Casas Named Chair of Communication Department

Dr. Dawn Casas, a Charleston Southern communication professor, has been named the
university’s new department chair.

In this leadership role, she will take on the challenge of guiding her colleagues and continuing to
teach, while focusing on enhancing the department’s programs and student opportunities.
A dedicated educator, Casas has been a college professor since 2003 and has been part of the
CSU faculty since 2021. She is the mother of two children—one who graduated from CSU and
another who is currently enrolled.

Her personal connection to the university and its community gives Casas a unique perspective on
student life and academic success. Casas has a strong passion for the field of communication,
especially the topics of conflict management and intercultural communication.

She credits her interest in intercultural communication to her husband’s background, which has
inspired her to explore diverse perspectives within the field.

She and her husband moved to the Charleston area during Covid and felt at home with the
community they found, saying the move has helped them grow both personally and
professionally.

As she steps into her new role, Casas recognizes the work of her predecessor, Dr. Jason Peterson.
She said, “He laid a wonderful foundation for the communication department, and I’m excited to
build on that.”

Casas aims to continue developing programs that help students and faculty alike. One of these is Buc News Network, the all-student-led media, which Casas wants to keep moving in a positive direction.

She said that BNN is a terrific opportunity not only for communication students but for all students interested in expressing their skills through podcasting, live broadcasting, and multimedia production, providing real word experience.

Casas hopes to see BNN grow by involving more students and expanding its focus to include public relations and communication studies, playing a vital role in preparing students for a wide range of careers.

Casas is also promoting the new Communication Club. She said, “Comm club is specifically for those majoring or minoring in communication and allows students to get service opportunities, grow together by making connections, and listen to speakers in the field of communication.”

Casas is enthusiastic about the future, expressing excitement for what lies ahead for the club, BNN, and the department. She said, “It’s definitely been a learning curve,” but she is committed to improving the department by hiring more instructors, creating a clear graduation plan for communication students, and fostering unity within the team.

One of her goals is to make every communication class “as interactive and engaging as possible.” Casas teaches a variety of courses, including Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural Communication, Applied Communication Theory, Communication Ethics and Professional Development, and Public Speaking.

Casas said her favorite class to teach is Interpersonal Communication. “If students are in this class, it is like they have won the lottery! The knowledge and skills they gain are transformative and immediately applicable in both personal and professional life!”

Casas plans to build on Peterson’s foundation while introducing fresh ideas that meet the needs of today’s students. Whether through Comm Club, the rebranding and growth of BNN, or departmental initiatives, Casas is dedicated to creating an interactive classroom environment that supports student growth and career preparation.

Her passion for communication and commitment to her students position her well to lead the department into an exciting future.