Dr. Roger Soenksen - Faculty Athletics Representative - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Dr. Roger Soenksen

Title:
Faculty Athletics Representative
Email:
Phone:
540-568-6205
Physical Address:
Harrison 0247 (54 Bluestone Dr.) / MSC 2104

As the faculty athletics representative, Dr. Soenksen serves as the eyes and ears of the president and is the academic liaison between the athletic department and academic community. He is also a professor holding a joint appointment in the schools of media arts & design and communication studies.

Prior to JMU, Dr. Soenksen was a teaching assistant in communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1974-76. From 1976-79, he came to JMU to be a professor in the SMAD and communication departments. In 1979, he went to Ohio University, where he was a teaching assistant in communication. He spent one year at Ohio before returning to JMU to stay in 1980. He currently teaches mass communication law, free speech in the United States and legal communication along with holding up the responsibilities of the faculty athletics representative.

Dr. Soenksen received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1974. He then finished his Master of Arts in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before receiving his PhD from Ohio University in 1981.

Dr. Soenksen has racked up multiple awards throughout his career, including a Carl Harter Excellence in Teaching award, Madison Scholar, Provost Award for Excellence in Academic Advising, and he was selected to the JMU Debate Hall of Fame.

Currently residing in Harrisonburg, Dr. Soenksen lives with his wife, Cathy, and is a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church, as well as the Staff Parish Committee and the Chancel Choir. He has two daughters, Ginny and Amanda, and a son, Lucas. Lucas and Amanda live in Harrisonburg, while Ginny currently lives in Nashville, Tenn. In his spare time, Dr. Soenksen enjoys racquetball, church league softball and working around the house.