The College of Journalism and Mass Communications welcomes two new faculty to the team this fall. Joining us are Associate Professor of Sport Promotion, Betsy Emmons and Assistant Professor of Practice in Journalism, Leslie Klein.
Betsy Emmons
This fall, Emmons will teach a news and promotion sports writing class and a course in public relations planning and strategy. She is active in PRSA and AEJMC's sports communication interest group. Her research interests include social media in sports, sports journalism, and public relations.
Previously, Emmons taught at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, first as an adjunct professor from 2001 to 2013 in the Department of Media and Communication. In 2013, she joined the department as an assistant professor, and from 2017 to 2023, she served as the vice chair. In 2020, she was named associate professor.
Prior to her academic career, Emmons spent seven years working in PR and advertising in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and Birmingham, including in the sports, travel, non-profit and health care industries.
Leslie Klein
Klein recently received her Ph.D. in Mass Communication, with concentrations in Journalism, from the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
This fall, Klein will instruct the college's introductory course, JOMC 101: Principles of Mass Media. She'll also teach undergraduate courses in fundamental editing and reporting, visual communications and JOUR 348: The Real World I—the college's fellowship program with the Omaha World-Herald that provides emerging journalists with the chance to learn from working journalists and apply for a coveted fellowship with the organization.
Klein will also serve as the Nebraska High School Press Association's executive director, working with Nebraska high school teachers to strengthen scholastic journalism.
Klein's research explores the intersection of media law and scholastic journalism. She aims to use her research to advocate for student speech and press rights. Before returning to school for her master's, she taught high school English, yearbook, and journalism for four years.
