The Lincolnian

Issue date: 9/23/09 Section: News

Dr. Murali Balaji is the latest hire in the growing Mass Communications program.

A new team of professors have joined the faculty of the Department of English and Mass Communications. In addition, Dr. Eric Watson, who has been a part-time faculty member teaching one class for three years has also assumed some part-time administrative duties according to Dr. Marilyn D. Button, chair of the Department of English and Mass Communications.


Dr. Murali Balaji is an educator, author, scholar, and journalist. Balaji has authored three books, House of Tinder, The Professor and the Pupil: The Politics of W.E.B DuBois and Paul Robeson, and his latest tome Desi Rap, a dissertation analyzing the connection between Asian Americans and rap music.

Balaji was born in India and raised in the United States. He received his undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Minnesota in 2000 and went on to receive his PhD from Pennsylvania State University.

As an educator, Balaji has held several academic appointments. He's taught at Penn State University, Temple University, and is now an assistant professor here at Lincoln University in the Department of English and Mass Communications.

A professional journalist, Balaji has worked as a news correspondent for many major news papers including the Washington Post.

Balaji has received a host of awards as recognition for his extreme commitment to education and journalism. A few awards which he is particularly proud of include the Outstanding Contribution to Racial and Social Justice Issues Award issued by the Independent Press Association of New York; the Outstanding Contribution to Government Reporting Award issued by St. Paul City Council; Outstanding Teaching Award from Penn State University; and Outstanding Educator Award from Goldy-Beacom College.

Professor Balaji's students have already begun to appreciate the sense of professionalism that he brings to the classroom.

"Dr. Balaji pushes us to think outside of the box. I've learned a lot in the few weeks he's been here," said senior Darrell Craig. "He pushes us to face challenges we'd never think to face on our own. I never experienced that as a student here. I like the direction our school is moving in."

Balaji said that he has many ideas for how to push the Mass Communications program forward.

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