John Cunningham
Senior Lecturer Director, Communication Internships
Educational Background:
- B.A., The University of Southern California
- M.A., Purdue University
Courses:
- CSS 1302 - Speech for Business and Professional Students
- CSS 3306 - Interviewing
- CSS 4302 - Communication Training and Development
- CSS 4306 - Communication Research
Research Interest:
My primary research interests involve studying all aspects of the selection interview from both the perspective of the applicant and the recruiter. More specifically, I focus on Behavioral Interviewing, a very common type of interviewing strategy that companies utilize when interviewing prospective job candidates. .
Teaching Philosophy:
I want my students to work hard and gain knowledge and skills that will benefit them both in the classroom and in life after Baylor. I provide them with numerous opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom. They have public speaking assignments, both individually and in groups which help them to strengthen their communication skills which are vital for success both personally and professionally. In my Interviewing course (CSS 3306) students have the chance to interview someone that is currently working in their desired careers. My goals for them are to apply skills learned in class as well as make an invaluable contact with a current professional in their chosen career field.
Family, Outside Hobbies, and Interests:
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife Gena and taking my dogs Dakota and Madison for walks. I also love to write creatively. I have written a book on dog training, a children’s book about a dog’s birthday as well as five movie screenplays...all featuring dogs as central characters. My hope is one of these days I will have a screenplay make it to the big screen! Come on Disney, pick up the phone and give me a call...let’s make a movie! Did I mention I love dogs??? I love to train dogs, which I was blessed to be able to do for 15 years at PETsMART. I also love to advocate for dogs as a member of the Board of Directors at The Humane Society of Central Texas. My dream job (outside of the one I currently have) would be to move to Montana and build an animal sanctuary where homeless, abused and neglected animals of all shapes and sizes could live out the rest of their lives in complete happiness. I am also very blessed to have four wonderful "Angel" dogs (Max, Peanut, Ally and Kayleigh) watching over me every day!
What is the best thing about being a Baylor Bear?
Baylor is the complete package! I love that BU is a Christian school. That provides me the opportunity to grow in my faith every single day. The interaction with my students and colleagues is so enriching and fulfilling and rewards me in more ways than any paycheck could (don’t get me wrong...I still love the paycheck)! The athletics at BU are great, too, and I love watching our student athletes compete on the field and I also enjoy the many opportunities I have to teach them in the classroom. I thank GOD every day for helping me to stumble upon an advertisement at the very last minute for a job opening at Baylor University 22 years ago!