Biographies
Faculty Bios
Ms. Annie Danzi, MFA, Associate Professor
About Ms. Annie Danzi:
Annie Danzi is an associate professor in the Department of Communication. She teaches in the Emerging Media program, including video production courses, scriptwriting, aesthetics, and documentary. She also teaches courses within Leadership Studies. Danzi earned her MFA in Documentary Film from Wake Forest University and her Bachelor’s from George Mason University. She is active in the documentary community, producing her own films, and participating with organizations such as the University Film and Video Association (UFVA), Women in Film and Video Association (WIFV) and Broadcast Education Association (BEA). Danzi has experience in non-fiction television production for Discovery Networks, HGTV, National Geographic, as well as non-profit organizations and universities.
She has a daughter and loves traveling and spending time outdoors.
Dr. John J. Lombardi, Professor
About Dr. John Lombardi:
Dr. John Lombardi is a professor of Emerging Media in the Department of Communication. He earned his degrees from James Madison University (B.S.), Arkansas State University (M.S.), and the University of Tennessee- Knoxville (Ph.D.). He teaches and has taught a wide array of media and communication courses including audio and video production, theory and research, media writing, law, and more. Recently, Dr. Lombardi published a book entitled A Practical Guide For The Mobile Media Content Producer. He is an avid photographer and videographer. Earlier in his career, Dr. Lombardi worked for a variety of media outlets including ESPN, the University of Tennessee Athletics Department, and several local radio and television stations and newspapers.
Dr. Elesha L. Ruminski, Professor, Communication Studies/Coordinator, Leadership Studies
Degrees:
Ph.D., Rhetoric, Duquesne University
M.A., English, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
B.A., English Writing, University of Pittsburgh
About Dr. Elesha L. Ruminski:
Dr. Elesha L. Ruminski (Ph.D., Duquesne University) is a professor of Strategic Communication and chair of the Department of Communication. She also coordinates Leadership Studies and the Communication Leadership Lab, which offers campus and community discussions and supports civic engagement. Dr. Ruminski researches, teaches, and supports facilitation of communication strategies within organizations and communities, including the gendered organizing rhetoric used by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the community identity created by the slogan, "Frostburg--It's Just Cooler Here." In addition to authoring scholarship on a range of communication topics, she co-edited Communicative Understandings of Women's Leadership Development: From Ceilings of Glass to Labyrinth Paths (Lexington Books, 2012). She is involved with various campus committees and is an active steering committee member of the Choose Civility: Allegany County, MD, chapter.
Dr. Sheri Whalen, Associate Professor
About Dr. Sheri Whalen:
Dr. Whalen became the Chair of the Department of Communication Dr. Sheri Whalen the summer of 2015. She has been at FSU since 2008 beginning as a Lecturer in Communication Studies and becoming a faculty member in 2013 in Emerging Media. Currently she teaches Mass Communication Theory, Telecommunications Law, and Writing for Electronic Media. She also taught Communication Theory, Political Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Presentational Communication, Interviewing and the introductory course for Frostburg's Communication Studies Department as a lecturer from 2008-2013. In 2014 the two programs merged and now are the Department of Communication.
Some of her background includes working as a radio reporter, music and academic game show host, and voice over for local commercials in Western New York. She also interned at the State Attorney General’s office in NY, the Voice of America in Washington, DC and ABC News at the White House.
Her research interests focus on political and cultural communication including media coverage of politics and politicians, humor in politics, the relationship between media and political actors, and music and society. She has also served as the president of the Maryland Communication Association.
In her spare time she enjoys walking, hiking, singing, reading and traveling.
Mrs. Britany A. Raley, Administrative Assistant II
About Mrs. Britany A. Raley:
Mrs. Brittany A. Raley started her career at FSU in 2010 as a Police Communications Operator. She worked in Financial Aid from 2013-2021 as an Administrative Assistant I and is now an Administrative Assistant II for Strategic Communication, Emerging Media, Leadership and Mathematics. She lives in Frostburg with her husband, daughter, and Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Brittany enjoys baking cheesecakes, UTV riding and nurturing plants--her point of pride is her 20-year-old peace lily.
Mrs. Melanie K. Lombardi, FSU-TV3 Manager
About Mrs. Melanie Lombardi:
Mrs. Melanie Lombardi, a graduate of Frostburg State University, began her video production career in the Baltimore and DC area and joined the FSU community in 2000 as a staff member. Her work experience includes multi-camera productions, commercial shoots and teleconferencing meetings for various companies. Along with running the cable channel, her duties at the university include overseeing the production and post-production facilities and working with the students enrolled in various Emerging Media classes. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, kayaking, hiking, traveling and cooking.
Dr. Lindsy Pack
About Dr. Lindsy Pack:
Dr. Pack retired from the Department of Mass Communication at the end of the Spring 2013 semester. He is now enjoying retirement, we hope, and catching up on his reading!
Prior to coming to Frostburg State in 1994, he taught at Galveston College, Northern Kentucky University, and Sam Houston State University.
His wife, Stephanie, is Emeritus Faculty with the FSU Department of Educational Professions. They have a home in the mountains of Garrett County which they share with two cats, a dog and other assorted wildlife.
Dr. Tyra Phipps
About Dr. Tyra Phipps:
Oddly enough, Dr. Phipps was a student at Frostburg State College in 1968-1971, and competed on the men's tennis team. Her picture now appears as the first female inductee in the Bobcat Hall of Fame. After her professional tennis career, she entered the field of broadcasting as a radio DJ in an adult contemporary format.She has recently published her first book Folded Notes and established a scholarship in the Health & Physical Education Department with the proceeds from the book.
In 2010 Dr. Phipps also created a scholarship in memory of her mother, Marjorie Phipps, which will be awarded through the Department of Communication every spring.
Her academic teaching interests are Electronic Media Management, Mass Communication Theory, Introduction to Radio and Introduction to Mass Communication. She also supervises students in the short internship. Her research interests include case studies in management and organizational behaviors.