Jennifer Cronin

How do you tell an unforgettable story with numbers? While data analysis continues to rank as one of the hottest skill categories for new recruits, companies still lack talent who can translate complex computational analysis into actionable insights. To meet this need, Associate Teaching Professor Jennifer Cronin, Ph.D., an expert in interpersonal and organizational communication, studies how to effectively couple narrative storytelling with data to achieve better business decision-making.

At Notre Dame since 2014, Professor Cronin teaches courses across several different departments including ITAO, M&O, and Marketing, and is the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the M&O department. She focuses on areas such as strategic messaging, graphic design, campaign development, branding, social media strategy, and public relations. She also works with the Fanning Center for Business Communication to coach hundreds of graduate students and industry professionals on the necessary skills required to pitch an innovative business idea to a network of investors. Professor Cronin has been teaching for nearly fifteen years and her eclectic academic background and industry experience afford her students a number of real-world examples and case studies from varied perspectives.

Prior to teaching, she spent a number of years in public relations at the International SPA Association, with some of the world’s top spas as clients. Jen obtained her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina and MA from the University of Kentucky. In her free time, Professor Cronin enjoys reading, running, crafting, renovating her 1920s Historic Home, and spending time with friends and family. Her husband is a professor in the Economics department and she has two children Oscar (7) and Evelyn (3) and one more on the way (due Thanksgiving 2021)!