Anthony Curtis to Lead Mass Communications Department

Dr. Anthony Curtis' career was born on the day the Soviet communications satellite Sputnik reinvented the world.

His interest in communications began with a Ham radio and has stretched into the Internet era. Dr. Curtis has worked and taught in virtually every communication medium. As chair of the Department of Mass Communications at UNC Pembroke, his experience will come in handy.

"I do have a lot of academic and media experience," Dr. Curtis said. "The advantage to our department is that I have worked and taught in all of these fields."

Dr. Curtis said his job is to take UNCP's Mass Communications programs in broadcasting, journalism and public relations to a new level.

"We can be a magnet in the state and the entire Southeast for students who want to come to top notch programs in journalism, broadcasting or public relations," Dr. Curtis said. "Our goals are to increase interest and enrollment in our programs and to increase course offerings."

Dr. Curtis has written 72 books on communications, computers and outer space. He was an editor of Popular Mechanics magazine before launching two of his own publishing enterprises.

Dr. Curtis taught journalism at Penn State's prestigious College of Communications and practiced public relations at the university. He founded and continues to edit the newsletter Space Today Online at www.spacetoday.org.

UNCP has excellent broadcast facilities and an energetic student newspaper, Dr. Curtis said. These programs offer hands-on experiences for students interested in careers in the media.

"Education in media is all about experiential learning," he said. "We want our students to have the best experiences available and to produce the best products possible."

Dr. Curtis would like to see more broadcast field production with emphasis on documentary work, remote newscasts and special event production. He will also expand into radio broadcasting.

Growing programs is a good thing, he said, and "students have to be at the center of everything we do. For students majoring in Mass Communications, I believe that advising is just as important as teaching in the classroom."

He recently won Salisbury State University's Outstanding Academic Advisor Award.

UNCP's Department of Mass Communications has approximately 100 majors with five professors. Dr. Curtis is teaching public relations, and his wife, Dr. Judy Curtis, is teaching journalism and advises the school newspaper.

Dr. Curtis said he is inspired by his first weeks at the university.

"There is a high demand for classes in Mass Communications among all students," he said. "We are already at the point where we need additional instructors. It's a good sign."

Dr. Curtis received a Ph.D. in mass communications from Union Institute and University, a Master of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Pennsylvania State University.

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