Shanetta Pendleton

Shanetta M. Pendleton, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of strategic communications at Elon University. Grounded in authenticity, equity, and the power of relationship-building, her teaching philosophy centers on preparing students to think critically about how strategic communicators use both traditional and emerging tools to engage diverse audiences in meaningful, culturally-responsive ways. She prepares students to thoughtfully navigate artificial intelligence in communication practice, examining its ethical, relational and strategic implications. Her courses emphasize critical thinking, ethical responsibility, and inclusive communication practices that equip students to be thoughtful, adaptive and impactful professionals in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Dr. Pendleton's research examines authenticity and relationship management in strategic communications and higher education. She studies how organizations use social media and emerging technologies to cultivate meaningful relationships with diverse audiences. She is especially interested in authenticity in the age of artificial intelligence, exploring how AI-mediated communication shapes organizational voice, trust, and the relationship management process.

Extending her focus on authenticity and relational practice, her scholarly inquiry also examines student belonging, campus climate, and power in journalism and communication education. Across these areas, she interrogates how institutions shape relational dynamics, influence whose voices are legitimized, and affect the conditions necessary for equity and inclusion.

Dr. Pendleton's scholarship appears in peer-reviewed publications such as Public Relations Review, Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, Journal of Health Communication, JMIR Cancer, Social Responsibility Journal, and The Journal of Social Media in Society.