Brooke Witherow

Biography

My passion for public relations and crisis communication began as a beach patrol lifeguard.  I became fascinated by the different ways people navigate and communicate during emergencies. I wholeheartedly believe that effective public relations can save lives and create stronger, more resilient communities.

I teach courses in public relations, crisis communication, communication research, and public speaking.  Students in my courses will participate in hands-on activities that prepare them for a career in communication. Students minoring in public relations can expect: to develop a public relations writing portfolio, to work with a real client on a public relations campaign, to hear from prominent guest speakers, to develop a public relations campaign plan, to earn certificates in Google Analytics and Hootsuite, to conduct primary and secondary research, to participate in a crisis simulation, and to analyze cases from the field.

My research interests are in crisis communication, community building, and police communication.  Prior to coming to Hood, I served as a trainer for the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism’s (START) Training in Risk and Crisis Communication (TRACC). I taught at the University of Maryland, Stevenson University, and Carroll Community College before joining Hood College in 2019.

When I carve out free time, I can be found reading a novel, writing, painting, gaming, doing something outdoors, petting a dog, working on my latest stained glass project, or hiking.