Education

B.A., Political Science, History, Florida State University 
M.A., Higher Education Administration, Florida State University 
Ph.D., Mass Communications, Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University 
J.D., The Ohio State University

Background

Dr. Erik Collins previously served in senior corporate communications management for Miller Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wis. and Philip Morris Incorporated in New York City.

Research

Collins' research interests are mass media law, campaign finance regulation, not-for-profit public relations management, crisis communication management and corporate social responsibility.

Teaching

Collins' teaching style is the socratic method. He is the receipt of the Michael J. Mungo University-wide Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Instruction and numerous Mortar Board awards for teaching excellence. Collins regularly teaches Media Law and Ethics at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Quantitative Research Methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels and Public Relations Management and Advanced Public Relations Writing at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He also chairs or serves on master's degree thesis and doctoral degree dissertation committees. 

Recent Publications

H. F., Plake, R., & Collins, E. (in press). Relying on devine intervention? An analysis of church crisis management plans.. Public relations in the Nonprofit Sector: Theory and Practice. R. D. Waters, Ed. Routledge.

Collins, E., Sisco, H.F., & Pressgrove, G. (special issue 2013). Paralleling the practice: An analysis of scholarly literature in non-profit public relations.  Journal of Public Relations Research 25(4), pp. 282-386. 

Collins, E., Karlis, J., & Mitchell, K. (winter 2012). Linking, archiving, interacting: A content analysis of local, community, weekly Newspaper Websites. Newspaper Research Journal. 33(1), pp.113-127. 

Collins, E., Sisco, H.F., & Zoch, L.M. (2011). Breadth or Depth? A content analysis of the use of public relations theory. Public Relations Review. 37 (2), pp. 145-150.

Moore, R. L., Maye, C., & Collins, E. (2010). Advertising and Public Relations Law (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Service

Faculty advisor, The Daily Gamecock 
Faculty advisor,  Alpha Delta Pi Sorority