Apply Visit Request Donate

Welcome to the Department of Communication

In This Section

Communication Faculty

Jason McKahan
Title	Department Chair, Professor
Email	JMCKAHAN@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Jason Grant McKahan, Ph.D. has taught at Shepherd University since 2007. He has a Ph.D. from Florida State University in Mass Communications. He teaches across the curriculum in digital production, media studies and communication history.

Matthew Kushin
Title	Professor
Email	mkushin@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5361
Matthew J. Kushin, Ph.D. – Matt for short – is an award-winning educator and scholar who has the best job in the world: He gets to think, talk, and teach social media. He is the concentration coordinator of the Strategic Communication concentration in the department. Classes he teaches or has taught include: Social Media, Politics & Social Media, Principles of PR, Strategic Campaigns, Communication Theories, Communication Research Methods, Applied Communication Research, Communication & New Media, Writing Across Platforms, Introduction to Mass Communication, Public Speaking, New Communication Technology. Before joining Shepherd University in the fall of 2012, he was an assistant professor at Utah Valley University.
Contact For	Dr. Kushin’s research focuses on social media, politics, and civic life. He has presented to audiences internationally on the subject via the United States State Department.

Monica Larson
Title	Professor
Email	mlarson@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Monica Larson has taught at Shepherd since 2006. She received her BFA in Design from Syracuse University and an MFA in Web Development and New Media from Academy of Art University. Courses she currently teaches or has taught include Computer Mediated Communication, Advertising & Imagery, Graphic Novel, Game Design, Motion Graphics, Special Effects, and Advanced Internet Technologies. Ms. Larson also coordinates the Department’s Capstone program. During the 90s dot-com era Larson co-founded three high tech firms, serving as VP Marketing and Chief Creative Officer roles. Prior to her entrepreneurial ventures she worked as an Art Director for Robert Rytter & Associates in Baltimore, a full-service design and advertising firm. She continues to take on select pro-bono clients. Professor Larson’s sweet spot is the intersection of design, technology and storytelling.
Contact For	Brand Development, Design, Graphic Novels

Kevin Williams
Title	Professor
Email	kwilliam@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Phone	304-876-5723
Kevin Williams, Ph.D. holds degrees in fine arts and communication, along with a doctorate in the philosophy of communication from Ohio University. His academic work includes media studies and digital media production. Williams has published books and journal articles on music video, Frank Herbert’s Dune, scuba diving, and new technology.

Nader Chaaban
Title	Adjunct Professor
Email	nchaaban@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Nader Chaaban received his BA and MAIS in Communication from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA and his PhD from Howard University, Washington, D.C. Dr. Chaaban has authored a number of articles on various topics, including “How to Work with Students with Disabilities.” He authored three Instructor’s Manuals for different communication textbooks. His recent book, “From Lebanon to Africa and America: My Roots” deals with his struggles in the U.S. as a foreigner and how he finally became successful after completing his education goals. Dr. Chaaban loves working with students, especially those who are new to the U.S.

Patricia Fridgen
Title	Adjunct Professor
Email	pfridgen@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Patricia Fridgen has been teaching Public Speaking at Shepherd University since 2013. She has a BS in Speech Communication from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, and an MS in Communication Studies from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. She has also taught at Penn State Mont Alto and Shippensburg U. Part of her desire for students to develop skills in communicating comes from her past life: raising five children with her husband, and working as a journalist. She encourages anyone with apprehension about taking Comm 202 to follow advice she gave her grandchild, age 7, on trying something new. “Give it a try.”

Karen Gardner
Title	Adjunct Professor for Journalism and Faculty Advisor to The Picket
Email	kgardner@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Karen is an award-winning journalist and Former Feature Editor at Frederick News-Post. She teaches courses in journalism and is faculty advisor to the Picket. Her students learn how to generate story ideas, do interviews, write and edit stories, publicize them on social media, and illustrate them. She also does freelance writing for local and regional magazines, both online and print, specializing in health, outdoors, recreation, environmental, home, historical, and garden stories.

Cecelia Mason
Title	Adjunct Professor
Email	cmason@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Currently a staff writer and photographer for Shepherd University¹s Office of University Communications, Ms. Mason teaches COMM 343 News Practicum. Her background includes 23 years experience as a reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Eastern Panhandle Bureau Chief from 1991-2014. She also hosted an interview show, Jefferson Agenda, locally on cable channel 10 for many years. Prior to that Ms. Mason worked in commercial radio and television in Lawton, Oklahoma; Wichita Falls, Texas; Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is currently a member of the Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting board.

Mike McGough
Title	General Manager WSHC and Communication Adjunct
Email	mmcgough@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Mike McGough began teaching at Shepherd University in Spring 2015 and has taught Public Speaking, Introduction to Mass Media, Radio Practicum and Media Management. Prior to joining SU, he taught at Penn State University-University Park and the University of Dayton. Mike earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign and his master’s degree from Mountain State University. His career in media spans more than 50 years, including 32 years as a general manager of radio and television properties. At Shepherd, Mike also serves as general manager of university radio station 89.7 WSHC-FM.

Sherri Messerli
Title	Adjunct Professor
Email	SMESSERL@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Sherri Messerli has been an adjunct at Shepherd University since 2008. She received her undergraduate degree from Shepherd and her Master’s in Communication Studies from West Virginia University. Sherri is a retired member of the WV Air National Guard where she served as Education and Training superintendent. Along with teaching COMM 202, Fundamentals of Speech, she is the coordinator of the adjuncts for the fundamentals sections.

Cheryl Reilly
Title	Adjunct Professor
Email	cglazier@shepherd.edu ( Email )
Cheryl Reilly earned her Master of Arts in Communication Studies from West Virginia University, Master of Science in Middle School Education from Shenandoah University with certifications in Reading, English and Social Studies, and a Bachelor of Science from Shepherd in Business with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. She has taught at Shepherd in the Communications Department from 1996-1999 with a long break to pursue her career in public school education and raise a family, and fondly returned to Shepherd in 2014. She currently teaches 8th grade English and Reading and has submitted her first book, a memoir focused on childhood norms to later creating norms as an adult, which will be published in the coming year.