David Ryfe | Professor & Director
David Ryfe is the Director of and Professor in the School of Journalism and Media at The University of Texas at Austin. During his career, he has published widely in the areas of presidential communication, political communication, public deliberation, and the history and sociology of news. These days his work mostly concerns the ongoing disruption of American journalism.
512-471-3132 | david.ryfe@austin.utexas.edu | DMC 3.338A
Kevin Robbins | Professor of Practice & Associate Director
Kevin Robbins joined the journalism faculty in 2012 after 22 years in daily newspapers. He teaches courses in sports journalism and feature writing.
Robbins graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 1988 with B.S. degrees in journalism and psychology. He graduated from the Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in 1995 with an M.S. in journalism.
kevin.robbins@austin.utexas.edu | DMC 3.388
Stephen Reese | Professor & Graduate Advisor
Stephen D. Reese is a professor and the graduate advisor of the doctoral and MA Research & Theory program. He has been on the University of Texas at Austin faculty since 1982, where he is now the Jesse H. Jones Professor of Journalism. His teaching has included a general introduction: “Critical issues in journalism,” research-oriented graduate seminars, a freshman campus-wide Signature Course: “Understanding 9/11,” and a summer course: Global Media Literacy. He has been Director of the School of Journalism and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Moody College of Communication.
512-471-1666 | steve.reese@austin.utexas.edu
Kate West | Assistant Professor of Instruction & Graduate Advisor
Kate West is the graduate advisor for the MA professional track program. She is an Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist with 20 years of experience covering the news for various local television stations across the country. Currently, she’s an assistant professor of instruction in the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas primarily teaching the broadcast journalism classes. She also serves as the Director of Reporting Texas.
512-751-9685 | katewest@utexas.edu
Luisa Cantu | Senior Academic Program Coordinator
Luisa Cantu is a proud, first-generation college graduate and an alumna of the University of Texas at Austin, Moody College of Communication. In 2017, she received her Master's degree in Higher Education Counseling at UT Austin. In her role here, she supports graduate students from admissions through graduation. Hook 'Em!
512-471-5933 | luisa.cantu@austin.utexas.edu | DMC 3.382
Liesbeth Demaer | Assistant Director of Administration
Liesbeth Demaer oversees the administration of the School, managing areas such as the instructional budget, course scheduling, faculty affairs, human resources, scholarships and awards, event and project coordination, summer programs, and ensuring compliance with university systems. In a previous life, she was a Fulbright scholar, trained at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio and collaborated with various choreographers in New York City.
512-471-9815 | liesbeth@austin.utexas.edu | DMC 3.334
Alice Rentz | Administrative Associate
Alice Rentz is the receptionist in the front office of the School of Journalism and Media. She came to Moody from the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, and before that was a Faculty Assistant at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. She has BAs in Government and Religious Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.
512-471-1845 | arentz@austin.utexas.edu | DMC 3.338