Brooks Garner,
Associate Professor
School of Journalism and Broadcasting
Oklahoma State University

 
         Brooks Garner is an Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Broadcasting at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he has taught public relations courses since 1984. 
         In addition to teaching, he is actively involved in research in the public relations field, and in developing and producing outreach programs for the school.  Prior to joining OSU, he gained public relations experience with Southwestern Bell Telephone, Phillips Petroleum Company, and Oklahoma Gas and Electric.  
        The scope of his twelve years of practical experience in the public relations field includes writing and editing, media relations, customer and employee relations, crisis communications, community and educational relations, special events and financial communications. 
        He has been awarded the Sliver Link Special Award presented by the Tulsa PRSA chapter.  He is also co-author of Public Relations Cases: International Perspectives,
      “Creating from Crisis: Building the Oklahoma City National Memorial”; and the Handbook of Pubic Relations, “Strength in Diversity: the Place of Public Relations in Higher Education Institutions.” He began his career as a news reporter for the Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City.
        He is an Accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and the
Tulsa, Oklahoma Chapter.  He also holds membership in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, the Student Services Committee, the Department Personnel Committee and is chair of the PR Search Committee and the Department Personnel Committee.
                                                                      

Mike Sowell,
Associate Professor
School of Journalism and Broadcasting
Oklahoma State University

   
         Mike Sowell is in his ninth year at Oklahoma State. Mike graduated from Bellaire High School in Houston TX in 1966. From there he went on to get his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
       After college, Mike spent two years in the Army before returning to work as a sports journalist. He started his career in journalism as a reporter and editor for the US Army Berlin Observer, and was a sports writer and assistant sports editor at The El Paso Times from 1974-1977. He worked as a sports writer and editor for the Tulsa Tribune from 1977-1992. While at the Tribune he was named Oklahoma Sports Columnist of the year multiple times, won the Associated Press Sports Editor's national column-writing contest and also wrote three books.
       Two of Mike's books (The Pitch that Killed & One Pitch Away) were named to the New York Times notable book of the year list. He was also an editor and partner inFirst Down Publications, a company that has produced seven print and online magazines including the O-State Sports Report.
       Mike received his M.S. from Oklahoma State in May of 1999 and has taught at OSU ever since. He currently teaches Sports Media and Media & Society. During his time as a sports journalist Mike covered the Super Bowl, World Series and interviewed some of the worlds' best athletes including Muhammad Ali. Mike currently resides in Stillwater with his wife Ellen.
                                                                     

Scott Lambert,
Associate Professor
School of Journalism and Broadcasting
Oklahoma State University


        Scott Lambert is an associate professor in his first year at Oklahoma State University.  He teaches a wide range of courses dealing in all aspects of the sports media from reporting to the PR side of  the business.
       Scott Lambert is a distinguished sports media professional and has brought his expertise of the subject to Oklahoma State University.  Lambert received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1989.  Soon after graduating he began to go to work for some of the top local media outlets in Illinois.  He quickly advanced to become one of the top sports editors in the region.
       Lambert was a sports editor for 13 years in Illinois, eight years at the Mattoon Journal Gazette, where his section won numerous awards for their unmatched ability to cover sports.  Individually, Lambert won awards for the outstanding coverage of his beat, the University of Illinois sports.  Lambert finished his career in Illinois working for the Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale, Illinois.
       Lambert then decided to go back to school and receive his masters.  He graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 2007, with a Master of Science in Professional Media Practices.  Now Lambert is focused on sharing his knowledge of the sports media field and helping students to be ready for the real world.  His expertise is valuable to the University, and he possesses the practical skills that students truly need to have.