Dr. Jeff Hunter is an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at New Mexico State University, where he teaches courses in strategic communication that emphasize experiential learning and real-world application. He was the founding advisor of CrimsonWire.org, the department's student-run digital news outlet, and is currently working on a joint project with the Creative Media Institute to start a student-run advertising and creative agency. 

Dr. Hunter’s research centers on political communication and media use in rural contexts. Using mixed methods, he studies how people in small or agricultural communities in the United States engage with news and politics, and how they form opinions and participate in public discourse, especially amid shifts in digital and social media. 

Growing up in a tiny agricultural town in Texas, Dr. Hunter is passionate about interdisciplinary projects that connect communication research to the needs and strengths of rural life. His work often bridges media studies, community development, and civic engagement to better understand how communication can foster rural resilience and empowerment.

Before joining academia, Dr. Hunter spent more than 15 years working in strategic communication roles across health care, finance, and politics. When he’s not teaching or writing, he enjoys painting, traveling, and exploring the outdoors. A descendant of New Mexico homesteaders, he currently serves on the board of the Friends of the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces.