Leslie Rasmussen

Leslie Rasmussen is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Political Communication Minor at Xavier University, where she has been since 2014. She also serves as the Communication Internship Coordinator. Her research focuses on public relations, including political communication, crisis communication, and the strategic navigation of Astroturf attacks and misinformation campaigns. In 2022, she presented her work on Astroturf attacks to the U.S. Department of State's delegation from Pakistan.

Education:

• Ph.D., School of Mass Communication & Journalism, University of Southern Mississippi (2012)
• M.A., School of Journalism & Mass Communication, Texas State University (2005)

Awards: Recognized as Utah Valley University's Faculty Member of the Year (2013) and PRSSA Faculty Member of the Year (2013). Her research has been honored with top paper awards and accolades for innovative teaching methods.

Teaching & Research: She teaches courses on public relations and social media strategies. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in crisis management, political advocacy, and digital media influence.