Sharon S. Smith, Ed.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Speech & Theatre
P. O. Box 43, MTSU
Murfreesboro, TN  37132
Office phone: 1-615-898-5601
Email: sssmith@mtsu.edu

Date of Last Promotion: 8/1/95
Years of Experience at MTSU: 25 years (August 1983 to present)
Date Tenure Received: 7/1/90
 

Education
 
    Doctor of Education, 1989, Vanderbilt University, General Administrative Leadership

     Master of Science, 1979, University of Tennessee, Mass Communication and Administration

  Bachelor of Science, 1972, East Tennessee State University, English and Journalism

    Summerville High School, South Carolina, 1968
 

Courses Taught

In Speech & Theatre:

In Mass Communication:

Professional Background

1979-1983: Information Officer at Vanderbilt University's News and Public Affairs Office, Nashville, Tennessee
1977-1979: PR Consultant for Emergency Medical System Cooperative in Knoxville, Tennessee
1975-1977: Director of Public Relations and Volunteers at Child and Family Services in Knoxville, Tennessee
1973-1974: Press Secretary for U.S. Representative James H. Quillen in Washington, D. C.
1972: News Reporter for WKPT radio and TV station in Kingsport, Tennessee

Grants:

Publications

Caton, S. D., and Smith, S. S. (2004). Crisis communication: A critical analysis of tactics, processes, and theoretical context utilized at MTSU during the 2002 budget impasse. The McNair Research Review, 2 (Summer), p. 60-67.

Smith, S. S., Gilbert, J., and Simerly, G.  (2002).  Maximizing discussion: connecting with your online students.  Proceedings of the Association for Business Communication's Southeast Regional Conference, p. 25-30.

Smith, S. S. (2000). Employee information sources. Proceedings of  the Association for Business Communication’s Canadian, Eastern, and Southeastern Joint Regional Conference, p. 247-250.

Wyatt, R. O., Smith, S. S., and Andsager, J. L. (1996).  Spanning the boundaries:  support for media rights among public relations practitioners, journalists and the public.  Journal of Public Relations Research, 8(2), p. 123-135.


Presentations

Sharon Smith.  "Building Community Partnerships through ORCO 4500 Senior Capstone in Organizational Communication," accepted for presentation at the joint conference of the Tennessee Communication Association and the Kentucky Communication Association, September 2008, Montgomery Bell State Park, TN.

Janet McCormick, Sharon Smith, and Deana Raffo.  "Experiential Learning in Organizational Communication and Leadership," poster presented at MTSU Scholars Week, April 2008. 

Sharon Smith.  "Students in Event Planning and Research Classes Learn by Doing," presentation at the annual conference of the Tennessee Communication Association, September 2007, Murfreesboro, TN.

Sharon Smith, Lisa Moore, and Janet McCormick.  "Getting Students Out of the Classroom: Experiential Learning in Communication Classes," poster session, CLA Showcase (College of Liberal Arts), February 2006, at MTSU.

Sharon Smith and Greg Simerly.  "Senior Exit Surveys and Focus Groups as Assessment Tools," paper presented at the annual conference of the Tennessee Communication Association, September 2005, Gallatin, TN.

Sharon Smith and Greg Simerly.  "Assessing the Need for Employee Communication Training," paper presented at the annual conference of the Tennessee Communication Association, September 2005, Gallatin, TN.

Greggory Simerly, Sharon Smith, and Jackie Gilbert.  "Maximizing Discussion: Connecting with Your Online Students," paper presented at the annual conference of the National Communication Association, November 2004, Chicago, Illinois.

Greggory Simerly, Lisa Moore, and Sharon Smith.  "High School Debate Coach Perceptions of an 'All-Girl' Debate Camp," paper presented at the annual convention of the National Communication Association, November 2004, Chicago, Illinois.

Greggory Simerly, John Schweri, and Sharon Smith.  "Using Intercollegiate Debate to Teach Effective Business Communication Skills," paper presented at the annual convention of the National Communication Association, November 2003, Miami Beach, Florida.   

Greg Simerly and Sharon Smith.  "Using Debate to Teach Effective Business Communication," paper presented at the annual conference of the Tennessee Communication Association, September 2003, Murfreesboro, TN.

Greggory Simerly, John Schweri, and Sharon Smith. "A Rationale for Using Intercollegiate Debate as a Method for Teaching Effective Business Communication Skills," paper presented at the Association for Business Communication's West and Southeast Joint Regional Conference, March 2003, New Orleans, LA.

Sharon S. Smith and Greg Simerly.  "Maximizing Discussion:  Connecting with Your Online Students," paper presented at the annual conference of the Tennessee Communication Association, September 2002, Murfreesboro, TN.

Robbie Melton, Carol Puryear, John St. Clair, Jackie Gilbert, and Sharon Smith. "Regents Online Degree Program", presentation at the Mid-South Instructional Technology Conference, April 2002, Murfreesboro, TN. 

Sharon S. Smith, Greg Simerly, and Jackie Gilbert. "Maximizing Discussion: Connecting with Your Online Students," paper presented at the Association for Business Communication's Southeast Regional Conference, April 2002, Savannah, GA.

Sharon S. Smith and Lisa Moore. "Turf Wars and Teamwork," paper presented at the TAASLP Joint Annual Convention, October 2001, Franklin, TN.

Sharon S. Smith. "Employee Information Sources," paper presented at the Association for Business Communication’s Canadian, Eastern, and Southeastern Joint Regional Conference, March 2000, Nashville, TN.

Sharon S. Smith and Dennis Oneal. "The Perfect Professor: A Consumer Report," paper presented at the March 1999 Lilly South Conference, Athens, GA.

Robert O. Wyatt and Sharon S. Smith. "Spanning the Boundaries:  Support for First Amendment Rights Among Public Relations Practitioners, Journalists, and the Public," paper presented at the August 1993 AEJMC Convention, Kansas City, MO.


Professional Memberships

Web site last updated 07/25/2008.