Dr. Paul T.M. Hemenway, Ph.D. - Professor

"
My love of study and exploration of my discipline naturally came together and melded with forays into broadcasting, film and the media—it seemed perfectly natural to take "performance" into the classroom in order to help motivate and educate others.
"

Degrees Held:

Ph.D. in Communication – Temple University
M.S. in Communication – Syracuse University
A.B. in Communication – College of William & Mary
A.A. – St. Petersburg Junior College

Career Highlights:

AP Insight Advisory Committee (2016-current)
Winner (one of 10) in BEA Ignite competition at the 2016 BEA annual convention
Press Club of Southeast Texas, second-place Best Guest Editorial at the 2014 Annual Awards
College of William & Mary Houston Alumni Club Board of Directors, 2010-current
Southeast Texas Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse (SETCADA) Board of Directors, 2009-11
Leadership Beaumont fellow, Class of 2008
Southeast Texas Press Club Board of Directors, 2007-08
International Radio TV Society (IRTS) Foundation fellow; selected participant in three-day diversity workshops with broadcast and entertainment executives, 2007
Editor, Virginia Journal of Communication (Vol. 12: 1999-2000)
Associate Editor, Virginia Journal of Communication, 1996-1998
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation fellow; one of 18 participants in three-day professional development program, 1999
Dow Jones Newspaper Fund fellow; one of 15 participants in three-day professional development program, 1999
President, Virginia Association of Communication Arts & Sciences, 1996-1998
Freedom Forum Leadership Institute fellow; one of 18 participants in week-long professional development program, 1998
National Golden Key Honorary Society honorary faculty induction, 1997
American Red Cross recognition for five years of service, Richmond chapter, 1997
Virginia Commonwealth University President's Award for Community Multicultural Enrichment for "contributions and efforts enhancing principles, goals and ideals of affirmative action, and racial/ethnic and cultural diversity," 1997
International TV Association first place award (in training category) for principal actor in Richmond production company, Metro Productions, for Central Fidelity Bank, 1993
Nominations:
National Speakers Association Outstanding Speech Professor Award (1994, 1997)
Speech Communication Association Program of Excellence Award for the annual VCU Speech Tournaments (1995, 1997)

In which online degree program do you teach?
BS in Communication with a concentration in Communication Studies
Which classes do you teach online?
COMM 2362: Introduction to Public Relations
COMM 4362: Cases & Campaigns in Public Relations
COMM 4370: Issues Management
Why did you start teaching?
My love of study and exploration of my discipline naturally came together and melded with forays into broadcasting, film and the media—it seemed perfectly natural to take "performance" into the classroom in order to help motivate and educate others.
What's the best advice that you ever received?
Follow your bliss.
What qualities make someone particularly successful in communications?
A passion and devotion to the craft.
What do you think is the biggest challenge that people in communications face today?
Too much information, too little time!
What is the one book you think everyone should read?
“Pursuit of Loneliness” by Philip Slater.
Tell us something your students might not know about you:
As a member of SAG-AFTRA, the professional actors’ guild, I have made brief appearances in films with Chris Rock, George Clooney, Tom Cruise and John Travolta, among others. If you get to visit the Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum in Yorktown, Virginia, you can see me in one of the three films that are screening. I play George Washington. But you'll never really get to see me—the film was shot from ground level in the viewpoint of the soldiers in the camps. So, I appear as just a pair of legs (but with great boots!) walking through the fire-lit camps during evening hours.

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