Department of Communication
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.