Biography
Patrick F. Merle, Professor (Ph.D. Texas Tech University, 2013) is a French native who previously worked as an international reporter for global news organizations.
He currently serves as Director of the School of Communication (2020-present) after having been Director of the Integrated Marketing Communication program. He is also an affiliated faculty with FSU’s Institute for Successful Longevity.
2026-present: Arthur W. Page Society member
2026-present: Representative-at-large, Commission for Public Relations Education (CPRE)
2025-present: Member of the Task Force committee for Association for Journalism & Mass Communication (AEJMC)
2025-present: Chair of the Research committee for Alliance of Schools and Colleges of Communication and Journalism (ASCCJ)
2024-present: Member of the Behavioral Insights Research Center, Institute for Public Relations
2024-present: Member of the Advisory Committee for the International Public Relations Research Conference
Editorial board membership
Associate Editor – Frontiers: The International Journal of Study Abroad
Executive Editorial Committee for the Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine
International Journal of Strategic Communication,
Corporate Communications, an International Journal
Global Perspectives in Communication,
Journal of Public Relations Education.
Research Lab
C3, Crisis and Risk Communication Collective
Current research projects:
1-Crisis/Risk Communication: Studies to evaluate relationships between risk perceptions and environmental issues.
Recipient of a SEED Grant (2024-2026) to understand how to best communicate about risks of extreme tropical weather. Interdisciplinary project with FSU Geography.
-Focus on the US with extreme tropical weather, prescribed fires, flooding
-Review of global patterns such as South Asia
-Focus on risk of transmittable diseases
2-AI, trust, and transparency
-Review of disclosure type and trust in journalism and crisis contexts
-Analysis of labeling type and news contexts
3-Overtourism
-Review of message strategies
Prospective and current students can email at pmerle@fsu.edu to join these projects.
Courses taught:
Communication Research Methods
Crisis Communication
PR Strategies
Education
- Ph.D., Mass Communication, 2013, Texas Tech University
- Advanced Graduate Diploma, 1998, Journalism and Mass Communication, Institut Francais de Presse, Paris, France
- M.A. History, 1997, St Patrick’s College, Ireland & Universite Pierre Mendes France
- B.A., History, 1996, Universite Pierre Mendes France, France
Research Interests
Crisis & Risk Communication; AI & Credibility; Science Communication
Teaching Interests
Crisis Communication, Research Methods.