Bachelor of Science in Communication

Meet some faculty members

STEPHEN ZEIGLER
Dr. Stephen Zeigler, an associate professor, is the program coordinator for the Communication degree program. Zeigler earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University, a Master of Arts from the University of Alabama, and a Ph.D. from St. Louis University.

He has taught at Valdosta State University, where he headed the journalism program and oversaw its rise to statewide prominence; at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock; at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and Belmont University in Nashville. He has also taught in community colleges and middle and high school.

His experience in print journalism includes work as a reporter, copy editor, editor of a weekly newspaper, weekend editor of a daily newspaper, and editor of a daily newspaper.

His broadcast media experience includes being a moderator of an issues interview weekly television show with an ABC affiliate in Valdosta, Georgia, and a weekly editorial commentator with a PBS radio station in Milwaukee. Zeigler is currently at work on a book about the history of Florida’s last family-owned newspaper with a circulation over 100,000, the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

LYNN KOLLER
Lynn Koller, assistant professor of communication, teaches upper-level courses in the Communication program, as well as composition classes in support of general education. Koller holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Central Florida.

She has served as a lecturer in Embry-Riddle's Humanities and Social Sciences Department since 2003, teaching such courses as Freshman Composition, Visual Design, Environmental Communication, Technical Writing, and Web Publishing. She also has taught Studies in Literature for ERAU's Worldwinde Online, as well as technology classes at Stetson University and a community college.

Koller is currently completing her dissertation in the Texts & Technology doctoral program at UCF. Her dissertation outlines a methodology for reframing problems by analyzing the artifacts produced by medical imaging technologies. The text is a rhetorical study that uses methodologies adapted from surrealist, literary, and theatre theories, with a focus on fragmentation of texts.

Koller's experience includes public relations and marketing for a financial services technology consulting firm. As a freelance writer, Koller has published more than 125 articles, covering issues such as digital technology, medicine (including radiology and oncology), financial services technology, Web development, auditing, commercial real estate, banking, travel, and legal issues. She has developed and maintains several Web sites and wrote Revelations in Plastic, a screenplay.

STEVE MASTER
Steve Master, assistant professor of communication, teaches upper-level courses in the Communication program as well as composition classes in support of general education. He holds a Master of Science in Journalism degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Tulane University.

He joined Embry-Riddle's faculty after an award-winning, 20-year career as a professional newspaper journalist. Master spent the majority of his newspaper career with the Daytona Beach News-Journal, where he still works as a correspondent. He received a multitude of writing awards throughout his tenure, including Best News Story of 2006 by the Florida Sportswriters Association.

Master served as an adjunct faculty member in the Embry-Riddle Humanities and Social Sciences department from 2000 to 2007. He has taught Introduction to News Writing, Introduction to Media, Aviation/Aerospace Communication, Journalism, Introduction to Sports Writing, Freshman Composition and Technical Writing.

DARYL LABELLO
Daryl LaBello teaches digital photography in the Communication program and was part of Embry-Riddle's educational technology department for many years.

LaBello earned his Master of Computer Education degree from Jacksonville University and his undergraduate degree in Science Education (Physics) from the University of Central Florida.

He is currently a Digital Media Specialist with Embry-Riddle's Information Technology division. In his current position, duties include transferring VHS tapes to DVD, creating short video segments, creating basic Flash interactives, and taking still photographs.

LaBello's teaching experience includes several years as a middle school computer applications teacher and technology coordinator. He is currently working on a Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography from Academy of Arts University. LaBello's photographs are shown in the Abbott Tract Artists Gallery in St. Augustine, and his work was recently featured in a show titled “Cloud Escapes.” He also shows his work at the Environmental Education Center of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. He is a past president of the Flagler County (Fla.) Photography Club.

LINDAJEAN WESTERN
Lindajean Western, an adjunct instructor in the Communication program, is the Director of Communications for the Worldwide Campus of Embry-Riddle. Western holds a B .A. in Journalism from Ohio State University and an M.A. in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix .

She has more than 25 years of experience in print and broadcast journalism, strategic planning, marketing, corporate communications, brand management and extension, media relations, public relations and community relations with major universities and health systems across the country. She previously worked at Kent State University, Barstow College in California, and numerous health care organizations, following a career as a Marine Corps Public Affairs Officer. She has post graduate education from the University of Oklahoma, School of Theology at Claremont, Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico and Defense Information School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.

Western’s work in communications began when she took her first position with the ABC affiliate in Cleveland in 1976. As a Marine Corps Public Affairs officer, corporate executive and university instructor, she has taught many communicators how to be successful in the field. Western has particular expertise in crisis communications and continues to use this experience as a Red Cross volunteer Public Affairs officer.