Associate professor Jessica Gisclair was named the School of Communications' new associate department chair this summer to help accommodate the increasing number of faculty and students in the school.
She will work closely with Department Chair Don Grady to meet the ongoing demands in the school. Grady said she was chosen because of her past service to the School of Communications, her work ethic and her meticulous attention to detail.
“Her addition will enable me to take a more proactive role in helping move the department forward and address new initiatives,” Grady said.
Some of Gisclair’s new tasks will include:
• Participating in the annual faculty review
• Promoting the new Communication Science major
• Coordinating introductory courses, such as Communications in a Global Age, Media Writing and Digital Media Convergence
• Assist current and prospective students
It really is a pleasure to make a contribution by serving in this position because I think we have an energized, motivated, and caring group of faculty and majors,” Gisclair said.
Gisclair has taught at Elon since 2000. She has worked in corporate communications with the Mississippi Power Company, and later in association public relations with the Harrison County Tourism Commission. She has also served as the Public Relations Spokesperson for the Ohio chapter of the American Heart Association.
She’s been a visiting professor at The University of the Netherlands Antilles in Curacao, in the summers of 2006 and 2008, and Southeast University in Nanjing, China, in the summer 2001. Her current research focuses on the ethics of doing business in China and the legal challenges of international copyright protection on the Internet.
Gisclair, who earned her J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law, often teaches the Media Law and Ethics courses in the School of Communications.
“I am particularly excited about working together with colleagues and students on affiliative projects that will support their efforts as life-long teachers and learners, scholars, professionals, and members of the university community,” Gisclair said.