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Chris Fenner

Biography

Dr. Chris Fenner is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Communication at the University of West Florida. He teaches courses in strategic communication, public relations, interpersonal communication, and popular culture. His work centers on preparing students to solve real-world communication problems through applied learning, curriculum innovation, and professional engagement.

Fenner teaches courses that prepare students to apply communication theory in professional settings. His classes emphasize hands-on learning through experiential projects, strategic problem-solving, and collaboration with community partners. He has developed numerous departmental courses and plays a significant role in curriculum planning and revision for the department’s communication programs.

Degrees & Institutions

Fenner earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication and a master's degree in public relations and advertising from Suffolk University. He received his Ph.D. in Organizational Communication and Public Relations from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Research

Fenner's scholarship explores strategic communication, crisis communication, social media, communication pedagogy, and the impact of emerging technologies on communication. Recent projects have examined artificial intelligence in communication education, crisis communication during natural disasters, and collaborative learning in higher education. He has published in journals including the Journal of Public Relations Education, Explorations in Media Ecology, the Southern Communication Journal, and the Florida Communication Journal. His work has been presented at national and international conferences.

Special Interests

Beyond the classroom, Fenner also serves as co-Chair of the World Conference on Media and Mass Communication, where he helps guide conference programming and supports collaboration among communication scholars from around the world. Within the University of West Florida, he has held leadership roles in curriculum development, general education assessment, and academic integrity. He also has more than twenty years of experience as a speech coach and public speaking consultant.

Keywords: forensic pedagogy, UWF debate and speech program