Assistant Professor; Director, Public Relations; Director, Internships
Heritage Hall 309
(205) 975-5344
Research and Teaching Interests: Public Relations: the Art and Practice; Crisis Management: How To Predict, Manage, and Mitigate; Media Law: Constitutional Law; and Communication: Written, Spoken, and Social Media.
Office Hours: T/TH 7 - 7:45 am; T 12:15 - 2 pm; and by appointment
Education:
- B.A., The University of Alabama at Birmingham
- J.D., Cumberland School of Law
- Ph.D., University of Alabama (area of concentration: communications and political science)
Dr. Shaia practiced law at BellSouth, served as Vice President of Strategic Planning for the Business Council of Alabama, and later was Senior Vice President of Alabama Power, President of the Alabama Power Foundation, and President of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.
She has taught at the college level since 2002 in the areas of media law, public relations, politics and the media, crisis management, leadership, ethics, mass communication, and professional writing.
Dr. Shaia is a frequent speaker on communication, public relations, leadership and ethics, and rights in the workplace. She directs the Public Relations program at UAB as well as the Internship program.
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Research Interests
- Public Relations
- Media Law and Politics, Leadership: Development of leaders, practice, corporate board composition and role
- Crisis Management: Identification and Management
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Recent Courses
- CMST 442 (PR Campaigns)
- CMST 440 (PR Methods)
- CMST 340 (PR Principles)
- CMST 315 (Ethics & Leadership)
- CMST 308 (Media Writing II)
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Select Publications
- Powell, L., Amsbury, J., & Shaia, J.S. (2015). Interviewing: Situations and Contexts, Changing the Game — Online Interviews.
- Powell, L., Amsbury, J., & Shaia, J.S. (2015). Sports and Gender, Chapter 10. In Talking Sports, Kendall Hunt.
- Shaia, J. S. (2004). The Controversy Requirement in Defamation Cases and its Misapplication. The American Journal of Trial Advocacy 28(3).
- Shaia, J. S. & Gonzenbach, W. J. (2007). Communications with Management in Times of Difficulty and Crisis: Silence Explained? International Journal of Strategic Communication 1(3), 139-50.
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Academic Distinctions and Professional Societies
- Birmingham Bar Association
- Alabama Bar Association
- American Bar Association: Public Relations Society of America
- Public Relations Council of Alabama
- International Communication Association
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Student Groups
- UAB Public Relations Council of Alabama
- Public Relations Student Society of America