ADPR Associate Professor, Juan Mundel, Establishes Global Impact on Higher Education
Mundel positively impacts students and organizations at a global level
By: Jack Kroll
As an associate professor, Juan Mundel introduces a global perspective that significantly impacts higher education organizations.
Mundel began his career journey at West Virginia University, where he earned his Master of Science in journalism and foreign languages. Mundel then acquired his Doctor of Philosophy in public relations, advertising and applied communication from Michigan State University. He was also an advertising and public relations instructor at MSU for three years.
Mundel then became an assistant professor at DePaul University in Chicago. Mundel strengthened the global connections between DePaul University and other institutions worldwide by conducting a Collaborative Online International Learning course. Mundel says these are classes where students collaborate with an international university and connect with students in other parts of the world.
“We also saw that most people that had participated in that COIL program then expressed attitudes to want to enroll in study abroad programs. So, I think it helps demystify a little bit, will I be able to communicate with someone different that may not speak my language,” Mundel said.
In 2021, Mundel became the director of global initiatives and an associate professor of strategic communication at Arizona State University. Mundel was then appointed executive director of global initiatives just under two years later. He oversaw numerous grant projects and was the principal investigator for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Fulbright program.
“[Fulbright program] is I think one of the ones that has the most impact. It also has a very deep task of teaching people about the United States as a country and freedom of expression,” Mundel said.
Following his work at ASU, Mundel moved back to Michigan and settled in as an associate professor of advertising and public relations at MSU.
“I really fit in with that openness environment that I found here at Michigan State, and so I always craved coming back and joining this type of interdisciplinary open-door environment,” Mundel said.
Mundel strives to strengthen the global connections and impact of MSU. He is currently continuing his work from when he was a graduate student at MSU. During his doctoral studies at MSU, Mundel led three study abroad programs. These programs brought students to Argentina, London, Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam.
Mundel was also awarded the 2024 Distinguished Excellence in Teaching Award from the AEJMC Advertising Division, an award earned by sustaining positive student evaluations.
“I think I can plant important seeds which was something that the department was excited about when I was when I was interviewing with them. We have a very involved college. For example, we have a great collaboration now with a university in China and so I think ComArtSci is well positioned to go outside our existing borders,” Mundel said.
To learn more about Mundel’s extensive career, visit his LinkedIn or ComArtSci biography.