Department of Communication

Contact and Overview

Email Address

muellerts@appstate.edu

Office Hours

Tuesday: 1:45-4:00pm
Thursday: 1:45-4:00pm

Education

PhD, Mass Communication, University of Florida
MBA, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH
B.A., Journalism, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Teaching

Currently Teaching (Fall 2025)

COM 1200 Thinking Through Communication
COM 3440 Second Story Media Student Communications Agency
COM 3544 Ai Prompting for Advertising (special topics)

Courses Taught

COM 1200 Thinking Through Communication
COM 2700 Foundations of Advertising
COM 3428 Advertising Research
COM 3430 Professional Ethics in Advertising
COM 3440 Second Story Media
COM 3544 Strategic Special Topics
COM 3860 Client Development & Services
COM 3928 Communication Research Methods
COM 4510 Senior Honors Thesis

Teaching and Research Specialties

Expertise in sport and entertainment advertising, analytics marketing, research featuring predictive models for consumer behavior. Courses on student-oriented statistical research, social media marketing, advertising ethics, client development and senior capstone advertising campaigns. Recent research topics are:

• Perception of presidential election 
• Perception of clean energy initiatives 
• Perception of post COVID self-esteem 
• Perception of artificial intelligence integration

Thomas Mueller

PhD | MBA | Behaviorist. Advocate for compassionate public discourse. Faculty-in-residence, founder Active Living residence learning community. Leadership team for Faculty & Staff Christian Fellowship. Research in cancel culture, student resilience, energy conservation, psychological dimensions of consumer motivators in purchase intention.

Social media LinkedIn and YouTube; feel free to contact me via email and take a moment to review my personal website. 

Research

Potter, A., & Mueller, T. (2025, in press). A comparative analysis: Gen Z tobacco and vape cessation advertising campaigns. Health Communication.

Mueller, T. (2023). Psychology of Ultrarunning: Evaluating Validation, Social Identity, and Disharmony in the Long-Distance Experience. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2023-0014.

Mueller, T. (2023), Social action advertising: motivators and detractors in cause-oriented behaviors. Journal of Social Marketing, 13(2) 258-276. https://doi.org/10.1108/
JSOCM-07-2022-0161

Mueller, T. (2022). Masculinity and PTSD: Violence among Veterans in the BBC Series Peaky Blinders. Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric, 12(1) 33–44.

Mueller, T. (2021). Blame, then shame? Psychological predictors in cancel culture behavior. The Social Science Journal, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/03623319.2021.1949552

Mueller, T. (2021). Development and testing of the university student resilience scale. Journal of American College Health, 0(0), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1909050

Mueller, T. (2020). Beyond binomial: Exploring practical applications for gender research. Journal of Gender Studies, 0(0), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2020.1729105

Mueller, T., Wingrove, T., & Murray, S. (2020). The Human response to Pet Rescue TV Commercials. Pet Behaviour Science, 9, 34–44.

Russell, J., Cazier, J., Hassler, E. & Mueller, T. (2020). Using Data Analytics to Understand the Electrical Consumption Patterns of Residential Buildings. Journal of Architectural Engineering, 26(1).

Mueller, T., Hassler, E., Cazier, J. and Russell, J. (2019). Energy Audits and Efficiency Rebates Drive Energy Consumer Satisfaction. Natural Gas & Electricity, 36: 13-18.

Mueller, T. (2019). Utility peak power messaging: Eliciting consumer response through traditional and social media channels. Energy Research & Social Science, 57, 101244.

Hassler, E., Cazier, J., Russell, J., Mueller, T., & Paprocki, D. (2019). Standardizing Public Utility Data: A Case Study of a Rural Mid-Size Utility. Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, 12(1), 36.

Haase, M. & Mueller, T. (2019). American and Australian Sprint Car Racing: Increasing Standardization as a Motivator for Economic Growth. International Journal of Motorsport Management, 7(1).

Grace, A., Mueller, T. (2019) Gender bias in sport media: a critical analysis of Twitter content and the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers. Journal of Gender Studies, 28:3, 363-370.

Perreault, G. & Mueller, T. (2019). Who loves the Biblical Epic? A mixed-method analysis of online community perception of epic Biblical movies. New Heart and New Spirit: Perspectives on the Modern Biblical Epic. Clayton, W. (Ed.) Austin, TX: University of Manchester Press.

Mueller, T. & Perreault, G. (2018). The Psychology of Student Wellness: Relationships, Detractors and Exam Anxiety. Journal of Higher Education Management, 3(32).

Mueller, T. (2018). Donald Trump, Confederate Flags and NASCAR: Understanding fandom in stock car auto racing. International Journal of Motorsport Management, 3(1).

Mueller, T., & Wallin, M. (2018). Battling the Bullies: A Text Analysis of Student Interventions at University. Journal of Bullying & Social Aggression, 1(1). Retrieved from http://sites.tamuc.edu/bullyingjournal/battling-bullies-text-analysis-student-interventions- university/

Mueller, T. (2017). Consumer perceptions of electric utilities: Insights from the Center for Analytics Research & Education Project in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 26 (Supplement C), 34–39.

Mueller, T. (2017). The Student Perception of Faculty Scale: Development, Testing and Practical Application. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 28(1), 99–116.

Mueller, T. (2016). Tumultuous times in NASCAR: Antitrust implications for drivers and teams. International Journal of Motorsport Management, 5(2).

Mueller, T. (2014). Changes to the Student Loan Experience: Psychological Predictors and Outcomes. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 43(3), 147-164.

Mueller, T. (2014). Consumer perception of CSR: Modeling psychological motivators. Corporate Reputation Review 17(3), 1-11.

Mueller, T. (2014). Adolf Hitler and Martin Luther: Anti-Semitism, Nazi propaganda and the German Lutheran Church. War Crimes, Genocide & Crimes against Humanity, 6, 1-28.

Mueller, T. (2012). The recreational sport participation scale: development, testing and practical application. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 12(3), 144–158.

Mueller, T. (2012). Involvement of Ultramarathon Runners: Understanding Intention, Behavior, and Perceived Skill of the “Absolute Unitary Being”. ICHPER-SD Journal of Research, 7(1), 17–22.

Mueller, T. (2012). Scooter crashes at university: Intervention tactics for modified behavior and helmet use. Traffic Injury Prevention, 14(4), 1–5.

Mueller, T. (2011). Involvement and Rally Car Racing: The Significance of Importance, Sign Value and Pleasure in Motorsport Marketing. International Journal of Motorsport Management, 1(1), 1.

Mueller, T. (2011). Professors and practitioners: The practical convergence of theory with sponsorship negotiation and management. Journal of Sponsorship, 4(4), 325–337.

Mueller, T., & Sutherland, J. (2010). Heroes and villains: Increasing fan involvement in pursuit of “the elusive fan.” Journal of Sport Administration & Supervision, 2(1), 20–30.

Mueller, T. & Roberts, M. (2008). The effective communication of attributes in sport- sponsorship branding. International Journal of Sport Communication, 1(2).

Mueller, T. (2008). NASCAR in Mexico: the US expansion of motorsport into Hispanic culture. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, 9(3), 205.

Awards

2022 Gamma Nu chapter of Tau Sigma National Transfer Honors Society "Transfer Star Award"

2021 W.H. Plemmons Medallion Leadership Award

2019 College of Fine and Applied Arts Service Award