Faculty

The faculty in Ouachita's department of mass communications has a wide variety of professional and academic experiences. Besides their years of experience in the classroom, all of the faculty maintain their professional skills by working on projects for the university and community groups.

A 1983 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, Dr. Jeff Root now serves as the dean of the school of Humanities and is an associate professor in the mass communications department. In previous years Dr. Root served as director of public relations. He now serves as advisor to The Signal, Ouachita's newspaper. Dr. Root holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Ouachita, a master's in history from the University of Arkansas and a doctorate in higher education/mass communication from Oklahoma State University. E-mail Dr. Jeff Root by clicking here or call (870) 245-5206.

Dr. David Ozmun, professor of mass communications and public relations associate, leads the department's telecommunications area. Dr. Ozmun joined the faculty in 1987. Originally from Illinois, Dr. Ozmun received his bachelor of science degree in radio and television from Southern Illinois University in 1979. He earned a master's of arts in communications from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Dr. Ozmun has worked at both radio and television stations, including Milwaukee and Dallas. He continues to produce television and video programs for Ouachita and other businesses, organizations and ministries. “Ouachita,” a monthly production, has won numerous awards. He also oversees the university's cable affiliation with FamilyNet. His research interests include history and television news. Dr. Ozmun is a member of the Broadcast Education Association, National Press Photographers Association and the Arkansas Broadcast Education Association. E-mail Dr. David Ozmun by clicking here or call (870) 245-5574.

Dr. Deborah Root graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981 and returned with her husband in 1991 to join the faculty as an assistant professor of mass communications and director of development publications. She now serves as professor and chair of the mass communications department. She serves as the adviser of the Ouachitonian yearbook. Dr. Root is the faculty sponsor of the EEE women's social club on campus. Dr. Root holds two bachelor's degrees from Ouachita, a bachelor of arts in communications and a bachelor of science in education. She also earned her master of science in education from OBU. In 1991, Dr. Root completed her doctor of education in higher education/mass communications from Oklahoma State University. E-mail Dr. Deborah Root by clicking here or call (870) 245-5510.

Mitch Bettis, assistant professor of mass communications, has spent most of the past two decades involved with professional media. Mr. Bettis has worked at media organizations in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado, and he has owned or managed publications in Kansas and Colorado. He still owns small publishing company in Colorado that publishes a newspaper, a nationally-distributed magazine and several additional online and printed publications. He assists with the print edition of The Signal, Ouachita's newspaper, and he oversees the multimedia team that operates the online edition at www.obusignal.com. Mr. Bettis also oversees the photography team. He has a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications from Ouachita (1990) and a master's degree in mass communication from Oklahoma State University (1992). E-mail Mitch Bettis by clicking here or call (870) 245-5384.

Dr. William D. Downs Jr., professor emeritus of mass communications at Ouachita Baptist University, joined the OBU faculty in 1966 after a professional career in public relations and news media.  He received his B.A. degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville; and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Missouri. E-mail Dr. Downs at downsb@obu.edu or call (870) 245-5207