Helfaer Theatre


DR. DARADIREK "GEE" EKACHAI
Associate Professor, Department of Advertising and Public Relations

Johnston Hall 304
(414) 288-3450 Phone
(414) 288-3099 Fax
daradirek.ekachai@marquette.edu

 

Courses Taught
ADPR 2200: Media Writing
ADPR 2400: Strategic Research for Advertising and Public Relations
ADPR 1800: Public Relations Principles
ADPR 3600: Public Relations Writing
ADPR 4953: Special Topic: Social Media in Advertising and Public Relations
ADPR 4600: Multicultural and International Advertising and Public Relations
PURE 4997: Public Relations Campaigns

Why Marquette?
Marquette has a very good reputation for its academic excellence and outstanding students. I was also attracted to Marquette's mission of spiritual faith, ethical leadership, and service to students and community.

Research Interests
Public relations in Thailand, public relations education, new communication technology, intercultural communication, Thai mass media, social media.

Education
Ph.D. Journalism, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
M.A. Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.A. French, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

Awards/Grants Received
2009: Dean's Excellence Award in Teaching

2007: American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin Community Service Award

2005: $61,802 from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “Connecting Caring Communities” project to raise public awareness on long term care. Partnership with Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center

2004: $57,506 from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Connecting Caring Communities

2003: $36,574 planning grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Connecting Caring Communities

2002: $4,750 Summer Faculty Fellowship and $1,500 Regular Research Grant from the Graduate School, Marquette University, for the research project on the Internet use by Thai public relations practitioners.

2000: Outstanding Teaching Award, Southern Illinois Univ. Outstanding Educator, Raymond D. Wiley's Chapter of PRSSA, 1991,

1999: Outstanding Research Manuscript, Central States Communication Association, 1995

Professional Affiliations
Public Relations Society of America
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

Professional Experience
Writer, University News Service, Southern Illinois University, 1986-1990.
Consultant, Bangkok Daily Times, 1984
Consultant, Pimplus PR, Bangkok, 2002-present
Co-Principal Investigator, Connecting Caring Community, Milwaukee County Department on Aging, Communication campaign on long-term care, 2002 to present

Recent Publications
Caravella, M., Zahay, D., Jaeger, C. and Ekachai, D. (2009). "Web 2.0 Opportunities and Challenges for Marketing Educators," Journal of Advertising Education, p. 53–63.

Parkinson, M., & Ekachai, D.  International and Intercultural Public Relations: A Campaign Case Approach. Allyn & Bacon, 2006.

Ekachai, D., & Komolsevin, R. (2004). "Public Relations in Thailand: From Propaganda to Strategic Communication," In. K. Sriramesh (Ed.), Public Relations in Asia: An Anthology ( pp. 277-314). Singapore: Thompson Learning, 2004.

Parkinson, M., & Ekachai, D. (2002), "The Socratic Method in the Introductory PR Course: An Alternative Pedagogy," Public Relations Review 28(2),167-174.

Ekachai, D., & Randall, D. (Summer, 2001), "Communication Technology and Intercultural Communication: A Report on Pedagogy," The American Journal of Semiotics, 17(2), 391-405.

Hetherington, L.T., Ekachai, D., & Parkinson, M.G. (2001)., "Public Relations in the Healthcare Industry," In R. Heath (Ed.), Handbook of Relations. Public Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001.

Parkinson, M.G., Ekachai, D., & Hetherington, L.T. (2001), " Public Relations and Law," In R. Heath. (Ed.), Handbook of Public Relations. Sage Publications, 2001.