Heather Hundley is Professor in the Communication Studies Department at Middle Tennessee State University. She arrived in 2016 from California State University, San Bernardino where she was a Professor of Communication for 17 years. While at CSUSB, she served as an Assistant Dean, Graduate Coordinator, and Teaching Associate Coordinator. She earned her B.A. and M.A. at California State University, Sacramento focusing on media production and media criticism. Her Ph.D. is from the University of Utah where she studied media, culture and society.

In addition to her service on campus, Dr. Hundley served the National Communication Association's Mass Communication Division for 10 years and the Western States Communication Association for 20+ years. From 2010 to 2011 she served as the President of the Western States Communication Association and served as the association's Executive Director from 2014 to 2020.

Dr. Hundley's  areas of teaching comprise media and culture, media history, media law, media production, feminist theories, qualitative/interpretive methods, and visual communication. She has published in journals such as Communication Reports, Visual Communication Quarterly, and Journal of Intergroup Relations among others. Her books include Dangerous Dames: Representing Female Empowerment in Postfeminist Media co-authored with Dr. Roberta Chevrette and Dr. Hillary Jones), Rhetorical Theory: An Introduction (co-authored with Dr. Timothy Borchers), Mediated Moms (co-edited with Dr. Sara Hayden), Views from the Fairway (co-authored with Dr. Andrew Billings), and Examining Identity in Sports Media (co-edited with Dr. Andrew Billings).

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BOOKS

Dangerous Dames: Representing Female Empowerment in Postfeminist Media (co-authored with Roberta Chevrette and Hillary Jones). (2020). New York, NY: Peter Lang.

Rhetorical theory: An introduction (co-authored with Timothy Borchers). (2018). Long Grove: IL: Waveland Press.  

Mediated moms: Contemporary challenges to the motherhood myth (co-edited with Sara Hayden). (2016). New York, NY: Peter Lang.  

Examining Identity in Sports Media (co-edited with Dr. Andrew C. Billings, Clemson University). (2010). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.  

Views from the Fairway: Media Explorations of Identity in Golf (co-authored with Dr. Andrew C. Billings, Clemson University). (2010). Creskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES

“US Teenagers’ Perceptions and Awareness of Digital Technology: A Focus Group Approach” (co-authored with Leonard Shyles, Villanova University). (2010). New Media & Society, 12(3), 1-17.  

“Images of the War on Cancer in the Associated Press: Centering Survivors and Marginalizing Victims” (co-authored with Dr. Jo Anna Grant). (2009). American Communication Journal, 11(4), electronic journal.  

“Transactivism & Postmodernity: An Agonistic Analysis of Transliterature” (co-authored with J. Scott Rodriguez). (2009). Communication Quarterly, 57(1), 35-50.  

“Faces of Cancer: A Metaphoric Analysis of Associated Press Photos” (co-authored with Dr. Jo Anna Grant). (2008). Visual Communication Quarterly, 15(3), 157-169.  

“Communicating Intercultural Dimensions of Masculinity” (co-authored with Dr. Fred Jandt). (2007). Journal of Men’s Studies, 15, 216-231.  

“Historical and Racial Politics: A Semiotic Investigation of the Georgia State Flag.” (2004). The Journal of Intergroup Relations, 31(2), 3-24. (Received 2nd best article for 2004).  

“Keeping Score: The Hegemonic Everyday Practices in Golf.” (2004). Communication Reports, 17(1), 39-48.   “The Evolution of Gendercasting: The Lifetime Television Network – ‘Television for Women.’”  (2002). Journal of Popular Film and Television, 29(4), 174-181.  

“A Night with Skinner, Birdman, and the Nasty Boys: Interpreting the World Wrestling Federation.”  (2000). Communication Studies 298: Cruz, P., Hodgkinson, G., Hundley, H., Ligtenberg, A., Livingston, R., Obenaus, D., Trujillo, N. Qualitative Inquiry, 6(4), 526-545.  

“The Signification of the American Flag: A Semiotic Analysis of Texas v. Johnson.” (1997). The Free Speech Yearbook, 35, 45-55.   “The Naturalization of Beer in Cheers.” (1995). Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 39, 350-359.

BOOK CHAPTERS

 “Sex and the Senior: An Analysis of Older Adults’ Sexual Activity Portrayed in Popular US Television.” Co-authored with Dr. Jo Anna Grant. (2016 ). In A. Hetsroni (Ed.), Television and Romance: Studies, Observations and Interpretations. Nova Science Publishers.  

“Whose Sorry Now?: Sportscasters Falling from Grace, Saving Face.” (2013). In L. A. Wenner (Ed.), Fallen Sports Heroes, Media, and Celebrity Culture, Ch 23. New York: Peter Lang.  

“Mediated Portrayals of Masculinities.” (2013). In A. N. Valdivia (Ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Media Studies: Content and Representation, (pp. 240-262). Oxford, UK: Blackwell.  

“Sex, Love and Romance in the Media: The Golden Girls Display the Myths and Discover the Prescriptions.” Co-authored with Dr. Jo Anna Grant. (2006). In M. L. Galician, & D. Merskin (Eds.), Critical thinking about sex, love, and romance in the mass media: Media literacy applications (pp. 121-139). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.  

“Sex, Society and Double Standards in Cheers.” (2005). J. E. Winn, & S. Brinson (Eds.), Transmitting the past: Historical and cultural perspectives on broadcasting (pp. 205-222). Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.  

“The Naturalization of Beer in Cheers.” (2004). Reprinted with permission in L. R. Vande Berg, L. Wenner, & B. Gronbeck (Eds.) Critical Approaches to Television 2nd Ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.  

“The Naturalization of Beer in Cheers.” (1998). Reprinted with permission in L.R. Vande Berg, L. Wenner, & B. Gronbeck (Eds.) Critical Approaches to Television (pp. 261-271). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

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Presentations since 2007

(2019, February). “The Teaching, Research, and Service of WSCA and NCA Past-President Malcolm O. Sillars.” Western States Communication Association, Seattle, WA  

(2018, November). “Communication at Play in Higher Education Administration:  Embracing Risk and Rising Above Trivial Pursuits." National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT  

(2018, February). “Mindful Involvement in WSCA: Questions, Answers, Suggestions & Advice.” Western States Communication Association, Santa Clara, CA

(2014, February). “Irreconcilable Differences: Feminist Interpretations of The Bride in Kill Bill.” Western States Communication Association, Anaheim, CA   (2013, February).

“Whose Sorry Now?: Sportscasters Falling from Grace, Saving Face.” Western States Communication Association, Reno, NV   (2011, February).

“WSCA 2011 Presidential Address: Power and Communication.” Western States Communication Association, Monterey, CA   (2011, February).

“Democracy Confronts Capitalism: Implications from Sheppard v. Maxwell” (co-authored with Stephanie Gomez, CSUSB). Western States Communication Association, Monterey, CA   (2010, November).

“Demographic Diversity: Exposure Patterns in the Digital Domain” (co-authored with Daniel Trucil, David J. Penyak, Leonard Shyles, Emory Woodard, & Michael Possner). National Communication Association, San Francisco, CA   (2009, November).

“Digital Diversity: Age, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender of Streaming Video Performers” (co-authored with Dr. Leonard Shyles, Dr. Emory Woodward, Brett Lysak, & Michael Possner). National Communication Association, Chicago, IL   (2008, March).

“Golfing with the Girls: Amateurs and Everyday Golf.” Broadcast Education Association Conference, Las Vegas, NV   (2007, November).

“Mixed Messages?: A Feminist Rhetorical Analysis of Golf for Women Magazine.” National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, IL

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2011    Top Competitive Paper in the Communication and the Law Interest Group of the Western States Communication Association Communication  

2005–2006      Awarded Outstanding Service Award, College of Arts & Letters (1 faculty selected from the college)  

2005    Research Grant, California State University San Bernardino  

2004    2nd best article of the year in The Journal of Intergroup Relations for “Historical and Racial Politics: A Semiotic Investigation of the Georgia State Flag”  

2002-2003    CSUSB Club Advisor of the Year (1 advisor selected from approximately 110 faculty club advisors)  

2002-2003    CSUSB Alumni Association “Back the Pack” Award (1 club selected from approximately 110 clubs)  

2002    Awarded Certificate of Special Appreciation at the 8th Annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night, California State University San Bernardino 

2001-2002    University Diversity Grant, California State University San Bernardino  

2000    Young Scholar’s Grant, California State University San Bernardino

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COURSES TAUGHT  

MTSU:

COMM 2200: Fundamentals of Communication

COMM 2100: Introduction to Human Communication

COMM 4900: Internship

California State University, San Bernardino:

Interpretive/Qualitative Approaches           

Introduction to Graduate Studies 

Digital Culture   

Seminar in Mass Communication         

Teaching Practicum           

Media Law       

Media and Culture      

Media History and Institutions 

Visual Communication

Radio Production  

Radio Practicum    

Oral Communication      

Broadcast Management  

Feminist Theories      

Introduction to Masculinity Studies                               

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