Arshia Anwer

Assistant Professor, Communication

Arshia Anwer is an Assistant Professor of Communication with primary research and teaching interests in integrated marketing communication, intercultural communication and religious communication. She has worked in the marketing and education field for the past 11 years in a variety of marketing communication, editing and teaching roles. Having lived and worked in two countries - India and the United States - with widely differing professional and societal perspectives, she has developed a keen interest in intercultural and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to recognize the communicative needs and values of people from diverse backgrounds. Her M.A. in Psychology also enables her to combine the areas of human psychology and personality into her communication studies and marketing work. When she's not working, she likes to indulge herself in her hobby of amateur photography, traveling and reading (a lot!).

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 Communication, Duquesne University

M.A. in Psychology, Osmania University

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

Courses Taught

  • COMM 101: Introduction to Communication and Media
  • COMM 214: Magazine Writing
  • COMM 217: Introduction to Public Relations
  • COMM 218: Introduction to Integrated Marketing Communications
  • COMM 271: Transnational Mass Communication
  • COMM 307: Writing for Public Relations
  • COMM 320: Strategic Planning in Public Relations
  • COMM 375: Internship for Juniors
  • COMM 409: Senior Seminar
  • COMM 414: Advertising Campaigns
  • COMM 475: Internship for Seniors
  • COMM 475: Internship for Seniors
  • COOP 402: Assimilating the Internship Experience (elective credit)
  • Research

    Research Interests:

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

    Publications:

    • Anwer, A. (2022). Teaching media ecology in-person and online: Lessons from a COVID-19 semester. Explorations in Media Ecology, 21(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.

    Peer-reviewed Conference Papers:

    • 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 (NCA)

    • Public Relations Division
    • International and Intercultural Communication Division
    • Philosophy of Communication Division
    Eastern Communication Association (ECA)
    • 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

  • Other

    Other:

    • Languages spoken: English - full professional proficiency, Hindi - native / bilingual fluency, Urdu - native/bilingual fluency, French - elementary
    • Guest Reviewer, Journal of Communication and Religion, 2016
    • Paper Reviewer, Philosophy of Communication Division, National Communication Association, 2014
    • Panel Organizer, "The Language of Public Relations: Evaluating the Success and Progress of Key Moments and Methods in Public Relations." Student panel presented at the meeting of the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, October 2014
    • Paper Reviewer, Media and Technology Division, Pennsylvania Communication Association, 2013
    • Panel Organizer, “Lineage of Truth: Multiple Vantage Points across Historical Periods.” Panel presented at the meeting of the Pennsylvania Communication Association, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, October 2012
    • Book Exhibit Organizer, Semiotics Society of America, 36th Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 2011
    • Guest Reviewer, Review of Communication, 2011
    • Teaching Evaluator for Business & Professional Communication classes, Duquesne University, Spring 2011-Spring 2013