Dr. Ciszek’s is a leader in strategic communication on LGBTQ research and queer theories research, teaching and service are closely tied to commitments of advocacy and social change in public relations and strategic communication. Before launching their academic career, Ciszek worked in advertising and public relations. Additionally, they have worked in strategic analytics, market research and contributed to LGBTQ newspapers and magazines. As someone with professional experience in strategic communication working with nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies, Ciszek recognized the lack of diversity and representation that often characterizes the fields of public relations and advertising. Through their research and teaching, Ciszek is committed to making a space for marginalized voices and perspectives that have historically been written out of research.
Ciszek’s research engages in theoretically and empirically rigorous work, engaging with hard-to-reach populations and hard-to-study publics, publics that are historically marginalized and vulnerable and difficult to represent. They are a leader in strategic communication on LGBTQ research and queer theories and their work has received national and international recognition. Their topical expertise includes: Strategic Communication; Public Relations; Prosocial Communication; Public Interest Communication; Advocacy and Activism; Health Communication; Historically marginalized and minority populations; Gender, race and sexuality research; Intersectionality; and Sexual and gender minority populations; LGBTQ+ studies. Their theoretical expertise includes: critical-cultural theories; critical humanism; queer theories; and postcolonial theories. Their methodological expertise includes: qualitative research and mixed methods.
PUBLISHED RESEARCH
- Journal of Health Communication
- International Journal of Strategic Communication
- Journal of Homosexuality
- Journal of Communication Management
- Journal of Public Relations Research
- Public Relations Review
- New Media & Society
- Public Relations Inquiry
- Social Media + Society
- Communication, Culture & Critique
- Journal of Communication
COURSES TAUGHT
- Law and Ethics in Advertising and Public Relations
- Public Relations Techniques
- Strategies in Public Relations
