Otis Thomas

Professor and Program Coordinator, Broadcast Journalism, Director of BSU-TV and WBSU Radio

Dr. Otis Thomas brings a wealth of academic and professional experience to his position as Director of BSU-TV and WBSU radio. He holds a doctorate in communication and culture with a specialization in mass communications from Howard University and a master's and a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Webster University.

Thomas has more than 30 years of professional experience including reporter for CNN, NBC, CBS and Cox television and host of talk programs for Radio One Corporation, CBS Network, KMOX-AM/FM and XM Satellite Radio News in Washington, D.C. He has conducted interviews with political and social dignitaries, including President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator for Maryland Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland Gov. Martin O' Malley, Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr., former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Journalist and Commentator Juan Williams, and more.

He is the distinguished voice behind Bowie State University television and radio advertisements, recruitment videos, and other video and audio productions broadcast on WPGC, WKYS, WMMJ, Praise 104.1, and the Comcast and Verizon cable networks. He also is the executive producer and host for the Minority Male Health Project (MMHP) television program, and creator/executive producer of educational programs at Bowie State University, which include The President's Update, Metro News Report, Today from Bowie State University, The Bulldog Sports Corner, College of Arts and Sciences SAS Connection, The Bottom Line and live coverage of Bowie State University Commencement Exercises.

Dr. Thomas' research interest draws from a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives that focuses on media studies involving television and movie violence. Also, he is exploring research on qualitative and quantitative approaches to broadcast convergence in technology and the development of future high-definition (HD) broadcast newsrooms.

He has published a book chapter in Bowie State University's Custom Edition text book entitled, The Power of Communication. Dr. Thomas wrote the introduction for J.A. Devito's Essentials of Human Communication, which is currently used for Oral Communication courses at Bowie State University. Also, Dr. Thomas has various published research papers, and is currently writing a book titled, Essential Ingredients for Broadcast Journalists, which will be published by Pearson Custom Publishing.

Dr. Thomas is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation in Hollywood, California; Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC); and Broadcast Education Association (BEA).