School of Journalism and Mass Communications
Nisha Garud joined the School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Spring 2018. She is responsible for advising the Spartan Daily, and also teaches Mass Communication Theory (MCOM 290) to graduate students. In Spring 2018, she taught Global Mass Communication and Mass Communication and Society.
Prior to joining SJSU, Nisha obtained her masters’ and PhD in journalism from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. While attending classes, she taught news writing, graphic design and social strategic media as a lecturer of record.
Nisha is from Pune India which is proudly known as the Oxford of the East. While working towards her undergraduate degree in psychology, she began reporting on student activities on various college campuses. “This was when I began my love for writing and meeting people,” says Nisha.
While working towards a diploma in journalism and mass communications, Nisha worked for daily newspapers like The Times of India and the Indian Express— two of India’s highest-selling newspapers. After graduating in 2009, she was soon hired to work as a copy editor and feature writer for Daily News and Analysis (DNA)—where she worked for the next five years mastering the art of editing not only city news but also sports, entertainment, business, and international.
In 2011, she was asked to teach online journalism, an emerging area in journalism at that time, at the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Pune. She was intrigued by the transformations that the internet was bringing to conventional journalism. “My curiosity to learn more got me interested in research that led the way to graduate school,” recalls Nisha.
Today, Nisha’s research focuses on the interaction between digital content and new media technologies. Her research agenda narrows on communication mediated via social media and its influence on political and social factors and on relationships between different entities. With digital technology at the core, Nisha focuses on global events that are still evolving and are likely to influence international relations.
Shaun Fletcher joined the School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Fall 2018. Shaun has communications experience with corporate and non-profit organizations for whom he has provided counsel on strategic messaging, executive communications, employee engagement and brand management and development.
Prior to joining San José State University, Shaun served as the Manager of Internal Communications at Apple for the Retail Learning and Development organization. In this role, he provided overall strategic communications and marketing plan development, connecting the departments mission to its over 65,000 retail employees globally. Shaun concurrently served as a consultant and mentor for Apple’s multimillion dollar partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, bringing students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to Apple for an immersive apprenticeship experience.
At SJSU, Shaun is teaching PR 191: Strategic Writing for the Organization and PR 192: Case Studies in Public Relations
Recently, Shaun joined the Academic Advisory Board for the Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change (ISSSSC). He is also serving as the faculty advisor to Public Relations Student Society of America – SJSU chapter (PRSSA).
Shaun recently spoke at the TEDxSJSU event on “Reimagining Mental Health Discourse inside the African American Community.” He is also a former student-athlete at SJSU, class of 2003.
Shaun’s research interests include: diversity problems within the tech industry, health communication among underserved/underrepresented communities, political discourse and rhetoric of social protest.