Michelle Galey
- Assistant Professor
- Professor of Practice
Biography
Biography
With over 30 years of experience in professional communication and 10 years in student success, Michelle focuses on pursuing projects and scholarly activities that advance the field of strategic communications and provide hands-on experiences for students. After serving in both the public and private sectors as a marketing and communications professional, Michelle focused on developing student skills as a tenured instructor and division chair for North Idaho College’s College Skills’ Division. From there, she moved to Eastern Washington University, where she served as the director of the Program Leading to University Success (PLUS) at Eastern Washington University. In that role, she ensured students from all backgrounds and levels received the support they needed to achieve their goals for both academic and professional success. She also served as a lecturer for Murrow during her time at EWU.
Michelle has experience on both the client side and the agency side of the business and has experience in non-profit, corporate, and higher ed. Companies and institutions she has worked with include Wendt Advertising, Spokane Symphony, Zak Designs, Barnes and Noble, WSU Spokane, WSU College of Nursing, Eastern Washington University, University of Idaho, Providence/Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS), Ambassador Programs, Inc., Washington Trust Bank, and Mountain Gear.
Michelle has been teaching since 2004 and has taught marketing, PR, and communication courses at WSU, Spokane Community College, Whitworth University, Eastern Washington University, and North Idaho College. She received her Master of Science in Communications from Eastern Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Montana State University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-galey-4827314/
Education
- Master of Science in Communications, Eastern Washington University
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing, Montana State University
Classes Taught
- COMSTRAT 310 – Digital Content Promotion
- COMSTRAT 383 – Media Strategies & Techniques for Public Relations
- COMSTRAT 485 – Public Relations Management and Campaigns
- COM 561 – Multimedia Content Creation
Research Interests
- Strategic communication
- Public relations
- Social media content strategy
- The role of AI/ChatGBT in communication careers
Awards
- 2023, LIFT Faculty Fellow, WSU
- 2022, WSU Global Campus – Excellence in Online Teaching Award Nominee
- 2022, President’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) Graduate, EWU
- 2002, Silver Award for Spokane Advertising Association – Trade Publication; Full Page/Four Color – Eastern Washington University
- 2000, Spark Award of Excellence for Spokane MARCOM Association – “Good Morning, Eastern” – a daily Web-based newsletter sent to all faculty and staff – Eastern Washington University
- 1996, Gold Addy Award and Best of Show recognition from the Spokane Advertising Federation for coordination of “Cowboy” television ad campaign – Spokane Symphony
Selected Publications
Focus on Nursing magazine, WSU College of Nursing (Editor and Contributing Writer, 2006-2008)
Eastern magazine, EWU Alumni and Friends magazine (Contributing Writer, 1999-2003)
Communicating the Decision to Downsize: An Analysis of Communication Strategies Used in Organizational Restructurings and How They are Perceived by Surviving Employees, Eastern Washington University, 2005.
Served as writer for print and digital marketing collateral for various companies and organizations including EWU, WSU, University of Idaho, Zak Designs, Spokane Symphony, Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Providence/Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS), Ambassador Programs, Inc., Mountain Gear, and Washington Trust Bank.
Conference Presentations
Presenter, Empowering Future Strategic Communications Professionals: Bridging Success Between Classroom and Career: ProfCon 2024, Stukent – Salt Lake City, June 2024
Presenter and Moderator, Academic Success Strategies: Eastern Washington University New Student Orientation, Sept. 2017, 2018, 2019
Presenter, College Success Strategies for High-Risk, First-Gen Students: CRLA Regional Conference, May 2015
Panel Presenter/Moderator, Communicating the Decision to Downsize: An Analysis of Communication Strategies Used in Organizational Restructurings and How They are Perceived by Surviving Employees: National Communication Association Regional Conference, Idaho, Nov. 2005