Hazel James Cole, Ph.D
Hardtner Hall, Room 130
337-475-5047
Dr. Hazel James Cole from Hattiesburg, Miss., who has taught public relations courses for over ten years, is an award-winning public relations professional and entrepreneur with 15 years experience in corporate public relations.
Prior to joining McNeese’s faculty, where she focuses on public relations courses and is involved with the internship program, she worked as a senior PR manager for the oldest and largest advertising firm in Mississippi. In addition, she is the owner and managing partner of H. Bell James & Associates, a public relations and marketing consultancy specializing in strategic planning, crisis management, media relations and media training.
At McNeese, she is the faculty advisor for Public Relations Society of America (PRSSA) and Beautiful Aspiring Professional Sisters (BAPS). She holds the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public Relations from The University of Southern Mississippi, where she also received her doctoral degree in Mass Communication and Journalism in 2008.
She is the recipient of AEJMC’s 2007 “Inez Kaizer Student of Color Award” in public relations.
Her research specialties are: public relations, media criticism and cultural studies, and, she has presented research on popular culture, media history, media criticism and cultural studies at numerous popular culture and communications conferences. Her dissertation “George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People”: Hip hop, Public Discourse and Black Politics in the Early 21st Century,” is a critical, cultural analysis of the politicization of hip hop, examining the genre’s political orientation and analyzes conscious rap as political speech. Her professional work has been recognized by numerous professional organizations.
Dr. Cole has held leadership positions in Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Southern Public Relations Federation, Sales and Marketing Executives-Hattiesburg and many others. She is a board member with the Mississippi Innocence Project founded by author/attorney John Grisham and served on the Hattiesburg American’s editorial board.
Dr. Cole enjoys traveling, gourmet cooking, the arts, and loves designer fashion.