Mary Liz Brooks

Dr. Mary Liz Brooks is an Associate Professor of Digital Business and Communication and the Barbara Petty Professor of Business Communication at West Texas A&M University's Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, Department of Computer Information and Decision Management. She joined the College of Fine Arts and Humanities in 2016 and transitioned to the College of Business in 2023. Dr. Brooks earned her Ph.D. in Media and Communication from Texas Tech University in 2015, an M.A. in Communication Systems Management from Angelo State University in 2002, and a B.S. in Mass Communication from West Texas A&M University in 2000.

Dr. Brooks' research spans several interconnected domains:

• Advertising trends and effectiveness, particularly in emerging media formats like podcasts
• Artificial intelligence applications and ethics in business communication
• Digital communications strategies and social media marketing
• Societal issues in media representation, including LGBTQ+ communities and age diversity
• Agricultural communications and regional marketing
• Pedagogical approaches to teaching communication and marketing in higher education

Her recent scholarly output demonstrates a strong focus on contemporary communication challenges, with particular attention to how the pandemic has reshaped teaching and advertising practices, the rise of AI in business communication, and evolving representation in media. Dr. Brooks frequently employs content analysis and experiential learning methodologies in her research, resulting in publications across advertising, media studies, and communication education journals.

Dr. Brooks has received recognition through various professional certifications:

• Meta Digital Marketing Associate Certification (2022)
• Google Ads Search Certification (2021)
• Content Marketing Certified - Hubspot (2020)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (2020)
• Ethics Certification through the American Advertising Federation

As an educator, Dr. Brooks actively mentors students through thesis committees and capstone projects. She oversees the Buffalo Advertising team, which partners with real clients on marketing campaigns. Her current grant, 'The Chat GPT learning challenges and opportunities of diverse Texan students,' reflects her commitment to understanding emerging technologies in education. Dr. Brooks maintains a substantial advising load, typically working with 10-15 undergraduate students per semester while also serving on graduate thesis committees.

Dr. Brooks serves in multiple leadership roles, including as Head of the Small Programs Interest Group for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and as secretary for the Experiential Learning Division of the National Communication Association. She is actively involved in university governance through multiple promotion and tenure committees and other service roles.