Matthew W. Seeger (born June 17, 1957 in Greenfield,

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

) is a Professor of Communication and Dean Emeritus at

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public university, public research university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 375 programs. It is Michigan's third-l ...

Education

Matthew W. Seeger completed his undergraduate degree at the

University of Evansville The University of Evansville (UE) is a private university in Evansville, Indiana. It was founded in 1854 as Carnegie Hall of Moores Hill College, Moores Hill College. The university operates a satellite center, Harlaxton Manor, Harlaxton College ...

in 1979. Seeger developed an interest in crisis communication while covering the Air Indiana Flight 2016 crash that was carrying the

’s basketball team, the Purple Aces for the school newspaper. Soon after, he received his M.A. in Communication Theory from

Northern Illinois University Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. It was founded as "Northern Illinois State Normal School" in 1895 by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld, initially to provide the state with c ...

. In 1983, Seeger received his Ph.D. in Communication Theory and Research from

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

Career

Seeger was appointed Dean of

’s College of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts in 2011 and served until 2022. Prior to the appointment, Dr. Seeger served as an Assistant Dean of

’s Graduate School, and Chair of the Department of Communication.

Academic interests

His research concerns

crisis communication Crisis communication is a sub-specialty of the public relations profession that is designed to protect and defend an individual, company, or organization facing a public challenge to its reputation. Crisis communication is aimed at raising awarene ...

and

risk communication Risk communication is a complex cross-disciplinary academic field that is part of risk management and related to fields like crisis communication. The goal is to make sure that targeted audiences understand how risks affect them or their communities ...

, health promotion and communication, crisis response and agency coordination, the role of media, including new media, crisis and communication ethics, failure of complex systems and post-crisis renewal. Seeger helped develop the discourse of renewal theory “as a framework that emphasizes learning from the crisis, ethical communication, communication that is prospective in nature, and effective organizational rhetoric." He is the author/co-author of several books, including The Handbook of International Crisis Communication Research; Effective risk communication: A message-centered approach; Organizational communication ethics: Decisions and dilemmas, Theorizing Crisis Communication, Narratives of crisis: Telling stories of ruin and renewal, Communication in times of trouble and Communication and Organizational Crisis. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters. He was the founding editor of The Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (JICRCR). Seeger assisted in the development of the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication framework for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization risk communication guidelines. Seeger also participated in major investigations of the

Flint water crisis The Flint water crisis was a public health crisis from 2014 to 2019 which involved the drinking water for the city of Flint, Michigan, being contaminated with lead and possibly ''Legionella'' bacteria. In April 2014, during a financial crisis, ...

Achievements and awards

National Communication Association The National Communication Association (NCA) of the United States is a not-for-profit association of academics in the field of communication. Organization NCA is governed by the Legislative Assembly, which meets during the NCA Annual Conventi ...

– Member * Central States Communication Association – Member *

International Communication Association The International Communication Association (ICA) is an academic association for scholars interested in the study, teaching and application of all aspects of human and mediated communication. ICA communicates within the association and with oth ...

– Member *Gerald M. Phillips Award for Distinguished Applied Communication Scholarship, National Communication Association, 2017“Gerald M. Phillips Award for Distinguished Applied Communication Scholarship.” National Communication Association, 19 Nov. 2018.
/ref> *Service Engagement Award, National Communication Association, 2015 *Hall of Fame Award, Public Relations Society of America – Detroit Chapter, 2014 *H. A. WICHELNS MEMORIAL AWARD for Speech and Law, National Communication Association 1989

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seeger, Matthew American university and college faculty deans Living people 1957 births