Meet The Faculty
The faculty in the Department of Communication and Digital Studies at UMW integrate research expertise with professional practice in digital media and communication. We maintain active research agendas in digital culture, media theory, and contemporary communication practices, complemented by our experience in digital design, digital storytelling, and multimedia production. This combined expertise shapes our curriculum, which helps students develop practical digital skills while analyzing technology’s role in society, culture, and human interaction.
Full-Time Faculty
Emily Deering Crosby
Rhetorical Criticism, Sports Communication, Popular Culture
Associate Professor
Adria Goldman
Popular Culture, Gender and Communication, Mass Media Theory, Organizational Communication
Associate Professor
Director of the Speaking Intensive Program
Kaitlyn Haynal
Rhetorical Criticism, Environmental Communication, Argumentation, Digital Humanities
Visiting Assistant Professor
Elizabeth Johnson Young
Health Communication, Gender and Communication, Community Engagement
Associate Professor
Associate Director of the Center for Teaching
P. Anand Rao
AI & Education, AI Ethics, Rhetorical Theory, Debate, Public Speaking
Professor
Director of the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts
Sushma Subramanian
Science Writing, Investigative Journalism, Narrative Nonfiction
Associate Professor
Director of the Minor in Journalism
J.D. Swerzenski
Media Production, Software Studies, Digital Literacy
Assistant Professor
Zach Whalen
Creative Coding, Electronic Literature, Game Studies, Digital Humanities
Associate Professor
Department Chair and Director of the Minor in Digital Studies
Affiliated and Part-Time Faculty
Brenta Blevins
Associate Professor of English and Digital Studies
- DGST 101: Introduction to Digital Studies
- DGST 310: Virtual and Augmented Reality
- DGST 395: Applied Digital Studies
Combs Hall Room 329
sblevin2@umw.edu
540 654-5986
Cartland Berge
Adjunct Professor of Digital Studies and Director of the Digital Knowledge Center
- DGST 101: Introduction to Digital Studies
- DGST 303: Digital Media Studies
HCC Room 410
rberge@umw.edu
540 654-5991
Stefanie Chae
Adjunct Professor of Digital Studies
- DGST 101: Introduction to Digital Studies
schae@umw.edu
540 654-1131
Danielle Hartman
Adjunct Professor of Communication
- COMM 205: Public Speaking
dhartman@umw.edu
540 654-1546
Shannon Hauser
Adjunct Professor of Digital Studies and Associate Director of the Digital Knowledge Center
- DGST 201: Tinkering, Making and Hacking
HCC Room 410
shauser@umw.edu
540 654-1355
Lindley Estes-Thomas
Adjunct Professor of Journalism
- JOUR 200: News Journalism
- JOUR 301: Magazine Journalism
- JOUR 380: Practicum Journalism
James Farmer Hall Room 217
lestes@umw.edu
540 654-1546
Pilar Davis
Adjunct Professor of Communication
- COMM 205: Public Speaking
pdavis5@umw.edu
Belinda Robinson
Adjunct Professor of Communication
- COMM 205: Public Speaking
brobins2@umw.edu
John Hines
Adjunct Professor of Digital Studies
- DGST 301N: AI in Society
jhines@umw.edu
Stefan Bauschard
Adjunct Professor of Digital Studies
- DGST 301N: AI in Society
sbauscha@umw.edu
Alan Coverstone
Adjunct Professor of Digital Studies
- DGST 301N: AI in Society
acoverst@umw.edu
Timothy M. O’Donnell
Provost of the University and Professor of Communication
George Washington Hall Room 213
todonnel@umw.edu
540 654-1252
Shavonne Shorter
Associate Provost for Community Relations and Compliance
George Washington Hall Room 113
sshorter@umw.edu
540 654-1213
