Don W. Stacks, professor and director of the University of Miami School of Communication Program in Advertising and Public Relations, received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Communication Studies in 1978. Originally from Michigan, Stacks has progressively moved south. After graduating from Northern Michigan University (B.A. in English/Speech, 1971), he spent three years in the U.S. Army as both an intelligence briefer and production specialist. During this time he co-founded the Journal of Applied Communication Research. In 1975 he received an M.A. from Auburn University (Speech Communication).

Stacks taught at the University of South Alabama and the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa, with visiting professorships at the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His primary areas of specialization at the time were organizational communication, persuasion, nonverbal communication, and intrapersonal communication processes. At the University of Miami, he teaches a variety of courses, but, primarily, research methods, public relations administration and management, publication writing and design, persuasion, communication theory, and mass communication in society.

Professionally, Stacks is the author or co-author of six books and more than 60 articles in referred journals. He has presented more than 150 papers at professional societies and has served as chair of several divisions including PRSA's Educator's Academy Communication Sciences Division; AEJMC's Public Relations Division; NCA's Social Cognition and Intrapersonal Commission; and SCA's Communication Theory, Communication Education, and Applied Communication Divisions. Currently, he is directing the Educator's Academy 3rd Annual Research Conference. In addition, Stacks has served on the PRSA "Body of Knowledge" board, chaired the Commission on Public Relations Education research committee, and currently is serving his second tour as the Educator's Academy research chair. Most recently, Stacks was selected to serve on the Commission on Public Relations Measurement. He is also on the Board of the Institute for Public Relations, where he chairs the Academic Affairs Committee.

Stacks has earned several teaching and research awards. Teaching awards include the University of Miami's Professor of the Year Award. Research awards include the University of Miami's Provost's Award for Scholarly Activity and the Institute for Public Relations' Pathfinder Award. He recently was admitted to the Arthur W. Page Society.

In addition to his academic activities, Stacks has consulted for Fortune 500 companies in media relations, crisis management, and internal corporate relations. His current research interests include tourism and hospitality management, crisis management, public relations education, integrated communications, and technology.

Stacks is married to the former Robin Hickson (sister of his primary co-author and co-founder of the Journal of Applied Communication Research). They have three daughters; two currently enrolled at the University of Miami (one in public relations, the other in education) and one a senior in high school.

Dr. Don W. Stacks
Professor
School of Communication
University of Miami
PO Box 248127
Coral Gables, FL 33124
Phone: 305/284-2358
Fax: 305/284-3648
don.stacks@miami.edu