Feature: Jason Munsell, professor and positive force

Though a relatively recent addition to campus, Associate Professor Dr. Jason Munsell is recognized as a positive force in the USC Aiken Communication Department.

Munsell has now entered his fourth year of teaching communication classes.

When asked if he is an Aikenite, Munsell replied “I have never lived in Aiken.  I'm not horsing around.” Currently, he resides in Columbia, South Carolina.

Munsell described his interest in communication, citing his family of academics and experience as a teacher’s assistant (TA) in public speaking, as what furthered his passion for the subject.

“There are so many things that make the study of human communication interesting and valuable, and there's also obvious multiple interest and value in improving communication skills,” he said.

“As a scholar of rhetoric, I'm particularly interested in how communication helps shape our reality, how we can forge kinship and community through our communication and ultimately try to make our world and our communities better places,” continued Munsell.

He is also a proponent of liberal education. He believes in the value of improving “communication, our critical listening and thinking skills,” and “media literacy skills.”

“My favorite part is interacting with students, helping them learn cool stuff, helping them become better communicators and critical thinkers and ultimately helping them live better lives,” he stated.

Munsell has also been praised on the USCA Student Life Facebook page for being accommodating toward students during the pandemic.

Maya Finley, a sophomore at USCA, wrote “I wanted to shout out Jason Brian Munsell for doing such an awesome job with the transition.”

“Thank you for constantly communicating with your students and keeping us in the loop,” Finley closed.

Munsell remarked that his passions include public education, gardening, yard work and music.