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Dr. Pete Smudde

Professor
School of Communication
Office
Fell Hall - FEL 449
Office Hours
Spring 2020 office hours: MWF 1-3 p.m. and TR 1-2 p.m.
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Research

Biography

My career path did not follow that of a traditional academic. I have 32 years of experience (16 of them in industry), during which I completed master's and doctoral degrees. In 2002 I entered academia full time. I'm also accredited in public relations (APR) through the PRSA. This path has been a great asset to me in my consulting, research, leading students in their studies, and serving the university, the field and beyond.

Current Courses

376.001Media Relations in Public Relations

181.001Public Relations Ethics

378.001Public Relations Management And Research

455.036Research Practicum

378.001Public Relations Management And Research

478.001Seminar In Public Relations Research: Case Studies

402.001Seminar in Rhetorical Communication Research Methods

Teaching Interests & Areas

My teaching focuses on public relations courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The courses would involve everything from the introductory course to writing to strategy to research/scholarship. In all my courses I like to connect the dots between theory and practice because they inform and rely on each other. Also, in the design of my courses, I apply many of the practices and demands of "real world" public relations so students can become prepared for how they will be managed in their jobs.

Research Interests & Areas

Dr. Smudde is most interested in several areas of study in public relations, all based on his unique combination of industry and academic experiences. First, he studies public relations' synergy with corporate strategy, including performance management. Second, he examines corporate message design, especially in cases of managing corporate reputations. Third, he is interested in internal public relations (a.k.a. employee relations). Fourth, he examines leadership and management matters for organizations, especially linked to internal PR. Fifth, he explores pedagogical approaches to public relations that meet academic and industry demands. Dr. Smudde also recently started investigating spirituality in the workplace, and he has his sights on selected topics in the PR field. Specific orientations for his work have included Kenneth Burke, Michel Foucault, Karl Weick, and those from the fields of linguistics, semiotics, composition studies, and business management. Dr. Smudde favors the methodologies of rhetorical criticism and discourse analysis, and he is comfortable working with other approaches that are qualitative or quantitative.

Ph D Communication & Rhetorical Theory

Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

MS Writing

Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

BA English

Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Other Math & Science

William Rainey Harper College
Paletine, Illinois

PRIDE Contribution to Public Relations Education Award for Innovation, Development, and Educational Achievement in Public Relations

National Communication Association, Public Relations Divison
2015

Leadership Initiative, 2015-2016 Cohort

Illinois State University/Provost
2015

Outstanding University Researcher Award

Illinois State University
2014

Outstanding Researcher Award, Humanities

Illinois State University, College of Arts and Sciences
2014

Jamie Comstock Mentorship Award

Illinois State University, School of Communication
2013

Janice Witherspoon Neuleib Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement of the Year by a Tenured Faculty Member

Illinois State University, College of Arts and Sciences
2012

Registered Student Organization Adviser of the Year

Illinois State University, Dean of Students
2012

Outstanding Researcher Award

Illinois State University, College of Arts and Sciences
2011

Excellence Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievement by a Pre-tenured Faculty Member

Illinois State University, College of Arts and Sciences
2011

Excellence in Service Award

Illinois State University, College of Arts and Sciences
2010

Book Review

Smudde, P. Concerning the epistemology and ontology of public relations literature. Review of Communication 4.3-4 (2004): 163-175.
Smudde, P. Cal Swann's Language and Typography. Visible Language 25.4 (1992): 416-420.

Book, Authored

, P. Faithful careers: Integrating the Catholic faith and work. (2021)
Smudde, P., & Courtright, J. Inspiring cooperation & celebrating organizations: Genres, message design & strategy in public relations. Hampton Press (2012)
Smudde, P. Public relations as dramatistic organizing: A case study bridging theory and practice. Hampton Press (2011)
Smudde, P. Humanistic critique of education: Teaching and learning as symbolic action. Parlor Press (2010)
Courtright, J., & Smudde, P. Power and public relations. Hampton Press (2007)

Book, Chapter

Smudde, P. M. (in press). Public relations pros and journalists: A symbiotic, dyadic relationship. In M. Huglen (Ed.), Interpersonal Communication in Multiple Contexts: Representative Anecdotes. Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt.
Smudde, P. M., & Courtright, J. L. (in press). Strategic message design defined: A call for focused organizational rhetoric and communication. In Ø. Ihlen & R. L. Heath (Eds.), Handbook of organizational rhetoric and communication. Malden, MA: Wiley Blackwell.
Smudde, P. M. (2016). Lambeau Field: Stadium-cathedral for the Green Bay Packers & American football. In M. Huglen & D. Johannesen, Eds., Iconic sports venues: Persuasion in public spaces (pp. 121-129). New York: Peter Lang.
Carden, A. R., & Smudde, P. M. (2015). Using your teaching portfolio for career advancement. In B. D. Neff & T. L. Johnson (Eds.), Learning to teach: What you need to know to develop a successful career as a public relations educator (4th ed.). New York: Public Relations Society of America.
Smudde, P., & Courtright, J. Mass media writing in the public relations major. J. P. McHale (EDs), Multimodal media writing: Readings of crafting convergent media messages (Chapter 10, pp. 1-3). Kendall-Hunt (2013)

Conference Proceeding

Smudde, P. M. (2015). Designing a course about internal communication. In. D. L. Remund (Ed.), PRSA Educators Academy 2015 Proceedings. Available at http://www.prsa.org/Network/Communities/EducatorsAcademy/Programming/EAProceedings/#.VmcHd3arTRZ
Smudde, P. Corporate Performance Rhetoric: Essential Balance for Effective Internal Public Relations. K. Yamamura (EDs), 13th International Public Relations Research Conference: Research that matters to the practice. Institute for Public Relations (2012)
Courtright, J., & Smudde, P. A genre perspective on public relations message design. K. Yamamura (EDs), 12th International Public Relations Research Conference: Research that matters to the practice. Institute for Public Relations (2009)
Smudde, P. Toward a virtual public relations world: An introduction to PR practice.. T. McCorkindale (EDs), PRSA Educators Academy 2009 Proceedings. Public Relations Society of America (2009)
Courtright, J., & Smudde, P. Recall communications: Message genre, symbolic charging, and message design. K. Yamamura (EDs), 11th International Public Relations Research Conference: Research that matters to the practice. Institute for Public Relations (2008)

Encyclopedia

Smudde, P. M. (2016). Feedback. In. C. E. Carroll (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of corporate reputation (Vol. 1, pp. 312-314). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Smudde, P. M. (2016). Message design. In. C. E. Carroll (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of corporate reputation (Vol. 1, pp. 448-451). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Smudde, P. M. (2016). Messages. In. C. E. Carroll (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of corporate reputation (Vol. 1, pp. 453-458). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Smudde, P. M. (2016). Noise. In. C. E. Carroll (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of corporate reputation (Vol. 1, pp. 489-491). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Smudde, P. M. (2016). Simulacra and simulations. In. C. E. Carroll (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of corporate reputation (Vol. 2, pp. 747-748). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Journal Article

Smudde, P. M. (in press). Internal Public Relations’ Role with Workplace, Spirituality, and Religion. Public Relations Review. (Accepted for publication October 8, 2021.)
Kaufman, P., Hartman, N., Jones, J., Saripalle, R., & Smudde, P. The Use of Extracurricular Interdisciplinary Project-Based Teams in Higher Education as a Catalyst for Actionable Knowledge. Business Education Innovation Journal 11.1 (2019): 126-136.
Kaufman, P., Hartman, N., Jones, J., Saripalle, R., Smudde, P., Magnuson, R., & Hunter, W.J.F. (2019). The use of extracurricular interdisciplinary project-based teams in higher education as a catalyst for actionable knowledge. Business Education Innovation Journal. 11(1) pp 126-136.
Hayes, R. A., Waddell, J. C., & Smudde, P. M. (2017). Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims: Explicating the public tragedy as a public relations challenge. Public Relations Inquiry, 6, 253-274. doi: 10.1177/2046147X16682987
Hayes, R. A. & Smudde, P. M. (2015). The Incident: Not just another organizational disruption. Journal of Public Relations Research, 27, 416-430. doi: 10.1080/1062726X.2015.1086652

Textbook, New

Smudde, P. Managing public relations: Methods and tools for achieving solid results. Oxford University Press (2014): 356.

Presentations

Smudde, P. M. (2017, January 12). 2015-2016 Assessment Initiative Awards: Improving the student experience at the program level. Panel presentation at the annual Illinois State University Teaching & Learning Symposium in Normal, IL.
Courtright, J. L., & Smudde, P. M. (2015). Celebrating the green corporation or greenwashing it? An epideictic analysis of corporate sustainability reports. Paper presented at the biennial Conference on Communication and Environment, Boulder, CO.
The Incident: Not Just Another Organizational Disruption. National Communication Association. (2014)
Message design for managing corporate reputations: Form following function. Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association. (2012)
“Occupying” space as a way for social movements to speaking as founded in the right to peaceable assembly. Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association. National Communication Association. (2012)
Introduction to web 2.0: The promise & potential of social computing. ISU Katie School of Insurance & Financial Services Social Media Symposium. (2011)
Kenneth Burke & Education. Triennial Kenneth Burke Society Conference. (2011)
Social media, mobile media & new technologies in the classroom. Public Relations Society of America's International Conference. (2011)
Social networking & media in the workplace. ISU Honors Program. (2011)
iFad or teaching tool? Exploring the educational uses of the iPad in the School of Communication. Interactive panel discussion conducted at Illinois State University’s 11th Annual Teaching & Learning Symposium. Illinois State University Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology. (2011)

Grants & Contracts

Assessment Initiative Award. University Assessment Services. Illinois State University. (2016)