青楼传媒

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FACULTY AND STAFF

Brad Mello

Title:Professor
Office:Warde Academic Center
Phone:773-298-3372
Email:mello@sxu.edu
Department:Communication

Biography

Brad Mello, Ph.D., is a professor of communication at 青楼传媒 (青楼传媒) in Chicago. He received his bachelor鈥檚 degree in telecommunications in 1985 and master鈥檚 degree in speech communication in 1987 from Penn State University. He completed his doctorate in communication at the University of Oklahoma in 1993. During his doctoral studies, his area of emphasis was political communication and media studies, which has guided various teaching and research interests, most often, the study of political cartoons and teaching various media history, theory and criticism courses.

Upon completing his doctoral work in 1993, Mello spent 13 years at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he chaired both the communication department and social sciences division. Additionally, he served as faculty co-chair of Trinity's Middle States Self-Study Reaccreditation Team, where he learned the challenges and benefits of a peer review accreditation process. Mello also created Trinity's master鈥檚 program in communication, aimed at adult learners working in the D.C. area seeking career advancement.

In 2008, Mello joined the National Communication Association (NCA) as the associate director for Educational Initiatives and subsequently as the associate director for Academic and Professional Affairs. During his time at NCA, he led a successful effort to obtain a grant of $588,000 from the Lumina Foundation to support NCA's Learning Outcomes in Communication project, which identified what students in communication should know and be able to do upon graduation.

In the fall of 2014, Mello returned to the classroom to once again work with a dynamic group of students at Saint Xavier. While at 青楼传媒, he has led efforts to revamp the communication major and create new programs in film and media studies and an online degree completion program in applied communication for working adults. Mello continues to write in the area of political communication with an emphasis on editorial cartooning, also collaborating with colleagues on issues of teaching and learning in communication.


Education

Ph.D. in Communication
University of Oklahoma

M.A. in Speech Communication
Penn State University

B.A. in Telecommunications
Penn State University

Areas of Specialization

Political Rhetoric and Media


Courses Taught

  • COMM 101: Public Speaking
  • COMM 200: Perspectives on Human Communication
  • COMM 207: Sports Communication
  • COMM 211: Intro to Mass Communication
  • COMM 227: Political Communication
  • COMM 244: Intro to Public Relations
  • COMM 256: Queer Cinema
  • COMM 313: Persuasion
  • COMM 324: Senior Seminar I
  • COMM 333: Communication Topics and Problems
  • COMM 365: Internship
  • COMM 369: Senior Seminar II

Grants

Lumina Foundation Grant No. 8692, $588,600.  Principle investigator and project director, 鈥淏ridging the Degree Qualification Profile and Tuning Project Using the Communication Discipline. The grant funded a three-year project designed to develop student learning outcomes for the communication major and investigate how communication can contribute to overall degree quality regardless of major. Read more about the .


Presentations/Publications/Productions

Publications

"Revisiting Public Speaking as a Liberal Art at Hispanic-Serving Institutions." The Routledge Handbook of Public Speaking Research and Theory. Edited by Stevie Munez, et al, co-authored by Cyndi Grobemeier.

鈥淭eaching Communication in a Pandemic and Post-Pandemic World.鈥 Post Pandemic Pedagogy. Edited by Joseph Valenzano, with co-author and colleague, Cyndi Grobmeier.

鈥淐lifford K. Berryman (1869 鈥 1949).鈥 Encyclopedia entry in American Political Humor: Masters of Satire and Their Impact on U.S. Policy and Culture.

鈥淛ay Norward 鈥溾檌ng鈥 Darling (1876 - 1962).鈥 Encyclopedia entry in American Political Humor: Masters of Satire and Their Impact on U.S. Policy and Culture.

鈥淗erbert 鈥淗erblock鈥 Block (1909 - 2001).鈥 Encyclopedia Entry in American Political Humor: Masters of Satire and Their Impact on U.S. Policy and Culture.

鈥淏asic course strength through clear learning outcomes and assessment.鈥 Basic Course Communication Annual, Forum Section, (2016 鈥 Volume 28).

鈥淎ssessment and NCA鈥檚 Student Learning Outcomes鈥.  Communication Education, (2016), 65:4, 485-487, with Cindy White, Trisha Hernandez and Betsy Bach.

鈥淢easuring College Learning in Communication,鈥 with Nancy Kidd, Trevor Parry-Giles, Steven Beebe.  Book chapter. Improving Quality in American Higher Education: Learning Outcomes and Assessments for the 21st Century (2016).

鈥溾 (2015).

鈥淣CA Program Review Standards: Background, Application, and Data.鈥 Communication Education (2011), 60:3, 279-295, with Phil Backlund, Betsy Bach, Claire Procopio, and Deirdre Johnson.

鈥淢edia Convergence.鈥 William F. Eadie (Ed.).  21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook (2009).

鈥淧olitical Cartooning in the 21st Century: A Changing and Dynamic Future.鈥 Critical Studies in Media Communication (2007), 24:1, 78-80.             

鈥淨uick communicators: Editorial cartoonists in communication overdrive.鈥 Communication Yearbook.  CA: Sage. 1998.

鈥淓thics Speech Assignment.鈥 Speech Communication Teacher.  Washington, DC: National Communication Association, (Fall, 1998).

Book Reviews

The Business of Media by David Croteau and William Hoynes. Reviewed in The Southern Journal of Communication. (Spring, 2003).

by Arthur Asa Berger. (April, 2002).

Presentations

鈥淒eveloping Meaningful, Operational Learning Outcome Statements.鈥 Panel Speaker. Assessment Institute, Indianapolis, Ind. (November 2015).     

Maryland Communication Association Annual Conference. Keynote Speaker. (October 2008).        

50th anniversary of the 25th Mission of the B-17 Memphis Belle. Speaker. National Archives, Washington, D.C. (May 17, 1993).

Scholarly Presentations

鈥淎pocalyptic Rhetoric in 鈥楧on鈥檛 Look Up.鈥欌 Competitive Paper Panel on Apocalyptic Rhetorical, Popular Culture Association Convention, Chicago, Ill., with Matthew Costello, Diego Espi帽a-Barros, Christine Fojtik (April 2023).

鈥淟iterature, Politics, and Society: Altern(narr)ative Realities in a Post-Truth Era. Ann Telnaes. Trump: Pushing the envelope of propriety in editorial cartooning.鈥 Competitive Paper Panel, Popular Culture Association Convention, San Antonio, Texas, with colleagues Matthew Costello, Diego Espi帽a-Barros, Christine Fojtik (April 2023).

鈥淎ssessing Excellence in the Basic Course: Re-Connecting the Goals of Faculty and Administrators.鈥  Presentation with Dakota C. Horn, Mal Jason, Malynnda Johnson, Katie Marie Lever, and Elizabeth Ribarsky.  Competitive Panel sponsored by The Basic Course Interest Group and Undergraduate Education and Administration Section. Central States Communication Association Conference, Madison, Wis. (April 2021).

鈥淗onest Assessment of Underprepared Students: Guiding the Ethically Perplexed to a Practical Paradigm.鈥 Presentation with Leslie Reynard and Audrey Allison to be delivered for the American Association of Colleges and Universities General Education and Assessment Conference, San Francisco, Calif. (February 2019).

鈥淥nline Political Communication Ethics Discussion.鈥 Presentation delivered for the GIFTS (Great Ideas for Teachers of Student) program at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Dallas, Texas. (November 2017).

鈥淭he Capstone Experience, A Celebration of Legacies.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Dallas, Texas. (November 2017). 

鈥淯sing VALUE and Tuning to Improve Assessment.鈥 Presentation with Cyndi Grobmeier and David Marshall at the IUPUI Assessment Institute, Indianapolis, Ind. (October 2017).

鈥淟earning Outcomes in Communication: Alignment and Local Implementation.鈥 Panel participant at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Philadelphia, Pa. (November 2016).

鈥淐ommunication鈥檚 Civic Calling to Improve Higher Education: Using Your Disciplinary Expertise to Improve Assessments throughout Your Campus.鈥 Panel participant at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Philadelphia, Pa. (November 2016). 

鈥淎rticulating Communication's Civic Callings through an Assignment Design Charrette Process.鈥 Panel participant at the annual National Communication Association convention, Philadelphia, Pa. (November 2016).

鈥淏asic Course Top Panel: The Basic Communication Course Annual Forum: A SWOT Analysis of the Basic Course.鈥 Panel participant at the annual National Communication Association convention, Philadelphia, Pa. (November 2016).

鈥淒emonstrating Educational Quality Using the DQP and Tuning.鈥 Panel participant at the annual Higher Learning Commission Annual meeting, Chicago, Ill. (April 2016).

鈥淎ssignment Design as a Hot Spot for Faculty and Institutional Collaboration: Lessons from NILOA鈥檚 Work with the DQP and Tuning.鈥 Panel participant at the annual American Association of Colleges and Universities Annual meeting, Washington, D.C. (January 2016).

鈥淟earning Outcomes in Communication: Assignment Workshop.鈥 Panel participant at the annual National Communication Association convention, Las Vegas, Nev. (November 2015).

鈥淭he Past, Present and Promising Future of the Undergraduate Capstone Course at Small Colleges and Universities.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 2015).

鈥淟earning Outcomes in Communication Projects.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 2015).

鈥淭he Presence of General Education Assessment: Identifying and Maintaining Our Role as Communication Experts in the Process.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 2015).

鈥淭eaching Assessment and Evaluation: Exploring Methods of Convergent Cultures, Business and Educational Institutions.鈥 Presentation delivered at the Annual Central States Communication Association convention, Madison, Wis. (April 2015).

鈥淒ialogue, Diversity and Discourse for the Uninitiated: Engaging Students in Academic Research.鈥 Presentation delivered at the Annual Eastern Communication Association, Providence, R.I. (April 2014).

鈥淏ack to the Future:  Addressing 21st Century Issues and Challenges Facing Communication Teachers.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Orlando, Fla. (November 2012).

鈥淗ow to Integrate Relevant, Engaging Digital Media into Classroom with NBC Learn.鈥  Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, New Orleans, La. (November 2012).

鈥淧rogram Assessment: Involving ALL the Voices in your Program.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, New Orleans, La. (November 2011).

鈥淎re You My Daddy? Exploring Generational Definition of 鈥楧addy.鈥欌 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association convention, San Francisco, Calif. (November 2010).

鈥淚ntegrating Student Learning:  The Capstone Course in Communication.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 2009). 

鈥淟ambda Pi Eta -- Reflecting on the Past and Envisioning the Future: A Fiver Year鈥檚 Out Panel.鈥  Spotlight panel on the future of the Lambda Pi Eta communication honor society. National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 2009).

鈥淭he Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Communication: Stability and Change from Our Early Beginnings to Five Years Out.鈥 Spotlight panel on the future of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 2009).

鈥淪ervice-Learning in Communication: The Impact of a Decades Work and Agenda for Five Years Out.鈥 Spotlight panel on the future of Service Learning in Communication. National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 2009).

鈥淢edia Bias: A Media Literacy Assignment.鈥 Presentation delivered for the GIFTS (Great Ideas for Teachers of Speech) program at the annual Eastern Communication Association Convention, Philadelphia, Pa. (April 2009).

鈥淢arriages, Partnerships and Commitments: Personal, Theoretical and Political Reflections.鈥 Spotlight panel on non-normative relationships. National Communication Association Convention, San Diego, Calif. (November 2008).

鈥淔reedom Fight or Fallacy: Political Cartoonists Imagine the Iraq War.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Boston, Mass. (November 2005).    

鈥淩eaching out to the alternative press: the cartoons of the Washington Blade.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Miami, Fla. (November 2003).   

鈥淐artooning Catastrophe.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, New Orleans, La. (November 2002).      

鈥淔ool or Fibber: Editorial cartoonists weigh in on the 2000 presidential elections.鈥 Presentation delivered at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Seattle, Wash. (November 2000).

鈥淐lintoons.鈥 Media Forum Series. Presented with Robert Content at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 1999).

鈥淭he Ethics Speech.鈥 Presentation delivered for the GIFTS (Great Ideas for Teachers of Speech) program at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 1999).

鈥淒o ask, do tell: Editorial cartoonists weigh in on gays in the military.鈥 Poster session at the annual Eastern Communication Association Convention, Saratoga, N.Y., (April 1998).                                                                                                   

鈥淭he re-creation of the Memphis Belle:  Historical uses of the documentary and docudrama.鈥  Presentation delivered at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, San Diego, Calif. (November 1996).

鈥淕et to know ya, Glad to know ya:  Exercises for the first and last day of the basic course.鈥  Presentation delivered for the GIFTS (Great Ideas for Teachers of Speech) program at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, San Antonio, Texas. (November 1995).

鈥淧olitical response advertisements as apologia: The commercial apologies of Mike Dukakis.:  Paper presented for the Mass Communication Division at the Southern Speech Communication Association Convention, New Orleans, La. (April 1995).

鈥100 Years of Editorial Cartooning: Two Cartoon 鈥楢uteurs鈥 Build Community.鈥 Media Forum Series. Presented with Christine Marley at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, New Orleans, La. (November 1994).

鈥淓ditorial cartoons: Contributions to consciousness and culture.鈥 Media Forum Series. Presented with Christine Marley at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, Miami, Fla. (November 1993).

鈥淧olitical cartoons: Propaganda and Palaver.鈥 Media Forum Series presentation with Christine Marley at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 1992).

鈥淎 Symbolic Healing Occurred in Flint Today.鈥 Paper presented at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, Atlanta, Ga. (November 1991).

鈥淐NN's first month of Gulf War coverage: A content analysis of hard versus soft news.鈥 Paper presented with Joan Bedore, Beverley Dewitt and Garry Noggle at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, Atlanta, Ga., (November 1991).

鈥淩esistance to early change efforts: The AIDS tragedy.鈥 Paper presented at the Sooner Communication Conference, Norman, Okla. (March 1991).

鈥淩econceptualizing the double bind: How males are receptive.鈥 Paper presented at the annual Speech Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Ill. (November 1990).

鈥淭he Rhetoric of Ordinary People.鈥 Paper presented at the Florida State Film and Literature Conference. Tallahassee, Fla. (May 1988).