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• Gender and Women's Studies is part of WMU's College of Arts and Sciences.

Ms. Joette Sawall

Joette Sawall is an instructor of the course, media and the sexes, since 2008 in the Gender and Women’s Studies department. Sawall has an undergraduate in marketing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a master’s in communication from Western Michigan University specializing in public relations, interpersonal and intercultural communication. When not teaching academia, Sawall is the artistic director of an all women’s dance school and uses her background to educate the modern global woman of body awareness, self image, and social support. Her robust background in the advertising and public relations industry has included clients such as Sea Ray Yachts, Baja Speed Boats, Pfizer, Mercury Outboard, Brunswick, Pharmacia & Upjohn Animal Health, Kellogg’s, Valent, Monsanto, Asgrow Seed Company, and Gantos Fashions. In addition to public relations, Sawall has an extensive background in promotion and talent working in the early 1990’s for Dillard’s Department stores in the advertising and special promotions department. Sawall continues to freelance public relations while teaching and researching. Her travels and research often take her abroad to the Middle East where she studies feminist beliefs, cultural performativity, and dance.

Special recognition that Sawall has received over the years include Haworth College of Business nominee for professor of the year in 2002, and inclusion in the book, Teaching Ideas for the Basic Communication Course, for her innovative ideas on enhancing student learning through technology in the summer of 2007. Published editorials and articles include the publications Ad Week, Advertising Age, Zaghareet Magazine, Kalamazoo Gazette, Detroit Free Press, and the Big Idea.

In her free time she enjoys gardening, sports, reading, and being a traveling hockey mom. A favorite pastime includes Razorback football in the fall, catching Red Wings games at Joe Lewis arena in the long winter months and drinking a fresh cup of coffee on her front porch in the cool summer mornings.

Email: joette@wmschoolofmed.com