Newhouse welcomes new full-time faculty members
The Newhouse School will expand and enhance its academic mission with the addition of several faculty members in the 2022-23 academic year. “This diverse group of scholars and professionals will help continue the school’s reputation for excellence,” says Newhouse dean Mark J. Lodato.
Rockell Brown Burton
Associate Dean of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
Rockell Brown Burton is a two-time HBCU graduate with nearly 20 years of experience in higher education as both a faculty member and administrator. A self-described “serial collaborator,” she is committed to establishing pathways and pipelines for marginalized and underrepresented groups in the academy and beyond. She joins Newhouse from Texas Southern University, where she has served as interim dean of the School of Communication for three years. She holds a Ph.D. in communication from Wayne State University.
Anthony Adornato ’99
Associate Professor and Chair, Broadcast and Digital Journalism
Anthony Adornato comes to Newhouse from the Roy H. Park School of Communication at Ithaca College, but he has deep roots in Syracuse. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Newhouse School and spent seven years at local NBC affiliate WSTM as an anchor and reporter. His teaching experience includes courses in investigative journalism, mobile and social media journalism and media for social responsibility.
Nick Bowman
Associate Professor, Communications/Magazine, News and Digital Journalism
Nick Bowman studies the psychology of communication technology and its implications for human communication, specifically examining the impact of video games and social media. He has co-authored two textbooks on mediated communication and entertainment media, and has published more than 125 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He is editor of Journal of Media Psychology and an associate editor of Technology, Mind and Behavior. He joins Newhouse from Texas Tech University. He holds a Ph.D. in communication from Michigan State University.
Keonte Coleman G’03
Assistant Professor, Broadcast and Digital Journalism
Keonte Coleman has deep experience with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. He created the Student Media Analysis Journalism Bootcamp, which helps students analyze the diversity of their media coverage and learn techniques for combatting unconscious bias and discriminatory practices, and produces “Breaking News with Media Leaders,” a Q&A-style show about journalism leadership and DEI practices. Coleman also co-authored the new textbook “A Complete Guide to Television, Field, and Digital Producing.” He’s an active public speaker whose research interests align with various intersections of diversity, journalism, leadership, media and higher education. He joins Newhouse from Middle Tennessee State University. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Faren Karimkhan
Assistant Professor, Advertising
Before joining the academy, Faren Karimkhan worked in the industry, as an advertising supervisor with Payesh Namayesh Parham and as an account executive with DMN Advertising Agency, both in Tehran. She conducts research on integrated marketing communication and social media marketing. She joins Newhouse from Florida State University and has also taught at Cornell University. She holds a Ph.D. in integrated marketing communication from Florida State University.
Hanayo Oya
Assistant Professor, Broadcast and Digital Journalism
Hanayo Oya is a journalist and documentary filmmaker who joins Newhouse from Waseda University in Japan, where she is a researcher. As a Fulbright scholar, she was a researcher with the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked for a number of print and digital media outlets in Japan and produced and directed multiple films, including the multi-award-winning “Boy Soldiers: The Secret War in Okinawa.” She has a solid track record of funded research and extensive teaching experience.
Annabelle Sheehan
Professor of Practice, Television, Radio and Film
Annabelle Sheehan has longstanding experience as an executive in the Asia Pacific and global screen industry. Most recently, she was CEO of the New Zealand Film Commission and, prior to that, CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation. She was also CEO and senior agent at RGM Artist Group, a major Australian talent agency, and head of the Film and Television division at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Her career began in post-production, and she has an extensive list of credits, nominations and awards for her work on feature films such as “Dead Calm,” “Mad Max 3,” “The Piano,” “Fearless” and “Portrait of a Lady.”
In addition, two members of the Newhouse community are now moving into full-time faculty roles.
Erika Schneider
Assistant Professor, Public Relations
Erika Schneider joined Newhouse last year as a visiting assistant teaching professor and now moves into an assistant professor role. She is a public relations scholar who specializes in strategic communication with an emphasis on crisis communication. She investigates how organizations approach crisis responsibility and use communication to navigate crises induced by emerging health issues, scientific topics and (mis/dis)information. She holds a Ph.D. in strategic communication from the University of Missouri.
Rafael Concepcion
Assistant Teaching Professor, Communications/Visual Communications
Rafael “RC” Concepcion joined the school in 2018 as the digital post-production specialist, and now moves into a faculty role. He is an award-winning photographer, podcast host and author of twelve bestselling books on photography, Photoshop, Lightroom and HDR photography.
Additionally, the Newhouse School will welcome a postdoctoral scholar in Fall 2022.
Martina Santia
Postdoctoral Scholar, Office of Research and Creative Activity
Martina Santia holds a Ph.D. in media and public affairs from the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University. Her primary research area is political communication, and she is particularly interested in digital media effects, diversity politics, public opinion and digital platforms. At Newhouse, she will work with Jodi Upton, Knight Chair in Data and Explanatory Journalism, and Lars Willnat, professor of communications, on projects that rely on data analytics to shape accountability, particularly with institutions that hold public trust.