Cornelia T. (Colee) Splichal, Ph.D. Lecturer, Public Relations

Colee Splichal's past and present help demonstrate that "the writer who is genuinely good at researching information, learning its meaning and communicating that effectively is and always will be needed." She wants students to be so desired, and as faculty advisor to the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), recently accompanied seven of them to the national PRSSA conference in Salt Lake City (Nov. 10-14). The ideas and enthusiasm they brought back to the UM chapter topped even their "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, C-A-N-E-S" cheer at the keynote session.

Before joining the School of Communication in fall 2005, Splichal directed communication for UM's Office of the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Continuing & International Education. She focused on building relationships with prospective students and their families through web and direct-mail campaigns.

Splichal has a master's degree in journalism and communications from the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree in journalism from West Virginia University, and is completing her Ph.D. dissertation on the college adjustment of first-generation college students. She served on the communication faculty at Virginia Tech for four years and also has taught as an adjunct at the University of Florida and the University of Miami. Her newspaper experience includes stints at The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph & World-News, The Roanoke (Va.) Times & World-News (in news and promotion), The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun, and The Miami Herald. She also worked in public relations for three congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives.

She divides time between her campus office and home office, where four terrier-type friends insist on hanging out under her desk, beside her chair, and just around the corner.

Cornelia T. (Colee) Splichal
School of Communication
Frances L. Wolfson Building 4020
5100 Brunson Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Phone: (305) 284-5224
E-mail: colee@miami.edu