Pete Smudde

Dr. Smudde is most interested in several areas of study in public relations, all based on his unique combination of industry and academic experiences. First, he studies public relations' synergy with corporate strategy, including performance management. Second, he examines corporate message design, especially in cases of managing corporate reputations. Third, he is interested in internal public relations (a.k.a. employee relations). Fourth, he examines leadership and management matters for organizations, especially linked to internal PR. Fifth, he explores pedagogical approaches to public relations that meet academic and industry demands. Dr. Smudde also recently started investigating spirituality in the workplace, and he has his sights on selected topics in the PR field. Specific orientations for his work have included Kenneth Burke, Michel Foucault, Karl Weick, and those from the fields of linguistics, semiotics, composition studies, and business management. Dr. Smudde favors the methodologies of rhetorical criticism and discourse analysis, and he is comfortable working with other approaches that are qualitative or quantitative.

Education

• Ph.D. Wayne State University (1993 — 2000)
• M.S. Illinois State University (1987 — 1989)
• B.A. Illinois State University (1984 — 1986)
• A.S. Harper College (1983 — 1984)

Companies

• Professor & Associate Executive Director, School of Communication Illinois State University (2015)
• Professor & Coordinator, Public Relations Program Illinois State University (2008)
• Owner & President Consultant/Freelance Writer (1998)
• Director, Board of Directors Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention (2009 — 2011)
• Associate Professor of Public Relations University of Wisconsin - Whitewater (2002 — 2008)
• Adjunct Professor of Business Edgewood College (2006 — 2007)
• Part-time Faculty Wayne State University (2002 — 2002)
• Director, Corporate Communications Comshare (1999 — 2001)
• Adjunct Lecturer University of Michigan Business School (1998 — 1999)

Skills

• Strategy
• Leadership Development
• Writing

Other

Communications Planning, Writing Skills, Copy Editing, Fundraising, Research, Newsletters, Technical Writing, Corporate Communications, Training, Nonprofits, Strategic Planning, Event Planning, Press Releases, Publications, Speech Writing, Social Media, Higher Education, Editing, Leadership, Internal Communications, Public Speaking, Media Relations, Strategic Communications, Public Relations