law, history, public relations and broadcast writing. She served as department chair for two years. Before joining the MSU faculty, she worked as a public relations director of promotions and as a radio reporter, producer, director and advertising copywriter.
Phone: 507-389-3299
Email: mavis.richardson@mnsu.edu
Mavis Richardson earned a bachelor's and a master's degree from North Dakota State University and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Minnesota. She has taught at MSU for two years, and holds the rank of assistant professor. Richardson's scholarly research includes coverage of American Indian protest events by various print media. She has public relations and journalism professional experience and teaches introductory mass communication, public relations, ethics and writing courses.
Phone: 507-389-5522
Email: marshel.rossow@mnsu.edu
Marshel Rossow has taught at MSU since 1984 and has earned tenure and the rank of professor. He received an undergraduate degree in technical journalism, a master's in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University, and a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Before joining the MSU faculty, he spent three years as a reporter, photographer and editor at the Fort Dodge (Iowa) Messenger and 12 years as an editor at the Waterloo (Iowa) Courier. At MSU, he teaches introductory mass comm courses as well as basic and advanced reporting, editing, and layout and design. He served as department chair for 10 years. He currently serves as the Director of the Open Studies Program at MSU.
