Jeffrey Ranta

Contact Jeffrey Ranta

843-349-6662 jranta@coastal.edu

Brittain Hall 314

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 8:30AM - 9:30AM; Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Biography

Dr. Ranta recently completed his Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of South Carolina. His dissertation defined instructional elements of strategic communication. Ranta also earned an M.A. in Journalism from Temple University and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. Upon attaining his undergraduate degree, he was immediately commissioned an officer in the United States Navy, serving 10 years in the surface warfare and public affairs communities. In addition to his decorated military service, Ranta has held leadership roles at public relations and marketing communications agencies representing various brands including: Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, Dodge, Ford, GM, Golden Corral, Honda, Polaris, Rubbermaid The National Hydrogen Association and others. He is a Plank Center Fellow, a winner of PRSA's Silver Anvil Award, founder of two professional marketing communications agencies and a recipient of the George Johnson lifetime Community Service award. Creator and architect of the award-winning, student-run communications firm, The Carolina Agency, students under Ranta's 12 years of leadership have earned several national championships in public relations and business communications including the highly-competitive Bateman Competition. His current research interests include communicating alternative energy solutions, green marketing/greenwashing and fostering professional self-efficacy via the student-run agency. He is a contributing author to several textbooks on student-run agencies and authored multiple articles on marine fishkeeping, public relations pedagogy and communications executive management.