PhD in Communication

Heather Riddell, 2018

Heather Riddell, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of West Florida, where Heather Riddell’s research focuses on crisis communication, social media strategy, and the role of artificial intelligence in public relations and digital media. Heather Riddell’s scholarly work has been published in journals such as Communication and the Public, Southern Communication Journal, and the Journal of Public Relations Education, and has been recognized with the Chuck Lubbers Award for Pedagogical Research on teaching social media. 

As a graduate student in Strategic Communication, Heather Riddell completed the dissertation “Crisis Communication on Social Media: A Comparison of User-Generated Messages to Traditional Media and Organizational Framing” in 2018. During the program, Heather Riddell valued the dedicated faculty and staff, the support of fellow cohort members, and the opportunity to focus deeply on a specific research area.

Following graduation, Heather Riddell began an academic career as an Assistant Professor, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and advising the department’s social media initiatives. Faculty mentorship played a key role in this transition, particularly in preparing Heather Riddell for the academic job market and interview process.

In addition to research and teaching, Heather Riddell has secured grant funding to support interdisciplinary collaboration, including partnerships with a sports marketing program for multiple years. At the University of West Florida, Heather Riddell also developed the Social Media Communication Certificate and teaches courses such as AI in Strategic Communication for the AI in the Workplace Certificate.

Advice for Current Students:
Get on the job market early and keep a detailed spreadsheet of all applications to stay organized and competitive.