Dr. Michele R. Papakie-McCoy

Contact Information: Telephone: 724-357-1401/4411 Fax: 724-357-7845 Office: 435 Davis Hall E-Mail: zkyn@iup.edu Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Dr. Michele R. Papakie-McCoy, a 1993 alumna of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania journalism department, returned this spring as a full-time, tenure-track faculty member. She brings with her 20 years of experience in journalism and public relations, and she is eager to share it all with her students.

 Papakie-McCoy is teaching Writing for Print Media (JRNL 220) and PR Presentation Making (JRNL 491) during her first semester. This summer, she hopes to teach Journalism and Mass Media (JRNL 105) and lead a journalism workshop for high school students as part of IUP’s Summer Honors Program. This fall, she is scheduled to teach JRNL 220, 105 and a public relations class. Papakie-McCoy is also very excited to be designated as the faculty advisor to Lasting Impressions, IUP’s student-run public relations agency.

 Her work experience includes time spent in the following positions: reporter for Gateway Publications; client liaison for a strategic planning company; public relations coordinator for Chartiers Valley School District; public information officer for the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police; adjunct instructor of communications at Robert Morris University; and director of public affairs for California University of Pennsylvania.

 She is celebrating her 20^th year of military service as well. Papakie-McCoy is currently a major in the 171^st Air Refueling Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. Although she has spent her entire career as a traditional guard member (reservist) in Pittsburgh, her service has taken her to at least 12 countries and more than half of the United States. She has served as the unit’s public affairs officer and military equal opportunity officer.

 Papakie-McCoy earned her Master of Arts degree in regional planning at California University of Pennsylvania in 1996 and her Doctor of Science degree in communication and information systems from Robert Morris University in 2002.

 She was recently accepted to participate as a team member in a Rotary Club Group Study Exchange trip to Turkey. She will be spending a month of her summer in Izmir and Istanbul, residing with Turkish Rotary Club members and visiting professionals who share career adventures in journalism, public relations, education, teaching and military service.