Communication Faculty

Miranda Brand is the dean and vice president of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and School of Aviation at Purdue Global. Brand's areas of expertise are in leadership development, industry partnerships, faculty mentoring and new program development. As dean, Brand oversees more than 700 faculty members across 45 academic programs and five academic departments. She also cultivates the more than 1,000 college-industry partnerships that the college maintains. Brand’s experience in education allows her to focus on student success while serving almost 11,000 students who are pursuing degrees at the doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, associate and certificate levels.

Since 2011, Brand has served as the associate dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. In this role, she facilitated the development and launch of twelve degree programs in the college, served on numerous university cross-functional action teams to promote institutional improvements and worked with then Dean Sander for over a decade to create and implement a strong college-industry partnership program for students and employer partners. Additionally, she has served in faculty and department chair positions within the college since joining the University in 2006. Prior professional experience includes 20 years of public education service in various roles including teacher, curriculum coordinator, district staff development presenter, and school administrator.

Education: EdD, Nova Southeastern University;  MA, Educational Leadership, Fayetteville State University; BS, Education, Methodist University

For many years, Lynn Massenzio's focus has been administrative, including strategic planning, accreditation, state approvals, and new program development. She previously served the University as an adjunct faculty member and assistant dean of faculty. Prior to entering the education field, Massenzio built on her experience as a former college athlete to start a small business as a fitness consultant and personal trainer. She earned her teaching certification through an alternative certification route at Oglethorpe University. After teaching high school science, she transitioned to higher education where she was a clinical instructor at Georgia State University and an assistant professor at LaGrange College. Both institutions, as well as Purdue Global, have enabled her to work with career changers entering the field of education through both traditional and alternative routes to certification.

Education: PhD, Georgia State University; MS, Georgia Institute of Technology; BA, Rutgers University

Tessa Holst currently serves as the assistant dean of students within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences where she oversees and generates initiatives to develop student engagement and improve student retention. She is also responsible for problem identification and resolution for second-level student complaints and conflicts. Prior to her current role, Holst served as the graduation director and event planner within the Provost Office. She was responsible for bi-annual graduation event ceremonies, celebrations, and faculty retreats. She has worked in higher education for over 25 years and recently completed her second term as school board member for her local school district, having served for 4 years as president. 

Education: MS, Kaplan University (now Purdue Global)

Honors and Achievements: 2017 Social and Behavioral Sciences Outstanding Non-Academic Support Team Award (Kaplan University), 2005 Hero Award (Kaplan University), 2003 Extra Mile Award (Kaplan Higher Education)

April Hrabar has been with Purdue Global since 2020 as an instructor with the School of Nursing. Before joining the Purdue Global team, Hrabar was the administrator of an online undergraduate health sciences program and the senior leader of a multi-leveled nursing department. In her 15 years’ experience in higher education, she has focused on adult and non-traditional learners, online instruction, program development and expansion, and institutional and programmatic accreditation.

As part of her passion for connecting students with global initiatives, she was previously the founder and executive director of an organization providing aid and medical care for Indigenous people of the Amazon Rainforest. Through this foundation, she has immersed students and faculty in life-changing cultural experiences to make a positive impact in these fragile communities. She continues to pursue community outreach in promotion of global health and wellness.

Education: EdD in Educational Leadership, Liberty University; MSN in Nursing Education, Liberty University; BS in Nursing, University of Maryland

Honors and Achievements: Nurse Leadership Institution Fellow (2010); Corporation for National Service National Service Award (2002)  

Research Interests: Professional behaviors, writing skills, faculty and student engagement in online environments

Maggie Morgan has served as the program chair for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences since February 2020. She joined Purdue Global in 2006, as an adjunct instructor and subsequently worked as an assistant chair in the School of General Education until her promotion to assistant dean. She has over 25 years of experience in human services with a specific focus on military families.

Education: PhD, Capella University; MEd, Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Research Interests: Assessment in higher education, resilience, educational outcomes in military children

Jessie Budzinski has served as the assistant department chair for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences’ Human Services department since March 2021. She joined Purdue Global in 2009, as an adjunct instructor. In 2011, she added course leader to her role and in 2015, she became a full-time adjunct instructor and faculty mentor.

Before teaching in higher education, Budzinski was a field instructor for the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina where she supervised and evaluated social work students in the master’s degree program. Budzinski worked with young children with special needs and their families and has presented at state Head Start conferences and national Birth-to-Three Institutes.

Education: MSW, University of Michigan

Honors and Achievements: Human Services Faculty Member of the Year, Outstanding Professor Nomination, Outstanding Course Leader, Outstanding Full-time Adjunt Faculty Member

Research Interests: Student retention and innovation in the online classroom

Tyler Sorg started his career at Purdue Global as a part-time adjunct, teaching communication courses in 2020. Sorg has moved to teaching a wide variety of courses full-time and contributing to the growth of Purdue Global via course development and mentoring. For 9 years, he has worked in academics, teaching at community colleges, small D-1 schools to larger R1 institutions. Since 2018, he has expanded his academic career by teaching online. Sorg also has 8 years of sales experience and owns his own communication consulting company.           

Education: PhD (ABD) University of Missouri; MA, Purdue University Fort Wayne; BA, Purdue University Fort Wayne

Publications: Sexual Harassment, Communication, and the Bystander

Setting an Applied Agenda: #MeToo, sexual harassment: an article, a forum, and a dream for the future

Certifications: Online Teaching Certification from the University of Missouri                         

Research Interests: Organizational communication, organizational culture, sexual harassment, leadership, power, strategic communication

Jason Waldow teaches various undergraduate communication courses at Purdue Global. Previously, Waldow served as a journalist, PR consultant, and recently as an organizational communication consultant for international organizations. He has lectured on organizational culture, leadership, and public speaking for students furthering their professional journey in various fields.    

Education: MS, City University of Seattle; BA, The Evergreen State College

Publications: Jarvie, Lindsey, & Waldow, Jason (2021). Professional Learning Communities: An Inclusive Solution for Engagement and Collaboration. IGI Global.

Waldow, Jason, & Aucoin, Dena (2021). Moving Virtual into Reality: Bringing the Real World into the Online Classroom. IGI Global

Honors and Achievements: Outstanding Professor - Student Nominated 2021; Outstanding Professor – Student Nominated 2020; Outstanding Mentor – Faculty Nominated 2021; Encouragement and Inspiration Award – student Nominated 2020; Outstanding Classroom Innovation – 2020

Memberships: National Communication Association, International Communication Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington, ACLU

Research Interests: Cultural and organizational communication and cognitive executive function in higher education

Dorothy Williams has been with Purdue Global for more than 10 years, where she teaches a variety of communication courses and serves as course lead. She has served as a senior manager and director at the university level, and has also taught adult students at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate level for over 27 years, including over 18 years online. Williams has also served as a consultant for developing learning platforms that will best serve student learning.

Education: PhD, Walden University; MS, San Jose State University; BS, University of Colorado

Publications: “Do Graduate Students Who Set Formal Goals Really Graduate at Higher Rates?” (Building Sustainable Futures for Adult Learners), “Using Writing Admission Essays or a Basic English Course to Predict Success in Adult Undergraduate Students

Honors and Achievements: 2017 Outstanding FT Adjunct Award (Kaplan University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences), 2011 Outstanding FT Adjunct of the Year (Kaplan University), 2011 Colorado Springs Business Journal Women of Influence

Memberships: Association for Continuing Higher Education, Educating Children of Color

Research Interests: Student retention, course development, strategic development, change management