About the College

Interim Dean Spiro Kiousis

Spiro Kiousis

Dr. Spiro Kiousis is the interim Dean and Executive Associate Dean for the College of Journalism and Communications and is a professor of public relations. He will serve as Dean until July 1, 2021 when Dean Designate Hub Brown will join the College.

Previously, Kiousis served as chair of the Department of Public Relations from 2006-2012, was director of distance education for the College from 2010-2013, and was a University of Florida Research Foundation Professor from 2009-2011. From 2013-2014, he was selected as a SEC Academic Leadership Development Program fellow from Southeastern Conference universities.

He holds a B.A. in mass media from the University of San Francisco, an M.A. in media studies from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. His current research interests include political public relations, political communication, and digital communication. Specifically, this interdisciplinary research explores the interplay among political public relations efforts, news media content, and public opinion in traditional and interactive mass mediated contexts.

Dr. Kiousis has had articles published in several leading journals, including Communication ResearchJournal of Communication, the Harvard International Journal of Press/PoliticsMass Communication & SocietyPublic Relations Review, Communication YearbookCommunication Education, the International Journal of Public Opinion Research, the International Communication Gazette, the International Journal of Strategic Communication, the International Journal of CommunicationPublic Relations JournalJournal of Public Relations ResearchJournalism StudiesJournal of Media and ReligionJournal of Political MarketingJournalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, the Southwestern Mass Communication JournalJournal of Communication Management, and New Media & Society. He also serves on numerous editorial boards and has presented papers to the International Communication Association, the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the National Communication Association, the World Association for Public Opinion Research, the American Association for Public Opinion Research, the Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Public Relations Society of America. He has also co-edited and co-written three books on political public relations, country image, and news influence on public opinion.

Dr. Kiousis’ teaching areas include persuasion theory and research, public relations management, mass communication theory, public relations campaigns, public relations strategy, and public relations writing. He has professional experience in public relations, marketing, online journalism, and media production. He is a member of the graduate faculty and has his APR credential from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).