Christen Buckley
Ph.D. in Mass Communications
Assistant Professor of Public Relations
Klein College of Media and Communication, Temple University
Public Interest Communicator • Researcher • Educator
About
Christen Buckley, Ph.D. is a public interest communicator and Assistant Professor of Public Relations at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication (since 2025). Previously, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Relations at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications (2023–2025).
Her scholarship sits at the intersection of public relations, ethics, digital media, and advocacy — with a particular focus on corporate social advocacy (CSA), nonprofit communications, crisis communication, and the evolving role of emerging technology in strategic communication. She earned her Ph.D. in Mass Communications (2023) and M.A. in Media Studies (2019) from Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications.
Before entering academia, Christen spent four years at Sanky Communications in New York City, where as an Account Manager she managed integrated online marketing and fundraising campaigns for local and national nonprofits. She brings that practice, along with a commitment to ethics and advocacy, into the classroom.
Research Highlights
All Publications →Corporate Social Advocacy
Examining how organizations navigate issue ownership, message authenticity, and stakeholder responses in advocacy campaigns.
Crisis Communication
Exploring crisis spillover effects, crisis history framing, and strategic organizational responses in digital environments.
AI & Emerging Technology
Investigating the impact of AI disclosure, narrative framing, and transparency in strategic communication contexts.
Nonprofit & Public Interest
Studying nonprofit crisis response strategies, CSR partnerships, donor relationships, and nonprofit engagement on social media.
Recent Updates
All Involvement →-
2026
ANA Educational Foundation Visiting Professor
Selected for the Association of National Advertisers’ Educational Foundation 2026 Visiting Professor Program.
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2025
Joined Temple University as Assistant Professor
Christen joins the Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the Klein College of Media and Communication.
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2025
Co-Chair, AEJMC PRD Professional Freedom & Responsibility
Serving as Professional Freedom & Responsibility Co-Chair for the Public Relations Division of AEJMC for 2025–26.
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2025
Editorial Board, Journal of Media Ethics
Joined the editorial board of the Journal of Media Ethics.