Joshua Scacco

Joshua M. Scacco (PhD, University of Texas at Austin, 2014) is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Communication. Dr. Scacco also serves as a Faculty Researcher with the USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey and is a Faculty Research Associate with the award-winning Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. He specializes in political communication, media content and effects, and quantitative research methods.

Dr. Scacco’s research is focused on how emerging communication technologies influence established agents in American political life, including news organizations and the presidency. He is the coauthor, with Kevin Coe, of the book The Ubiquitous Presidency: Presidential Communication and Digital Democracy in Tumultuous Times (Oxford University Press). His work has been published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, International Journal of Communication, the International Journal of Press/Politics, New Media & Society, and the American Behavioral Scientist, as well as presented at national and international conferences. He has received numerous recognitions, including the Michael Pfau Outstanding Article Award and the Lynda Lee Kaid Outstanding Dissertation Award, both from the Political Communication Division of the National Communication Association as well as the Bill Eadie Distinguished Award for a Scholarly Article from the Applied Communication Division of the National Communication Association.

Before coming to USF, Dr. Scacco served on the faculty at Purdue University, worked in public relations at the state and federal level, and worked for a member of legislative leadership in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as well as a U.S. senator.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) The University of Texas at Austin (2010 — 2014)
• Master of Arts (M.A.) Georgetown University (2009 — 2010)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Juniata College (2004 — 2008)

Companies

• Associate Chair, Department of Communication University of South Florida (2021)
• Associate Professor University of South Florida (2020)
• Faculty Research Associate The University of Texas at Austin - Center for Media Engagement (2012)
• Assistant Professor University of South Florida (2018 — 2020)
• Assistant Professor of Media Theory & Politics Purdue University (2014 — 2018)
• MBA+ Communication Coach McCombs School of Business (2013 — 2014)
• Assistant Instructor The University of Texas at Austin (2010 — 2013)
• Legislative Assistant Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2010 — 2010)
• Teaching Assistant Georgetown University (2009 — 2010)

Skills

• Event Planning
• Fundraising
• Blogging

Other

Political Campaigns, Legislative Relations, New Media, Quantitative Research, Policy Analysis, Grant Writing, Student Affairs, Speech Writing, Political Science, Teaching, Press Releases, Public Policy, Public Relations, University Teaching, Political Communication, SPSS, Higher Education, Social Media, Research, Media Relations, Public Speaking, Editing, Politics, Strategic Communications