Faculty Advisor: Robert J. Ristino, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA

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A Boston native, Dr. Ristino has more than 25 years experience in practicing organizational communications for both not-for-profit and for-profit institutions. He has served in a variety of communication roles for small, mid-sized and large organizations, such as General Electric and UMass Memorial Health Care, an integrated delivery system serving Central Massachusetts. In these various roles, Dr. Ristino has successfully managed the strategic communications for numerous mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, downsizing, corporate identity changes, new product and business launches, and major crises.

Recognized nationally for his expertise in organizational communication, Dr. Ristino is both accredited by and a fellow of the Public Relations Society of America. He also is a former president of both the New England Society for Healthcare Communications and the American Society of Health Care Marketing and Public Relations of the American Hospital Association, now known as the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.

Dr. Ristino holds a baccalaureate degree from Northeastern University, a master's degree from Boston University's College of Communication, and a doctorate in mass communication from the University of Massachusetts. He is an assistant professor of communications and coordinator of the Department of Communications at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, and adjunct faculty in the Master of Science program in Professional Communication at Clark University. At Clark, Dr. Ristino also was on the faculty of the Global Transitions Institute where he taught strategic planning and marketing to management personnel from Israel, France and China. He also has taught in the graduate communication programs at Boston University and Simmons College.

Dr. Ristino has published numerous articles in professional journals on various aspects of organizational communication and is the author of The Agile Manager's Guide to Managing Change. A review on Amazon.com called the book "illuminating, informative, thought-provoking, useful, practical reading for anyone charged with managerial responsibilities at any level, from line foreman to CEO.