As a new academic year begins, The University of Alabama’s College of Communication & Information Sciences is welcoming its largest group of new faculty in recent years. Fourteen educators, researchers and industry professionals are joining the college this fall, bringing expertise that spans journalism, advertising and public relations, communication studies and library and information studies. Together, they represent an investment in the future of the college by expanding research, strengthening academic programs and creating new opportunities for students both inside and outside the classroom.
Arriving from institutions and organizations across the country, the new faculty bring a diverse range of academic, professional and creative experiences. As they begin teaching, conducting research and mentoring students, they will contribute fresh perspectives while advancing the college’s commitment to excellence in education, scholarship and service.
“We are thrilled to welcome these amazing scholars, artists and educators,” said Dean Brian Butler. “Working with colleagues and students across the college, they bring new expertise, experience and perspectives to our mission of unleashing the power of communication and information to address critical societal issues and make the world better for everyone.”
Together, these new faculty members represent a broad range of disciplines, research interests and professional expertise. Learn more about the educators and scholars joining each department across C&IS this fall.
Advertising and Public Relations
Jackie Paulsen’s career has been defined by using strategic communication to help organizations grow and communities thrive. Her work includes award-winning campaigns for national brands as well as marketing initiatives supporting organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children’s Miracle Network, City of Hope and the USO. She has been recognized by the Webby Awards, Telly Awards, ADDYs, Golden Trumpet Awards and Landy Awards, while her current graduate research at UA explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping communication strategy. In the classroom, Paulsen combines real-world experience with a commitment to helping students build strong portfolios, professional networks and successful careers.
Dr. Mimi Perreault (Assistant Professor)
Helping communities communicate during times of crisis is at the heart of Dr. Mimi Perreault’s work. She explores how journalists, emergency managers and strategic communicators collaborate to deliver trustworthy information when it matters most, with research spanning disaster journalism, crisis communication and community resilience. Through experiential learning and industry partnerships, Perreault equips students with the skills to navigate complex information environments and support communities during times of uncertainty.
Keelie Segars joins APR after more than 25 years leading integrated marketing communications, brand strategy and campaign development for national brands, nonprofits and state agencies. Her award-winning work has been recognized by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and includes campaigns for clients such as Mohawk Flooring, Char-Broil, Krispy Kreme and Go Build Alabama. Drawing on decades of agency leadership, Segars brings a practical, client-centered approach to the classroom, where she is committed to mentoring students through hands-on learning, career preparation and real-world industry connections.
Communication Studies
Kylie Falcione (Assistant Professor)
Kylie Falcione works at the intersection of communication, neuroscience and psychology to better understand how technology affects the mental health and well-being of teens and young adults. Her research addresses problematic media use and digital wellness, with work published in leading journals including JAMA Network Open and NeuroImage. Beyond the classroom, Falcione collaborates with industry leaders, policymakers and educators to translate research into practical guidance while providing students with hands-on research and professional development opportunities.
Dr. Mackenzie Pike (Instructor)
Dr. Mackenzie Pike studies the everyday conversations that shape relationships, identity and decision-making, with a particular focus on interpersonal communication in sports and health settings. Her research explores topics ranging from body image to moral decision-making in athletics and has been published in journals including Communication & Sport, the Journal of Eating Disorders and the International Journal of Sport Communication. At C&IS, Pike is committed to creating a supportive learning environment where students connect communication theory with real-world experiences and develop the skills to make a meaningful impact.
Journalism and Creative Media
Dr. Greg Gondwe (Assistant Professor)
As artificial intelligence reshapes journalism around the world, Dr. Greg Gondwe focuses on what emerging technologies mean for how news is produced, shared and trusted. His research addresses AI in journalism, misinformation, digital influence operations and media innovation, with particular attention to journalists and communities in the Global South. As a Faculty Associate with Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Gondwe contributes to global conversations surrounding AI, digital governance and information integrity. At C&IS, he pairs that international perspective with a commitment to mentorship, preparing students to become thoughtful communicators and leaders in an increasingly interconnected media landscape.
Dr. Gregory Perreault (Full Professor & Department Chair)
Dr. Gregory Perreault believes understanding the future of journalism starts with listening to the people shaping it. His work centers on digital and lifestyle journalism, informed by close relationships with working journalists and his own experience as a freelance reporter. An internationally recognized scholar, Perreault has received a Fulbright-Botstiber Fellowship and a fellowship with Oslo Metropolitan University’s Digital Journalism Research Group, while continuing to write for publications such as Nonprofit Quarterly and CQ Researcher. He uses those connections between scholarship and practice to prepare students for a changing media industry, emphasizing curiosity, adaptability and a commitment to ethical reporting.
School of Library and Information Studies
Dr. Suellen Epps (Teaching Assistant Professor)
Dr. Suellen W. Epps returns to the Capstone with nearly three decades of experience as an educator, librarian and school leader. A graduate of The University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies, her work centers on information literacy, community engagement and the role of libraries in empowering learners and strengthening communities. Now back at SLIS, Epps is committed to preparing the next generation of librarians through supportive mentorship and a student-centered approach to teaching.
Kyle Clark (Assistant Professor)
Kyle Clark studies the book as both an artistic creation and a historical artifact, exploring how bookbinding, conservation and material craftsmanship preserve centuries of culture and human creativity. Before joining The University of Alabama, he spent more than nine years as a book and paper conservator at Emory University and the University of Michigan, where he helped preserve rare and historically significant collections. At C&IS, Clark will draw on that experience to teach book arts while encouraging students to see books as creative works, historical records and enduring forms of artistic expression.
Alexandra Scissom (Instructor)
Alexandra Scissom brings nearly a decade of archival experience to the School of Library and Information Studies, where her work focuses on the intersection of traditional archives and digital collections. She has led projects that expanded public access to historically significant materials, including launching the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s first online oral history repository and processing the papers of renowned biologist and UA alumnus E.O. Wilson during a fellowship at the Library of Congress. At C&IS, Scissom will prepare future archivists to preserve history while making it more accessible for generations to come.
Aurelius Sutter (Teaching Assistant Professor)
Aurelius Sutter pushes the boundaries of contemporary hand papermaking, transforming paper into an artistic medium that captures light, texture and color in unexpected ways. His creative practice includes developing handmade paper that mimics stained-glass windows and experimenting with UV-reactive pigments inspired by bioluminescent organisms. Through his collaborative papermaking initiative, the Swash Zone, Sutter fosters creativity and community while encouraging students to explore the artistic possibilities of book arts through experimentation and hands-on learning.
Wanying Zhao (Teaching Assistant Professor)
Wanying Zhao explores how artificial intelligence, social media and online communities shape public discourse and influence the way people understand information. Using computational social science, network analysis and natural language processing, her research examines topics ranging from political communication to public health while developing new ways to track how information spreads across digital platforms. Zhao joins C&IS with a commitment to helping students and researchers better understand the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly AI-driven world.
Dr. Qin Zhu (Associate Professor)
Dr. Qin Zhu asks a defining question of the AI era: How can emerging technologies advance society while preserving what makes us human? His interdisciplinary work connects information science, AI ethics and education to consider how intelligent systems can promote human well-being, ethical decision-making and responsible innovation. Supported by more than $5 million in external funding, Zhu encourages students to think beyond what AI can do and consider what it should do, who it should serve and how technology can contribute to the public good.
