Terry L. Hapney Jr., Jr., Ph.D.

Dr. Terry L. Hapney, Jr., is a tenured Professor of Public Relations, Advertising, and Journalism in the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications in the College of Arts and Media at Marshall University. He has more than 35 years of professional experience in public relations, print and online journalism (newspapers and magazines), advertising, marketing, radio, and television. Dr. Hapney has 29 years of experience in higher education, including work as an administrator, faculty member, and student newspaper adviser. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Dayton, M.P.A. from Ohio University, M.A. from Kent State University, M.A. from Marshall University, and B.A. from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Hapney's students' classroom work has earned 80 Public Relations Society of America state and regional (six states) awards since 2009. He was named the 2013 Public Relations Society of America--West Virginia Chapter "Educator of the Year" by PRSA-W.Va. For many years, Dr. Hapney served as Director of Communications and Assistant to the President (serving four university presidents)--managing and leading the Office of the President and Office of Communications--at Shawnee State University in southern Ohio. Currently, he coordinates the public relations academic program (MU-PR) at Marshall University. Dr. Hapney's research is published in state, national, and international journals. He has also published, extensively, in local, regional, and state newspapers and magazines, in addition to having thousands of his news stories featured on local and statewide radio newscasts. Dr. Hapney has directed social media marketing strategies and tactics for multiple corporate and nonprofit organizations. He is a founder of and served as the first President (and as a subsequent co-president for two terms) for the Public Relations Society of America--River Cities Chapter, formerly headquartered in Ashland, Ky., serving communications scholars and practitioners in the southern Ohio, northeastern Kentucky, and western West Virginia region.