Darlene Natale

Darlene Natale is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). She holds a Ph.D. in Communication Media and Instructional Technology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an M.A., and a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from Point Park University. Prior to UNCP, she taught at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Her research focuses on rhetoric (including propaganda, persuasion, and demagoguery), parasocial engagement, and media history, with a particular emphasis on the recognition and perceptions of native advertising in media. She actively advises the Pine Needle student newspaper, integrating her professional journalism experience into student mentorship. Her academic background bridges theoretical communication studies with practical media production and pedagogy.