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The newest cohort of Auburn University Research Communications Fellows includes 21 faculty members from across campus. 

The Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development (OSVPRED), in collaboration with the Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM), guides the program, which continues a mission of empowering researchers with the skills and strategies to communicate the broader impact of their work. Formerly known as the Communications Fellows Program, and now under leadership from the research office, the initiative continues to support faculty in career growth, building national and global reputations and enhancing funding opportunities. 

The 2025-26 cohort includes: 

  • Benjamin Bowers, McCartney-Chase Highway Engineering Distinguished Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 
  • Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai, assistant professor, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine 
  • Hao Chen, assistant professor of forest genomics, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment 
  • Beth Davis-Sramek, Gayle Parks Forehand Professor, Department of Supply Chain Management, Harbert College of Business 
  • Christine Feeley, assistant professor, College of Nursing 
  • Amanda Gross, assistant research professor, Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine 
  • Valentina Hartarska, alumni professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, College of Agriculture 
  • Katharine Horzmann, associate professor, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine 
  • Latif Kalin, Clinton-McClure Professor of hydrology and associate director, Center for Environmental Studies at the Urban-Rural Interface, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment 
  • Khari Allen Lee, Walt and Ginger Woltosz Endowed Professor of Practice and director of Commercial Music, Department of Music, College of Liberal Arts 
  • David Marshall, associate professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, College of Education 
  • Julianne McGill, assistant clinical professor, Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Human Sciences 
  • Panagiotis Mistriotis, assistant professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 
  • Andrew Pendola, associate professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, College of Education 
  • Clint Penick, assistant professor, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture 
  • Michael Perez, Brasfield & Gorrie Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 
  • Katherine Rush, assistant professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences and Mathematics  
  • LaDonna Thornton, associate professor and Dean's Fellow, Department of Supply Chain Management, Harbert College of Business 
  • Shea Tillman, professor, School of Industrial and Graphic Design, College of Architecture, Design and Construction 
  • Jia Wu, assistant professor, Department of Consumer and Design Sciences, College of Human Sciences 
  • Morgan Yordy, associate professor, College of Nursing 

What's ahead

From November through April, the cohort will engage in monthly sessions covering the essentials of good storytelling and media relations, as well as best practices in social media, photo, video and more. These sessions will be led by campus experts and designed to help faculty communicate with the general public. 

By the end of the program, the fellows will be equipped to share their research with broader audiences and continue working with their college communications teams and OCM to amplify the impacts of their work. 

To learn more about the program, visit the Auburn Research Communications Fellows Program website.