James Howard and Hallie McLean Parker Distinguished Professor

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin at Madison
M.A., University of Wisconsin at Madison
B.A., University of Wisconsin at Madison

Ruth Walden is the James Howard and Hallie McLean Parker Distinguished Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in mass communication law and a pedagogy course to graduate students planning careers as college professors. She is also the director of the UNC Center for Faculty Excellence, the campus-wide faculty development center.

Walden is the author of "Insult Laws: An Insult to Press Freedom," a study of insult laws worldwide that was commissioned by the World Press Freedom Committee. In 2000 she was a member of the U.S. delegation to the annual human rights implementation meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Poland, where she delivered the U.S. statement on freedom of expression. She is the author of "Mass Communication Law in North Carolina," several book chapters, and articles in Journalism & Mass Communication Monographs, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Communication Law and Policy, Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal and Journalism Educator.

She is the School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s former associate dean for graduate studies and was a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill’s Graduate School Administrative Board and UNC System’s Graduate Council.

Office phone: 919.962.4088
Office location:Carroll 361
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