Arshia Anwer

Associate Professor, Communication

Dr. Arshia Anwer is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Communication Department with primary research and teaching interests in integrated marketing communications, religious communication, philosophy of communication and intercultural communication. She researches identity, diversity and pedagogy in religious, socio-political and marketing communication contexts, with specific interests in how messages influence Muslim-American identity, transnational public relations in non-Western settings, and the pedagogical aspects of media ecology in public relations education. Her work has been published in various edited books and journals such as Journal of Public Relations Education and Explorations in Media Ecology.

Dr. Anwer also has experience in the marketing and education fields working with both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Her professional experience includes public relations, marketing, content creation and editing, resources management, and as a consultant specializing in educational and institutional review, program and curricular development, and small business development.

Education

Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Duquesne University

  • Areas of Specialization: Integrated Marketing Communication & Rhetoric of Technology
  • Dissertation: Transnational Public Relations in Postcolonial Spaces: Making Space for Other Discourses in the Afghan Public Sphere
  • Dissertation Director: Erik A. Garrett, Ph.D.

M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communications, Duquesne University

M.A. in Psychology, Osmania University

B.A. in Communication, Psychology and Political Science, Osmania University College for Women

Courses Taught

  • COMM 150: Roots: Communication
  • COMM 201: Ethics in Communication & Media
  • COMM 214: Magazine Writing
  • COMM 217: Introduction to Public Relations
  • COMM 218: Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communications
  • COMM 271: Transnational Communication & Media
  • COMM 307: Writing for Public Relations
  • COMM 309: Digital Media Writing for Marketing Communications
  • COMM 315: Media Planning and Buying
  • COMM 320: Strategic Planning in Public Relations
  • COMM 375: Internship for Juniors
  • COMM 409: Senior Seminar
  • COMM 461: Independent Study in Communication
  • COMM 475: Internship for Seniors
  • COOP 402: Assimilating the Internship Experience (elective credit)
  • Research

    Research Interests:

    • Integrated Marketing Communications
    • Religious Communication
    • Rhetoric of Technology
    • Intercultural Communication
    • Professional Communication & Public Speaking
  • Publications and Scholarly Activities

    Publications:

    • Anwer, A. (2023). The American Dream and Muslim Americans:  (Im)Possibilities and Realities of Pursuing the Dream. In R. Hauhart & M. Sardoč (Eds.). The Routledge Handbook on the American Dream, Vol. 2. (pp. 255-269). New York, NY: Routledge.
    • Anwer, A. & Kwong, T. (2022). Student-led diversity, equity, and inclusion education in public relations: PRSSA as a space for teaching and learning. Journal of Public Relations Education, 8(4), 161-182. https://journalofpreducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JPRE_84_Winter2022_AnwerKwong.pdf
    • Anwer, A. (2022). Teaching media ecology in-person and online: Lessons from a COVID-19 semester. Explorations in Media Ecology21(1), 91-105. https://doi.org/10.1386/eme_00120_7
    • Anwer, A. (2020). Doing the write thing: Teaching public relations writing through philosophy of communication and media ecology. Explorations in Media Ecology, 19(2), 211-223. https://doi.org/10.1386/eme_00038_1
    • Anwer, A. & Kern-Stone, R. (2019). Running while Muslim: Media representations of Muslim-Americans in U.S. politics. In L. L. Montalbano (Ed.) Gender, race and social identity in American politics (pp. 130-154). Lanham, MD: Lexington.
    • Anwer, A. (2018). Amartya Sen: Ethics, justice, and economics. In R. C. Arnett, A. M. Holba & S. Mancino (Eds.), An encyclopedia of communication ethics: Goods in contention (pp. 442-446). New York: Peter Lang.

    Invited Lectures

    • Anwer, A. (2019, September). Presenter at the "General Semantics and GIFs: A Panel Discussion on Symbols and Social Media" at the meeting of the New York Society of General Semantics at New York, NY.
    • Anwer, A. (2018, October). Presenter at the "Political Talk and Political Drama: Election 2018" panel at the meeting of the New York Society of General Semantics at New York, NY.

    Peer-reviewed Conference Papers and Presentations:

    • Anwer, A. (2023, November). Journeying Toward Justice: Catholic Social Teaching Principles as a Guide for Social Justice Immersion and Travel. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, United States. 
    • Anwer, A. (2023, November). ChatGPT is taking the world by storm: Between freedom and violation of privacy, what is our role as educators in this storm? Roundtable at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2022, November). Communicating for peace in times of war: A look at storytellers Edward Murrow, Danish Siddiqui, and Volodymyr Zelensky. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2022, October). Mental health stigma and the Muslim community. Panel discussion at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association Annual Conference, Callicoon, NY, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2022, October). Reframing menstrual health communication from an equity lens and intercultural religious competence. Panel discussion at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association Annual Conference, Callicoon, NY, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2022, October). How do we confront junctures of systematic oppression and silencing in the communication discipline? High density panel at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association Annual Conference, Callicoon, NY, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2022, April). Professional Communication Associations: Forward with Pandemic Policy. Roundtable discussion at the meeting of the Eastern Communication Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2022, April). Resistance, solidarity, and dissent by anti-CAA protestors in India against state-sponsored epistemic violence. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Communication Association Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2021, November). Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a savvy digital practitioner: The opportunity of online community-building and interactive political communication. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2021, October). Hoaxes, poxes, and hocus pocus: Misinformation and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic in India and the Indian diaspora. Paper presented at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association Annual Conference, Callicoon, NY, United States.
    • Anwer, A. (2021, March). Bilkis and Narendra Modi: The two faces of India in Time’s 100 most influential people. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Communication Association, virtual.
    • Anwer, A. (2020, November). Innovative approaches to service learning and assessment. Roundtable at the meeting of the National Communication Association, virtual.
    • Anwer, A. (2020, November). Muslims in U.S. Politics. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, virtual.
    • Anwer, A. (2020, November). The promise of the American dream, and American reality for Muslim Americans. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, virtual.
    • Anwer, A. (2020, November). Theoria, praxis, and poesis: Achieving excellence the write way. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, virtual.
    • Anwer, A. (2020, October). Gender, race and power in the American society and the classroom. Roundtable at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association, virtual.
    • Anwer, A. (2020, October). Navigating MA programs and international student application processes. Roundtable at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association, virtual.
    • Anwer, A. (2020, April). Public relations for the good: Community-based service learning in a public relations classroom. Accepted for presentation at the "Innovative approaches to service learning and assessment" panel at the meeting of the Eastern Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.
    • Anwer, A. (2019, November). Sowing Seeds of Survival: Practicing Public Relations in India's Agrarian Communities. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.
    • Anwer, A. (2019, November). Ethical Public Relations as Social Justice Activism: Determining Public Relations' Place in Society. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Baltimore, MD.
    • Anwer, A. (2019, October). Personal Influence and Responsible Advocacy: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Fundraising in an Indian Non-Governmental Organization. Paper presented at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association, Callicoon, NY.
    • Anwer, A. (2019, April). A theory-based approach to incorporating intercultural perspectives in public relations practice. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Communication Association, Providence, RI.
    • Anwer, A. (2018, October). 'She's doing Islam wrong': A Muslim-Malaysian's representation of hijab in postmodern contemporary culture. Paper presented at the meeting of the New York State Communication Association, Callicoon, NY.
    • Anwer, A. (2017, November). Failure to create identification: Why Uber's response to the travel ban drove key publics to #DeleteUber. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX.
    • Anwer, A. (2017, August). Transnational public relations and social justice activism in Afghanistan. Microtalk presented at the meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Chicago, IL.
    • Anwer, A. (2017, April). Freedom from epistemic violence: Toward a discourse of geo-epistemic responsibility in transnational communication. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Communication Association, Boston, MA.

     

    • Anwer, A. (2013, October). For the Love of Humanity: Reclaiming the Rhetoric and Philosophy of Philanthropy. Paper presented at the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Gannon University, Erie, PA.
    • Anwer, A. (2013, April). The Governance of Social Media: A Fine Balance Between Restraint, Accountability and Power. Paper presented as part of the “Communicating with the Other: The Technological Implications of Changing Spaces” panel presented at the Eastern Communication Association Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
    • Anwer, A. (2012, October). Communication Ethics through the Lens of Cosmopolitanism and Provinciality. Paper presented at the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA.
    • Anwer, A. (2012, October). Virtue Ethics in Postmodern Organizational Communication. Paper presented at the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA.
    • Anwer, A. (2012, October). Reshaping Identity by Unveiling the Voice of Women in Afghanistan. Paper presented as part of the “Women Forming Identity in a World of Conflict” panel at the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA.
    • Anwer, A. (2012, October). From Aristotle to Aquinas and MacIntyre: The Development of Virtue Ethics. Paper presented as part of the “Lineage of Truth: Multiple Vantage Points across Historical Periods” panel at the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA.
    • Anwer, A. (2012, April). Black Skin, White Masks: Frantz Fanon. Paper presented as part of the “Africana Intercultural Philosophy of Communication” panel presented at the Eastern Communication Association Annual Conference, Boston, MA.
    • Anwer, A. (2011, June). The Impact of Advertising on Indian Culture. Paper presented at the IMC/CMM: Finding Common Ground Conference at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC.
  • Professional Experience and Memberships

    Professional Experience:

    • Marketing Director, Ashraful Madaris Education Society (AMES), August 2009 – present
    • Marketing Director, Ayesha Foundation, September 2008 – present
    • Consultant Assistant, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center, June 2008 – December 2009
    • Subeditor, The ICFAI University Press, August 2004 – September 2005

    Professional Memberships:

    National Communication Association

    • Public Relations Division
    • International and Intercultural Communication Division
    • Philosophy of Communication Division
    Eastern Communication Association
    • Communication and Technology Interest Group
    • Intercultural Communication Interest Group
    • Philosophy of Communication Interest Group

    New York State Communication Association

    Religious Communication Association

    Public Relations Society of America

  • Honors, Awards, and Grants

    Branigan Scholars Grant, 2023
    Donovan, O. (Principal) Anwer, A. and Jayawickreme, N. (Faculty Advisors)
    Sponsored by Branigan Scholars Grant Committee, Manhattan College, $4,000.00. The Branigan Scholars Grant promotes undergraduate research in the humanities. Each Branigan Scholar works closely with a Manhattan College faculty member, who serves as advisor. The grant fosters the Manhattan College tradition of strengthening humanities education through the development of students' scholarly interests and goals in close collaboration with members of the faculty.

    Costello Teaching Award, 2022
    The Brother Casimir Gabriel Costello, FSC, Award for Excellence in Teaching recognizes a faculty member of the School of Liberal Arts who exemplifies the excellence in teaching that characterizes Manhattan College and is central to its mission and the mission of the Lasallian Christian Brothers.

    Catholic Relief Services Summer Research Grant, 2019
    Sponsored by the Catholic Relief Services Taskforce, Manhattan College, $2000.00. This grant enabled research in India during summer 2019, and this research tiled 'Sowing seeds of survival: Practicing public relations in India's agrarian communities' was presented in Fall 2019 at the Catholic Relief Services Faculty Seminar co-sponsored by the Faculty Development Committee and Catholic Relief Services.

  • Other

    Languages spoken:

    • English - full professional proficiency
    • Hindi - native / bilingual fluency
    • Urdu - native / bilingual fluency
    • French - elementary