May 27, 2022
Oakland University has named Chiaoning Su as director of its Barry M. Klein Center for Culture and Globalization.
Dr. Su, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations, will guide the Klein Center in pursuit of its mission to recruit world-class researchers, scholars and artists, facilitate dialogue around contemporary global issues and create transformative learning opportunities for OU students, faculty and community members.
“Globalization is my life journey,” said Dr. Su. “I am honored to serve the Klein Center in developing serious conversations around this topic and introducing students to the importance of global connection and shared humanity. In addition, the center will serve an important role in increasing OU’s visibility internationally and will encourage cultural exchange and international partnerships for the benefit of all scholars.”
A native of Taiwan, Dr. Su brings an international perspective to her work as an educator and scholar. As a researcher, she explores the political and cultural roles of journalism in times of crisis in a global and specifically Asian context. Her work on disaster journalism and East Asian geopolitics has been published in Media, Culture and Society, International Journal of Communication, Asian Journal of Communication and Taiwan Journal of Democracy. She has presented her research at conferences around the world and received multiple faculty research fellowships at OU.
In recent years, Dr. Su’s research has attracted increasing international media attention. Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, Radio Free Asia and Voice of America have interviewed her on U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, press freedom in East Asia, China’s wolf warrior diplomacy, and Taiwan’s nation branding. Additionally, she appeared on several Taiwanese radio programs to discuss strategic narratives to amplify Taiwan’s international visibility. From 2018-2020, she served as president of the Association for Chinese Communication Studies.
At Oakland University, she teaches a variety of undergraduate courses, including Introduction to Journalism and News Writing, Introduction to Public Relations, Social Media and Public Relations, and East Asian Pop Culture and Globalization. Along with serving as faculty adviser to OU’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, Dr. Su is the recipient of the 2020 Honors College Inspiration Award and OU’s 2021 Teaching Excellence Award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from National Taiwan University, a master’s degree in Management and Organizational Communication from Emerson College, and a Ph.D. in Media and Communication from Temple University.
Prior to her academic career, Dr. Su worked as a communication specialist at Ogilvy Public Relations and for several political campaigns in Taiwan. Through these professional experiences, she developed expertise in media pitches and crisis management.
“The purpose of the Klein Center is to explore global social issues. Dr. Su is the perfect director for such a center because of her scholarly and professional experiences, combined with her vision, energy, and vast contacts with journalists and scholars across the globe,” said OU College of Arts and Sciences Dean Elaine Carey. “Her leadership ensures the significance of interdisciplinary studies and approaches to globalization. The center will be a valuable resource for scholars, students, the OU community and the Detroit metro area.”
The Barry M. Klein Center for Culture and Globalization was established in 2021 through a generous gift from the estate of its namesake, OU alumnus and longtime supporter Barry M. Klein. Housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the workings of the Klein Center will revolve around an annual theme led by a prominent researcher, scholar, or artist competitively selected to serve as the resident Barry M. Klein Visiting Chair for Culture and Globalization.
Besides pursuing their own research, scholarship, or creative inquiry in line with the prescribed theme, the Visiting Chair will collaborate with two Klein Center Distinguished Faculty Fellows and two Klein Center Undergraduate Scholars.
Through a mixture of public lectures, presentations, performances, campus forums, and engagement with undergraduates, graduates, student organizations, and the greater Metro Detroit community, the Visiting Chair, Distinguished Faculty Fellows, and Undergraduate Scholars will give life to the annual theme and afford unique opportunities for learning and involvement.
For more information on the Barry M. Klein for Culture and Globalization, visit oakland.edu/cas/klein-center.