In the fall semester, Dr. Amy Schmisseur will be joining Belmont’s Department of Communication Studies as an Assistant Professor.

Schmisseur, originally from Indiana, has an extensive background in Organizational Communication and years of experience at Belmont. She received her B.A. at Ohio University in Athens before receiving her M.A. at the University of Cincinnati. While at Cincinnati, she received the opportunity to teach a course in public speaking as a part of her graduate program. After “falling in love with teaching” during her second year, she decided to enter the academic world instead of continuing on the pre-professional track. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Texas in Austin before becoming an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. At Kansas, she published extensively in organizational communication and worked as a consultant in the professional world. 

It was at this point in her life that she had a son and a daughter before moving with her family to Nashville. What she originally thought would be one year off to have her third child and become acclimated to Nashville became a seven-year sabbatical with a fourth child. After seven years, she felt she needed a “creative outlet” again and began a part-time role at Belmont.

Schmisseur began teaching Fundamentals of Speech Communication before becoming a full-time adjunct lecturer in a variety of Communication courses the following year, a position which she has held for three years. She will continue to teach four classes every semester and will begin advising students as well as research publication work and holding roles on university committees.

Going on five years at Belmont, Schmisseur describes the school as “a great fit.” She is appreciative of the Christian community at Belmont that was not present at the large public universities with which she became familiar as well as the department’s emphasis on the importance of Organizational Communication.

However, the most engaging part of her time at Belmont, she says, has been the students. “The students here are different. The best couple of words that I can use to describe students here are very thoughtful, generous, kind, and wanting to engage with you. That’s not something I’ve ever had before… that’s the kind of atmosphere here. It’s just a very positive environment in which to work. That’s what keeps me here.”