Jennifer McDermitt

Jennifer McDermitt is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations. She previously served as Assistant Professor and Program Lead for Marketing Communications at Northwood University. Before transitioning into academia full time in 2020, Jennifer built a distinguished 20-year career in advertising, public relations, and corporate communications. She has led high-performing teams on both the agency and corporate sides, partnering with national and global organizations to develop and implement integrated advertising strategies.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Eastern Michigan University, where her graduate campaign work earned First Place Gold in the national Marketing Edge ECHO Challenge.

She is currently pursuing her doctorate in the Information & Media program within the College of Communication Arts & Sciences at Michigan State University. Her research explores how older adults build digital skills and confidence, with particular emphasis on the support they receive from family and friends as well as from formal sources such as institutions, community programs, and technology providers. Through this work, she aims to deepen understanding of how older adults gain digital confidence and stay engaged by drawing on different forms of support in an increasingly technology-driven world.