Sakshi Bhati | Communication and Media Programs | SIU

Sakshi Bhati is an Assistant Professor in Public Relations and Leadership in the Communication Studies Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She received her B.S. degree in Communication from Pittsburg State University (2018), an M.A. in Communication from Pittsburg State University (2020) and her Ph.D. in Leadership Communication from Kansas State University (2024).

Bhati’s teaching interests include strategic communication and leadership. Specifically, she is interested in developing a curriculum that facilitates example-driven PR and leadership learning. In the past 6 years, she has taught public relations and advertising writing classes along with strategic entertainment communication courses. She has also taught Introduction to Leadership and Organizational Communication, Introduction to Public Relations and Introduction to Oral Communication: Speech, Self and Society here at SIU. Her research interests include strategic health communication for improved health outcomes among minority communities wherein she investigates solution-oriented approaches to topics of web accessibility, mental health outreach development, and medical tourism advancement.

Bhati received a Top Paper Award at Central State Communication Association’s Annual Convention in March 2023. Additionally, she has been awarded an Excellence in Research Award in Communication for her scholarship in Medical Tourism and Web Accessibility during her master’s degree. In her doctoral years, she worked with Immunize Kansas Coalition (IKC) to develop a health communication campaign promoting vaccines among college students. Additionally, she co-produced a process design for ARPA funding facilitation among community members in Reno County, Kansas. Further, she has served as an organizational leadership facilitator for a nonprofit organization for EveryLife Foundation in Washington D.C. from 2022-2023.

Bhati has presented her research at various regional, national, and international conferences including annual conventions organized by Central State Communication Association, National Communication Association, and International Communication Association. She has also published a book chapter and several peer-reviewed articles in journals including Journal of Emergency Management and Disaster Communications, Western Journal of Communication, and Journal of Health Communication. She has served as a reviewer for Frontiers in Communication.