CCPA

CCPA

The Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs (CCPA) prepares majors to be leaders in business, government and civil society. We provide internship, consulting and applied research opportunities with world-class corporate, nonprofit and political organizations in Dallas, Washington, D.C., London and points beyond. We prepare majors for the leadership path to chief communication officer, executive director, founder, entrepreneur and more.

Meet Our Faculty

Melissa Austin

Director of Administrative Affairs

Veleisa Patton Burrell

Adjunct Lecturer

Zoë Hess Carney

Professor of Practice

Piyawan Charoensap-Kelly

Assistant Professor of Organizational Communication

Sandy Duhé

Professor

Doric Earle

Director and Advisor, Nonprofit and Arts Leadership
Professor of Practice

Daniel Fonner

Adjunct Lecturer

Michaella Walton Gilliland

Lecturer

Maria Dixon Hall

Associate Professor and Director of Mustang Consulting, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs, Senior Advisor to the Provost

Rosanne Hart

Adjunct Lecturer

Megan Heber

Director, Career Engagement and Community Outreach, MA/MBA, MMIAM
Director, CCPA Graduate Programs

Rita Kirk

William F. May Endowed Director, Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics & Public Responsibility
Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs
Faculty-in-Residence, Armstrong Commons

Steve Lee

Professor of Practice

Owen Hanley Lynch, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Director of Honors Program and SMU-in-London Internships, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs

Tod Meisner

Adjunct Professor

Emily Potts

Adjunct Professor

Christopher Salinas

Senior Lecturer and Director of Public Discourse

Natalie Voigts

Adjunct Lecturer

P. Gregory Warden

Professor of Practice

SMU Impact Lab Selects First Round of Grant Recipients

The SMU Impact Lab has chosen its first five organizations to receive investment funding from the program after a rigorous application process.

Featured Courses

ASAG 1301

Survey of Corporate Communications
and Public Affairs

Introduces students interested in majoring in CCPA to the different areas of study and career opportunities available in corporate communication and public affairs. Includes speakers, exercises, and personal assessments to plan one’s path through the major.

ASAG 2308

Introduction to Newswriting
for Public Relations

Introduces basic media writing, research, and interviewing skills, as well as AP style for news, features, and press releases.

ASAG 3335

Principles of Digital Communication
and Social Media

Addresses the fundamentals, strengths, and weaknesses of each significant social media channel. Includes blog writing, statistics, search engine optimization, and plan writing for a client.

ASAG 3328

Politcal Persuasion

Assesses techniques of persuasion and personal influence through the force of ethos that resides in the personality and reputation of the speaker. Develops skills through case analysis, examples, and exercises to develop awareness of the power, ethics, and effectiveness of persuasion.

Figure 1: M.A./MBA students Lucy Blaylock, Seth Braley, Myka Field and Shayla Le worked with the F.R.A.M.E. Foundation for the six-week project.

SMU M.A./MBA Students Help Launch New Nonprofit in Hands-On Consulting Project

Students
Through teamwork, creativity, and strategy, students in the dual degree M.A./MBA program help an emerging arts nonprofit in Dallas find its footing and its voice.

November 11, 2025
Figure 2: Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship alum Greg Oertel transforms generosity and great ideas into real impact at Communities Foundation of Texas.

Alumni Spotlight: Greg Oertel

Alumni
Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship alum Greg Oertel (M.A./MBA '15) leads with both creativity and strategy shaping philanthropic initiatives across Texas.

November 10, 2025
Figure 3: Advertising and CCPA alum Palmer Beldy is spearheading creative content and strategy efforts for National Geographic’s upcoming Museum of Exploration.

Alumni Spotlight: Palmer Beldy

Alumni
Advertising and CCPA alum Palmer Beldy (B.A. ’22) uses her Meadows-honed creativity to craft meaningful content for the National Geographic Society.

November 03, 2025
Figure 4: As Fund Manager and Strategic Advisor, Trey Bowles will bring a practical investor’s perspective to the SMU Impact Lab’s mission.

Entrepreneur and Investor Trey Bowles Partners with SMU Impact Lab as Fund Manager and Advisor

Faculty
Bowles will bring entrepreneurial expertise and investment insight to advance the Lab’s mission of purpose-driven innovation, helping build ventures that create lasting social impact.

October 22, 2025

CCPA

“WHY SMU CCPA?” WITH PROGRAM ALUM PRINCESS IGWE-ICHO

Meet Our Faculty

Melissa Austin

Veleisa Patton Burrell

Zoë Hess Carney

Piyawan Charoensap-Kelly

Sandy Duhé

Doric Earle

Daniel Fonner

Michaella Walton Gilliland

Maria Dixon Hall

Rosanne Hart

Megan Heber

Rita Kirk

Steve Lee

Owen Hanley Lynch, Ph.D.

Tod Meisner

Emily Potts

Christopher Salinas

Natalie Voigts

P. Gregory Warden

SMU Impact Lab Selects First Round of Grant Recipients

Featured Courses

CCPA News

SMU M.A./MBA Students Help Launch New Nonprofit in Hands-On Consulting Project

Alumni Spotlight: Greg Oertel

Alumni Spotlight: Palmer Beldy

Entrepreneur and Investor Trey Bowles Partners with SMU Impact Lab as Fund Manager and Advisor

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ASAG 1301 Survey of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs	Introduces students interested in majoring in CCPA to the different areas of study and career opportunities available in corporate communication and public affairs. Includes speakers, exercises, and personal assessments to plan one’s path through the major.
ASAG 2308 Introduction to Newswriting for Public Relations	Introduces basic media writing, research, and interviewing skills, as well as AP style for news, features, and press releases.
ASAG 3335 Principles of Digital Communication and Social Media	Addresses the fundamentals, strengths, and weaknesses of each significant social media channel. Includes blog writing, statistics, search engine optimization, and plan writing for a client.
ASAG 3328 Politcal Persuasion	Assesses techniques of persuasion and personal influence through the force of ethos that resides in the personality and reputation of the speaker. Develops skills through case analysis, examples, and exercises to develop awareness of the power, ethics, and effectiveness of persuasion.