R. IVAN PINNELL

R. Ivan Pinnell, Ph.D., is chair of the Public Relations sequence (1989–present). He served as Associate Dean (1991–2007) and Director of Graduate Studies (2001–2007). His education includes: Ph.D., Human Communication, University of Denver. 1984. Dissertation: “The Relationships Between Locus of Control, Communication Apprehension, Power Orientations and Leadership Styles;” M.A., Political Science, Jacksonville State University. 1973; B.S., Journalism, West Virginia University. 1965; A.A., Potomac State College, 1963.

As the School’s 2005 Teacher of the Year, Dr. Pinnell has more than 20 years of extensive teaching experience at the college/university level in traditional and non-traditional institutions, including full-time at West Virginia University, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Defense Information School, plus part-time at National College (Colorado Springs Branch) and Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis. Courses taught include public relations, communication studies, business, technical writing, political science and international relations.

Dr. Pinnell is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (1968–1989), who served in a variety of leadership and supervisory responsibilities over personnel, budgets and other resources. During his military career Dr. Pinnell held various infantry, operations and public affairs positions throughout the world, including Vietnam, Panama, Germany and across the United States. His last assignment was Director of Operations for Public Affairs Office of U.S. Space Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs, CO, 1986–1989.

He is a member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Public Relations Society of America, Society of Environmental Journalists and Western Social Sciences Association. As a member of PRSA, Dr. Pinnell serves on the PRSA Academic Certification Committee (certifies college/university PR programs) and the PRSA Bateman Competition Review Committee (reviewing the annual Bateman competition) and the PRSA Educators Academy. He is also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Recent research includes: “Why PR? Why, How and When Students Choose to Major in PR,” a presentation at the Western Social Sciences Association Conference in 2007: “A Longitudinal Content Analysis of Violence, Sex and Drugs in Country Music,” a paper/presentation at the Western Social Sciences Association Conference in 2006; “National Environmental Services Center Initiates a Social Marketing Project: Survey Results Lead to Program Recommendations,” a presentation, based on MSJ project by Kathy Jesperson, at the Western Social Sciences Association Conference in 2005; “The Effects of Positive and Negative Framing on Seven American Newspapers During the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and the Iraq War in 2003,” a presentation, based on MSJ thesis by Davin White, at the Western Social Sciences Association Conference in 2004; and has served as a Memorial Day guest speaker at the Memorial Day services in Ravenswood, W.Va. Pinnell has conducted public relations training seminars for the West Virginia Municipal Officials & Assistants Seminar, the West Virginia Auditor's Office, the West Virginia University Local Government Leadership Academy Conferences, the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services Leadership Training Program and the County Commissioners' Association of West Virginia.