NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

8/12/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES ­ Dr. Paula Furr has been named acting head of the Department of Journalism at Northwestern State University. She replaces Dr. Steve Horton, who was named acting dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Furr has been a member of NSU's journalism faculty for five years, receiving a promotion to associate professor this year. She has taught a core course in mass communication as well as classes in basic print media design and layout, writing for the media, literary journalism, public relations writing and the process and effects of mass media.

Furr has also developed Blackboard integration for courses. She designed and taught an online public relations course for Northwestern's College of Education on school-community relations. Furr has also been faculty advisor for NSU's student radio station and student newspaper.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my years at Northwestern, particularly teaching and mentoring students," said Furr. "I look forward to working with the department's dedicated faculty and staff as we begin our academic year. I am honored that Northwestern has entrusted me with the position as acting department head.

"We are proud of being a nationally accredited program and just having our television station converted to all digital. As a department, our goal is to attract students across the state and nation because of our outstanding reputation for preparing young professionals to enter varied fields in journalism and succeed."

In 2002 and 2004, she was selected for Who's Who of America's Teachers. For the past 11, years, Furr has served as a faculty consultant for the Educational Testing Service Advanced Placement English exams. Since joining NSU's faculty, she has been credited with approximately 30 professional publications and 40 presentations, including four international presentations and publications.

For six years, Furr was on the faculty of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in the Department of English as an instructor/executive officer, assistant professor/department executive officer and assistant professor/advanced composition course director. Among her duties were developing and directing Army Executive Professional Writing Seminars and producing and hosting a weekly community information television series.

Furr also served as command information officer for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, N.C., command information officer/personnel officer at Fort McClellan, Ala., 8th Infantry Division personnel officer in Baumholder, West Germany, and 4th Infantry Division protocol/personnel officer in Fort Carson, Colo.

She has also been a faculty member in journalism at Louisiana College and served as executive director of Ballet Alexandria.

Furr earned her bachelor's degree at Ohio Wesleyan University, a master's from the University of Kansas and a doctorate at NSU.

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