Jennifer Sorek

Assistant Professor of Communication Instruction
616.395.7972sorek@hope.edu
Profile photo of  Jennifer Sorek

Professor Jennifer Sorek draws on her professional experience as she acquaints students with challenges and experiences they may face in corporate jobs or the public sector. 

Before joining the Hope faculty in 2023, for 20 years she was part of the communication team of a Michigan county鈥檚 public health department. Her roles included four years as its crisis communication specialist and public information officer and 16 years as the agency鈥檚 planning and training manager, focusing on crisis and emergency communication. Additionally, she taught communication part-time at colleges and universities in West Michigan.

In her Public Presentations course, students learn to strategize to improve communication, critically considering their audience and experimenting with various techniques and speaking environments. She also teaches the department鈥檚 introductory course, The Communication Process.

AREAS OF Expertise

  • Organizational communication
  • Corporate communication and response
  • Presentation skills

EDUCATION

  • M.A., organizational communication, Western Michigan University, 2004
  • B.S., business administration / public relations and marketing, Aquinas College, 2002

HONORS, GRANTS, AWARDS, & PUBLISHED WORK

  • 鈥淔inding COVID: Testing in Ottawa County,鈥 presentation with D. Chia, Preparedness Summit of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), 2022
  • 鈥淒rive-Thru Vaccination鈥 webinar, NAACHO, 2020
  • 鈥淧oints of Dispensing and Preparedness Collaborative Interaction,鈥 presentation with K. Black, Higher Education Preparedness Conference, 2017
  • 鈥淢ichigan鈥檚 Comprehensive Capability Assessment Tool and Implementation,鈥 presentation with J. Smith, NAACHO Preparedness Summit, 2017
  • 鈥淐orporate Apologia and Business Fraud: The Case of Merrill Lynch鈥, with K. Hearit, Journal of Public Relations Research, 2004

Outside The College

When Jennifer is not teaching, she can be found working as a consultant, addressing public health emergencies. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, whether they are watching a sporting event, relaxing at their pool oasis or hosting gatherings of friends and family.

Profile photo of  Jennifer Sorek
Jennifer Sorek

Phone Number616.395.7972

Martha Miller Center Room 124 257 Columbia Avenue Holland, MI 49423
Martha Miller Center Room 124 257 Columbia Avenue Holland MI 49423