Phone: 3333
Email: jwillis@apu.edu
William James Willis, Ph.D.
Chair; Professor of Communication Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Profile
Willis has been chair of the Department of Communication Studies since the fall of 2003. He came to APU from the University of Memphis and the University of Oklahoma where he held endowed professorships in Journalism. He is a former chair of the Department of Communication at Boston College and is a veteran newspaper reporter and editor with newspapers such as The Dallas Morning News.
He earned his B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, his M.A. from Texas A&M University in Commerce, and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
He has authored or co-authored ten books on journalism and the news media and one book on the history of the University of Oklahoma football program. His latest book appears in the summer of 2007 for Praeger Publishers and is called The Media Effect: How News Influences Politics and Government. His last book, The Human Journalist: Reporters, Perspectives, and Emotions, was named an Outstanding Academic Title of the Year for 2003 by the American Library Association.
In addition, Dr. Willis has lectured extensively in Germany, Latvia, and Spain for the U.S. State Department, and was a Fulbright Alternate in 2005. He is married and has two sons.
He earned his B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, his M.A. from Texas A&M University in Commerce, and his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
He has authored or co-authored ten books on journalism and the news media and one book on the history of the University of Oklahoma football program. His latest book appears in the summer of 2007 for Praeger Publishers and is called The Media Effect: How News Influences Politics and Government. His last book, The Human Journalist: Reporters, Perspectives, and Emotions, was named an Outstanding Academic Title of the Year for 2003 by the American Library Association.
In addition, Dr. Willis has lectured extensively in Germany, Latvia, and Spain for the U.S. State Department, and was a Fulbright Alternate in 2005. He is married and has two sons.
Education
Ph.D. - University of Missouri
M.A. - East Texas State University
B.A. - University of Oklahoma
M.A. - East Texas State University
B.A. - University of Oklahoma
Expertise
Communication Studies
Note: This information is current for the 2007-08 academic year. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.
