Three new hires have joined the UofM Department of Communication and Film this semester.

David Stephens (Ph.D., Bowling Green State University), joins the faculty as Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Media. Stephens earned his MA in Literature from the University of New Orleans and BA in English from Alabama State University. His wide array of research interests include Social Media, Branding, Race, Black Twitter, Cultural Studies, and Popular Culture.

Lauren Johnsen (PhD, University of Missouri), joins the faculty as Instructor of Communication Studies for the UofM’s Lambuth Campus. Johnsen earned her MA in Communication with a focus on Interpersonal Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and BA in Communication Studies and Environmental Studies from Iowa State University. Johnsen’s primary research interests include Interpersonal and Family Communication.

Marty Lang (MFA, California State University, Northridge; MFA, Florida State University) joins the faculty as Assistant Professor of Film. Lang’s film education experience includes time spent at the University of Central Arkansas as assistant Professor of Film with the College of Fine Arts and Communication. During this time, Lang served on Graduate Education Committee and Production/Equipment Committee in Film department, as well as a trainee in the Center for Teaching Excellence’s pedagogy training program. Lang’s areas of focus include Film and Video Production; Screenwriting, Directing and Producing.