María De Moya

María De Moya is the Charles Tombras, Sr. Endowed Professor at the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In this role she is tasked with leading Access and Engagement efforts for the school. Her research explores messaging, identity and culture in advocacy, corporate, political and public diplomacy communication campaigns. She specializes in ethnic public relations.  

She is experienced in designing and leading diversity, equity and inclusion plans in higher education contexts. She served on the board for the Minorities in Communications Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), completing her term as Division Head in October 2024. She currently serves on AEJMC’s Publications Committee and the Commission for the Status of Minorities.

Education Prior to academia, De Moya worked in business journalism, public affairs, and development communication. She was a Fulbright Scholar from Dominican Republic during her master’s studies at New York University. 

Education

• PhD, Mass Communication, University of Florida
• MA, Business and Economic Reporting, New York University
• BA, Mass Communication, Universidad Católica Santo Domingo

Research Interests

• Ethnic Advocacy and Activism
• International Public Relations
• Public Diplomacy
• Communication for Social Change
• Political Communication