The Communications Program’s dedicated faculty and staff are here to help and guide you through your University career.
Faculty
Dr. Christopher Cwynar
Assistant Professor
Communications Program Coordinator
Ph.D (University of Wisconsin-Madison), M.A. (Western University), B.A. (Mount Allison University)
Courses Taught:
- Introduction to Communications
- Introduction to Public Speaking
- Communication Theory
- Senior Communications Capstone
Christopher teaches in and coordinates the Communications program at Trent University Durham GTA. He loves working at Trent’s Durham campus because of its warm and vibrant community and the way that its size enables him to get to know his students and colleagues.
As an instructor, Christopher brings a student-centered approach predicated upon making his subject matter relevant to them as learners and people. He focuses on helping students to learn and grow so that they can acquire useful knowledge and the confidence to put it into practice in their personal and professional lives.
Christopher’s research concerns the ways in which public media institutions, program genres, and personalities have adapted to social and technological change. His work has appeared in a number of journals and edited collections including Media, Culture & Society, Popular Communication, the International Communication Gazette, The Radio Journal, and the Journal of Radio & Audio Media.
Christopher is always happy to discuss the Communications program with prospective students and community members. Please feel free to connect with him via email or LinkedIn.
Dr. Andrew Monti
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. (Toronto Metropolitan University), M.A. (York University), BSc (Bocconi University)
Courses Taught:
- Introduction to Communications
- Event Management
- Artificial Intelligence in Communication
- Communications Field Placement
- Communications Internship
Andrew Alexander Monti (PhD) teaches in the Communications Program at Trent University Durham. His research interests lie in the areas of political communication, propaganda, and experiential education. Dr. Monti is currently involved in two funded research projects: he is the principal investigator on a SSHRC Insight Development Grant project on humor and misinformation and is a co-applicant on a SSHRC Partnership Development Grant project titled “Interrogating Canadian Identities.” Dr. Monti also brings a wealth of professional communication experiences to Trent U Durham. Past professional activities include working as legislative assistant at Queen’s Park, as a TV news reporter at Omni News and heading Public Relations and Research at the Italian Trade Agency's Toronto office.
Dr. Maggie Reid
Assistant Professor
PhD (Toronto Metropolitan University), MA (University of Toronto), BA (University of Toronto)
Courses Taught:
- Becoming Digital: Reading, Writing, and Creating
- Foundations of Public Relations
- Writing for the Communications Industries
- Crisis Communication
Maggie Reid, PhD is an award-winning creator, entrepreneur, and researcher. Her research examines how public relations and journalism intersect and shape media narratives, particularly focusing on media ownership, ideology, and structural inequality. Maggie’s work has been published widely in academic journals, edited volumes and popular publications.
She is the co-founder and Creative Director of Pink Moon Studio, an end-to-end production company that creates cutting-edge storytelling with Canada’s leading brands and organizations.
Maggie writes, produces and creates the look, feel and sound of their content.
She’s worked for the CBC as a radio documentary producer and is the co-creator of the multi award-winning investigative true crime podcast, Catch Him if You Can.
She is currently producing a documentary (partially funded by the SSHRC Connection Grant) called Blackface Nation that unravels the myth of Canada’s post-race brand by looking at the hidden history of Blackface performance in this country.
Dr. Neil Ever Osborne
Assistant Professor
PhD (York University), MA (Ohio University), BSc (Trent University)
Courses Taught:
- Environment and Communication: Oral and Visual Presentation
- Crisis Communication
- Media relations
- Introduction to Climatic Change Science and Policy
Neil Ever Osborne is an Assistant Professor at Trent University, where he holds appointments within the Communications and Sustainability Studies programs and the School of the Environment.
His teaching ethos centres on building a bridge from the classroom to the real world while delivering experiential multimedia lectures that invite students to bear witness to the precarious relationship between people and the planet.
Neil’s research examines the converging social and environmental issues that narrate our times in a changing and warming world. More specifically, his research aims to understand self- and collective agency and how environmental and climate communication can affect people’s morals, values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours.
Neil is an Explorer with the National Geographic Society and a Contributing Photographer with Smithsonian Magazine. He also holds long-standing Fellowships with the International League of Conservation Photographers, The Explorer’s Club, and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
You can learn more about Neil and his work here: www.neileverosborne.com
Staff
Bonnie Caruana
Academic Administrative Assistant (AAA)
Communications Program, Journalism and Creative Writing Program, and other Academic Degree Programs
Bonnie has been the Academic Administrative Assistant (AAA) for the Communications Program for over 2 years and has been involved with the Trent Durham community for over 10 years. She brings a wealth of Trent knowledge and experience to the role and provides a welcoming space for students to find help and get connected with resources.
She lives in Northumberland county with her husband, Chris, and her dogs, Pola and Timbit. Pola and Timbit frequent the campus so keep an eye on the COMM program Instagram for updates!
