Emily Corio was named journalism program chair. Corio joined the College of Media in 2011 and is currently a teaching associate professor, teaching courses in audio and video storytelling and special topic reporting courses. In 2018-19, she co-led a collaborative in-depth reporting project with students and faculty from WVU and George Washington University that focused on the opioid epidemic’s impact on West Virginia children. She has also led an experimental journalism course in sensor, data and science journalism and developed the College’s Sports and Adventure Media major, which launched in 2018. Corio is an award-winning reporter who previously worked for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Her reporting and stories have aired on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition,” WNYC’s and PRI’s “The Takeaway,” and the CBC.

Dana Coester was promoted to full professor. Coester is the creative director for the College’s Media Innovation Center and serves as editor in chief for the collaborative media outlet 100 Days in Appalachia. Her work has focused on technology and community media with special interests in audience building and new economic models for sustaining journalism. Her research and creative work has included experiments in immersive documentary storytelling, and she is currently producing a documentary film on being Muslim in Appalachia, and the film Raised by Wolves, a documentary on the risks to youth exposed to weaponized mis/disinformation in social media and online gaming. Coester also leads research on the platforms, processes and prevention of domestic extremism on and offline in the region. Coester earned her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Gina Martino Dahlia is the new assistant dean of academic affairs. In this role, she supports the planning, development and direction of undergraduate academic programs and manages the College’s Student Services team. Dahlia has been a faculty member in the College of Media for more than 20 years, most notably as executive producer of the award-winning “WVU News,” a student-produced weekly newscast. She is also the managing director of the Media Innovation Center and previously served as the journalism program chair. Dahlia was named one of America's top 20 digital media innovators by MediaShift for her work on 100 Days in Appalachia. Dahlia spent more than 25 years in the journalism industry as a news anchor and reporter, newspaper columnist, feature and business writer, restaurant critic, documentarian and the press secretary for the campaign of current U.S. Senator Joe Manchin when he ran and won the office of West Virginia Secretary of State. Dahlia is also a former West Virginia Women's Commissioner.

Sammy Lee was promoted to full professor. Lee serves as the research and international curriculum director in the College of Media and the co-faculty research director for the Public Interest Communication (PIC) Research Lab within the College. He teaches advertising and mass communication courses and his research primarily focuses on crisis communication and corporate social responsibility. Lee earned his doctorate degree in mass communication from Pennsylvania State University in 2004, a master’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University in 1986 and a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations from Chung Ang University, Seoul, South Korea, in 1984. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in advertising and persuasive communication.

Emily Roush has been promoted to undergraduate advising coordinator where she leads the College’s data acquisition and advising efforts. The College’s professional advisors are trained on program requirements, curriculum changes, student support and graduation standards and guide College of Media students through the academic experience. Roush has been advising students since 2010 and received the University-wide Nicholas Evans Professional Staff Advising Excellence Award last spring. She received her bachelor’s degree in child development and family studies, with an emphasis in family life education, and her master’s degree is in educational psychology, both from West Virginia University.