Meet the Communication Studies Faculty

Yuanyi Chen is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and a PhD candidate in the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri Columbia. She teaches various courses in public presentation, media studies, and digital media production, with a research focus on media effects and computer-mediated communication.

In addition to her teaching and research responsibilities, Yuanyi manages the campus media production studio and oversees student-produced news programs. She is open to inquiries about utilizing the media production studio, collaborating on media projects, or addressing any issues related to studio equipment.

For collaboration opportunities or studio-related concerns, please feel free to reach out!

Associate Professor with an M.A. in Communication Studies from South Dakota State University.  He is the program coordinator, a position he has held for over 10 years.  He teaches courses such as Essentials of Speaking and Listening, Small Group Communication, Persuasion, Organizational Communication, Comm. Studies Seminars, and others as needed.  He served as the Director of Forensics at SMSU for 20 years and has a great appreciation for speech and debate activities.  He remains active in the activity at both the high school and collegiate level, coordinating SMSU's annual HS speech tournament and also working on the staff of the National Individual Events Tournament.  He lives in Marshall and enjoys biking, baking and being a Mustang!

Jen Goblish teaches the COMM 110 Essentials of Speaking and Listening course and works extensively with the College Now program that delivers this course in high schools throughout the state.  She has been working with the College Now program and adjuncting with the program for over 15 years and was hired full-time in the Fall of 2022.  She lives and works with her husband George and their family on a farm near Vesta.  She thoroughly enjoys working with high school students and teachers who are ready for the challenge of taking on collegiate coursework.

Christopher Metz is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies who teaches courses in the Broadcasting & Digital Media major. He has worked professionally in various modes of film and video production since 1999. His main creative interest is in narrative filmmaking. He has experience teaching University level introductory and intermediate level production courses, screenwriting and film history courses, plus more. At SMSU he teaches narrative and documentary filmmaking, sports broadcasting, multicamera production, single camera production and more. In his free time he enjoys working on his own narrative film productions, going to movies, and following sports.

Ben Walker (MFA-Forensics) is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Forensics at Southwest Minnesota State University. He teaches a variety of Communication Studies courses, including Essentials of Speaking and Listening, Professional Presentations, and Argumentation and Debate. Ben also supervises high school classrooms where the basic public speaking course is taught via concurrent enrollment. His published work can be found in the National Forensic Journal, Speaker and Gavel, and The Forensic, among other places. Ben, who loves Star Wars and other “nerdy things”, lives in Marshall, MN with his partner, Julie, and their three beautiful children.

Julie Walker has been teaching since 2009, and is committed to working with actual situations where students use the skills that are mastered in the classroom. She teaches public relations, storytelling, and health communication courses here at SMSU, and loves the variety of hands-on projects we get to do. Her research focuses on identity negotiations, pushing the boundaries of teaching, and digital literacy. Outside of work at SMSU, she works for various organizations, including a storytelling organization (MAST) she co-founded several years ago, doing public relations and content creation. Relaxation for her often includes baking, building, crocheting, and binge-watching television series. Her office door is always open, and her office couch is really comfortable. She looks forward to meeting you!