Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Marnel Niles

The recipient of the 2010 “Promising New Faculty” Provost’s Award, Dr. Marnel Niles is an important asset not only to the Communication Department but also to Fresno State. In her first three years as Assistant Professor, she has demonstrated how to convert academic research into campus-specific needs. For example, Dr. Niles is more than just a participant in the university’s First Year Experience program. According to Dr. Nef, Associate Vice President and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, she “has been a leader in the development of the First Year Experience program. While a number of faculty have been involved with this effort, none have been more active or played a larger role. Her enthusiasm has been contagious.” In addition, Dr. Niles has been visibly active on campus with seven presentations and/or workshops and officer positions with the Black Faculty and Staff Association, the Untenured Faculty Organization, and the Arts & Humanities Executive Committee.

Within the Communication Department, Dr. Niles has taught six different courses, including her specialization, “Group Communication.” She has advised a McNair scholar, an A&H Honors Student and for Fall 2010 she will head two sections of students for the course “Communication Special Event Planning.” Students will actually apply real world learning as they help Dr. Niles with her role as Local Host for the Western States Communication Association conference to be held in Monterey Bay in February 2011. In addition to her teaching and service, her research is strong. For example, Dr. Niles is co-editor of Still Searching for Our Mother’ Gardens: Experiences of New, Tenure Track Women of Color (in press with the University Press of America).

The Communication Department is proud to include Dr. Marnel Niles as one of us and takes pride in her impactful academic leadership positions, her caring approach to mentoring, and her valuable endeavors in research. For more information on Dr. Marnel Niles, you may visit her website.