Summary
Patricia Phalen taught at Ohio University until 1998, when she joined the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University. Dr. Phalen has served as the Associate Director, Director of Graduate Studies and Assistant Director of SMPA. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on media organizations and audiences, connections between Hollywood and politics, and the interdependence of media, democracy and culture. Professor Phalen earned her Ph.D. from Northwestern's Department of Radio/Television/Film during the university's "Rosebowl Season" of 1996. Prior to acquiring her doctorate, Phalen worked in media planning at Foote, Cone & Belding, and in audience research at WTTW, Chicago's largest public television station. Her research at GW combines this industry experience with scholarship in the field of Media Industry Studies. Dr. Phalen is active in the Broadcast Education Association, the World Media Economics & Management Conference and the International Communication Association. Her expertise is in audience research and the socio-economics of media institutions. She developed two popular Dean's Seminars at GW, "Hollywood & Politics" and "Media, Democracy & Culture." A native New Englander, Professor Phalen claims both Connecticut and Massachusetts as her "home state." Her fondest memories of growing up in the Boston area include basketball and hockey games at the Boston Garden and victory parades for the Celtics and Bruins. She is a lifetime fan of all Boston teams--including the Red Sox.