Emily Metzgar

Emily Metzgar, Ph.D. serves as Director of the School of Media and Journalism at Kent State University, part of the College of Communication & Information. She assumed this leadership role in 2020, bringing extensive experience from her previous position as director of undergraduate studies at Indiana University's Media School. In her current role, she has spearheaded initiatives focused on student retention, curriculum development, facility updates, and community engagement.

Dr. Metzgar's educational background includes:

• BA in Political Science & French from the University of Michigan
• MA in International Politics and American Foreign Policy from The George Washington University
• PhD in Media & Public Affairs from Louisiana State University

Her research expertise centers on the intersection of media and foreign affairs, with particular emphasis on public diplomacy as a component of national foreign policy strategy. Dr. Metzgar has published extensively on how public diplomacy activities traditionally considered "soft" power actually have significant "hard power" implications. Her work explores the role of media in international relations, particularly examining US-Japan relations through the lens of exchange programs like the JET Program, and analyzing the evolution of public diplomacy from historical perspectives including the Smith-Mundt Act. She has made significant contributions to understanding how digital platforms and social media have transformed diplomatic communication and international engagement.

Dr. Metzgar holds prominent leadership positions in her field:

• President of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (ASJMC)
• Board member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
• Editor of CPD Perspectives, published by the Center on Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California

With her background as a former diplomat, policy analyst, opinion writer, and youth advocate, Dr. Metzgar brings practical experience from organizations including the U.S. Information Agency, National Defense University, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Institute of Peace. Her early career included writing a weekly opinion column on Louisiana politics and producing related podcasts, which informed her dissertation research on state-oriented political blogs. She has led curricular reforms at multiple institutions, establishing new programs including a Media Scholars Program and a BFA in film production.