Margaret Duffy (UI SJMC Ph.D., 1995)

From Corporate Exec to Perky Professor (and Builder of Leaders)

Before Margaret Duffy ever stood in front of a classroom, she was already navigating high-stakes boardrooms. As an executive at Verizon, she led advertising, retail sales, and public affairs initiatives across a ten-state region, managing millions of dollars in revenue and learning firsthand how effective communication shapes organizational culture. “I loved the work,” she says, “but I kept finding myself drawn to the bigger questions - how people lead, how messages influence behavior, and how organizations change.”

That curiosity led her to the University of Iowa, where she earned her Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in organizational behavior and business. “I absolutely cherished my time at Iowa,” Margaret says. “It was challenging and energizing in all the right ways.” She credits her advisor, Dr. Carolyn Dyer, with providing mentorship that was both intellectually rigorous and personally supportive:

“Carolyn modeled the kind of guidance I’ve tried to give my own students ever since.”

Margaret also served as a teaching assistant for Dan Berkowitz’s public relations course - an experience she remembers with fondness. “Dan made academic life both fun and meaningful. I learned a lot just by watching how he worked with students. In addition, he was a great model for encouraging meaningful research in both the humanistic and social scientific realms.”

Now a professor at the Missouri School of Journalism, Margaret is Executive Director of the Novak Leadership Institute (NLI), which she launched in 2017 with a $1.6 million gift from David Novak, followed by a $20 million endowment. Novak, an advertising graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, credits his education with providing leadership skills that helped propel him to become the Chief Executive Officer of YUM! Brands (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC).

While serving as Chair of Strategic Communication at Missouri, Margaret founded MOJO Ad and AdZou, two student-staffed, fee-based agencies that have provided hundreds of students with hands-on experience working with major brands and nonprofit clients. At the same time, she established a strong scholarly record, with more than 40 peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from media ethics to leadership communication, including award-winning work published in respected academic journals. In addition, Margaret has written and co-authored several books, including a forthcoming volume that draws on multiple disciplines to examine how evolution shapes leadership behaviors.

As founding executive director of NLI, Margaret helped shape a nationally recognized model for applied leadership education grounded in academic research and real-world application. Since its launch, NLI has reached more than 5,000 students through innovative courses, workshops, and experiential programs designed to develop practical leadership skills. Additionally, more than 3,000 professionals and executives have participated in NLI’s custom training programs, executive seminars, and community leadership initiatives. The growth reflects Margaret’s commitment to equipping individuals at every career stage with the tools to lead effectively, ethically, and with purpose. Throughout her career, Margaret has consistently focused on bridging the gap between theory and practice, particularly in the areas of organizational culture and leadership development.

And yes, she even earned some unforgettable student feedback during her time as a TA at Iowa. “One class evaluation called me ‘perky,’ and another said I was a ‘PR goddess,’” she laughs. “My professors and colleagues have never let me forget it!”

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

Willett, J. F., LaGree, D., Warner, B. R., Houston, J. B. & Duffy, M. (2024). Flourishing with flexibility: Leader communicative support of flexible work arrangements (FWA) enhances employee engagement and well-being. International Journal of Business Communication. Advance publication: https://doi.org/10.1177/23294884241291531 

Kim, E., Thorson, E., Duffy, M. & Shoenberger, H. (2024) Softening the blow: The power of rhetorical frames used by social media influencers with sponsorship disclosure. Journal of Interactive Advertising. 10.1080/15252019.2024.2325408

Willett, J. F., LaGree, D., Shin, H., Houston, J. B. & Duffy, M. (2023). The role of leader communication in fostering respectful workplace culture and increasing employee engagement and wellbeing. International Journal of Business Communication. August 30. https://doi.org/10.1177/2329488423119 

Capizzo, L., Nzau, T., Oduolowu, D., Duffy, M. & Brengarth, L. (2023). Permanent scars, improvisation, and new paths forward: Communication agency leadership responses to COVID-19. Corporate Communications: An International Journal. November 28. ISSN: 1356-3289

Ndone, J., Warner, B. & Duffy, M. (2022). Emotional crisis communication: The effects of CEO’s expression of guilt and anger on organizational reputation. International Journal of Strategic Communication, 1-16. 

Kim, E., Thorson, E. & Duffy, M. (2021). Under the influence: Social media influencers’ impact on response to corporate reputation advertising. Journal of Advertising, 1/14/21, p. 1-20.

LaGree, D., Houston, B., Duffy, M. & Shin, H. (2021). The effect of respect: Respectful leadership communication drives resiliency, engagement, and job satisfaction among early career employees. International Journal of Business Communication 1(1). Awarded top article award by the International Journal of Business Communication.

Tandoc, E., Ferucci, P. & Duffy, M. (2014). Facebook use, envy, and depression among college students: Is Facebooking depressing? Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 140-146.