Biography

After 15 years in the advertising industry, Martha Waitkun joined the Department of Communication Studies at URI in September 2001 as a Graduate Student Teaching Assistant. She was hired as a full time lecturer in the Fall of 2003 with the advent of the new curriculum in Communication Studies. She teaches undergraduate courses in Public Speaking, Persuasion, Interpersonal Communication, Small Group Communication and Communication Fundamentals which focuses on the basic elements of Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking and Small Group Communication.

Most recently, Martha has participated in the Provost’s Grand Challenge initiative, new courses designed for first semester freshmen to explore challenging global issues and problems. These courses are paired with another course which gives the Grand Challenge a multi-discipline approach. Martha’s role in this program has been from both perspectives. She created a Grand Challenge course that looks at the implications of social media, GCH104: Social Media and Civic Engagement, as well as a supporting role by the COM100 classes she taught. Martha was asked to participate in the Davis Grant Grand Challenge Mentoring Program, designed to support new faculty participants in the GCH program.

Besides teaching for the department, Martha is an undergraduate student advisor. She has served as the freshmen Communication Studies advisor at URI’s University College and participates in URI’s annual Freshmen Summer Orientation Program. Additionally, Martha acted as a Student Advisor in Dean’s Office of the College of Arts & Sciences where she advised students from all majors in the college with graduation requirements and auditing as well as troubleshooting and problem solving. Having experience in all aspects of advising, Martha is currently serving as the Communication Studies advisor in University College for Academic Success.