Faculty and staff
Full Time Faculty
Lori Baker-Schena , Assistant Professor. B.A. 1980; M.B.A. 1988, Cal State Northridge, Ed.D. 2010, University of La Verne. Prof. Baker-Schena has over 25 years of experience as a reporter, copy editor, and public relations practitioner. Prior experience includes working as a copy editor for newspapers in Maryland and California. After working as the director of marketing and public relations for UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, she formed Baker Schena Communications in 1987 where she offers a broad range of public relations services including servicing a variety of health care clients. Came to CSUN in 2005.
José Luis Benavides, Associate Professor and Department Chair. B.A. 1985, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; M.A. 1989 and Ph.D. 1997, University of Texas; Dr. Benavides, created the first interdisciplinary minor in Spanish-Language Journalism in the country. He established the Spanish-language student newspaper El Nuevo Sol, and in 2007, he transformed it into a multimedia site covering topics relevant to Latino communities. He teaches classes in diversity and the media, media performance, ethnic media, coverage of Latino communities, and Spanish-language journalism. Came to CSUN in 2002.
Stephanie Bluestein, Assistant Professor. B.A. 1988; M.A. 2007; Ed.D. 2012, Cal State Northridge. Prof. Bluestein has over 18 years of experience as a professional journalist. Prior experience includes working as a contributing reporter for the Los Angeles Business Journal, and was a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News and The Enterprise (now the Ventura County Star). Before starting at CSUN, she taught writing and reporting courses at Pierce College and Moorpark College. Areas of teaching include reporting, mass communication and new media. Came to CSUN in 2010.
David Blumenkrantz, Associate Professor. B.A. 1985; M.A. 2003, M.F.A. 2009, Cal State Northridge. Prof. Blumenkrantz has professional experience ranging from documentary work and freelancing in Africa, where he traveled extensively, to working for the Los Angeles Times. He has teaching experience in the CSUN Art Department, Valley College and for the Cultural Affairs department of the city of Los Angeles. Came to CSUN in 2003.
Linda Bowen, Associate Professor. B.A. 1974, CSU Fresno, M.A. 2005, Cal State Northridge. Prof. Bowen is the former asst. managing editor/features editor for the Santa Barbara News-Press; former reporter and editor at the Tahoe Daily Tribune and Paradise Post. Areas of teaching include reporting and editing for newspapers and magazines, as well as women and diversity in the media. Came to CSUN in 2000.
Marcella De Veaux, Assistant Professor. B.A. 1981, Brandford College, M.S. 1985, Lesley College, M.A. 2005, Ph.D. 2011, Pacifica Graduate Institute. Prof. De Veaux is a communication and media specialist, with acknowledged expertise in developing and executing strategic media relations and community outreach campaigns targeting ethnically diverse audiences. Following a distinguished career in corporate communications and media relations for Public Television, she formed DVG Communications in 1993, which services non-profit, women-owned and entertainment entities. Her prior experience includes working for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), KQED-TV an NPR affiliate in San Francisco, and WGBH-TV in Boston as a public relations practitioner. Came to CSUN in 2007.
Jim Hill, Associate Professor. B.A. 1975, San Diego State University, M.A. 2005, Cal State Northridge. Prof. Hill brings 25 years of broadcasting experience to the Department and was a CNN correspondent based in New York and Los Angeles. He teaches beginning and advanced reporting and broadcast news classes. Came to CSUN in 2002.
Taehyun Kim, Assistant Professor, B.A. 1995, Ohio State University, M.A., 2000 Ohio State University, Ph.D. 2007, Washington State University. Dr. Kim previously taught at the University of Louisiana at Monroe where he was in charge of the communication department’s news editorial curriculum. A media sociologist, he specializes in the study of control and social change functions of mass media. Kim’s media industry experience includes being a staff writer for the Madison Press, public relations coordinator for the Asian America Commerce Group, and a photo stringer for the Columbus Dispatch, the Akron Beacon Journal, and the Associated Press. Came to CSUN in 2008.
Rick Marks, Associate Professor. B.A. 1965, Univ. of Southern Calif.; M.A. 1997, Cal State Northridge. He brings his extensive professional background as a writer and producer KNBC, NBC News , KTLA News and other such positions into the classroom, teaching beginning and advanced reporting and broadcast news classes. Came to CSUN in 1991.
Jéssica Retis, Assistant Professor. B.A. 1991, Universidad de Lima, M.A. 1996, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ph.D. 2007, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Dr. Retis has conducted research and has taught in Mexico, Spain and US universities in Madrid. She specializes in the analysis of contemporary Diaspora and its media implications. Prior to teaching, Retis has more than 18 years of experience as a journalist including working for publications such as Fin de Semana, Universal, Ojo in Peru, Revista Mexicana de Comunicación, El Nacional, and Reforma in Mexico. In addition, she brings experience as a producer, scriptwriter, and news anchor for television stations in Spain and Peru. Came to CSUN in 2008.
Melissa Wall, Professor. B.A. 1984, Univ. of Virginia; M.A. 1995, Univ. of Washington; Ph.D. 2001, Univ. of Washington. Dr. Wall was a reporter for the Newport News Daily Press and The Charlotte Observer before travelling extensively in Asia and Africa. She has won more than one dozen writing and reporting awards. Her areas of teaching include reporting and editing for newspapers and magazines, and is the director of the Mass Communication Graduate program. Came to CSUN in 2001.