Dr. Zeenat Mitha
Dr. Zeenat Mitha
Senior Lecturer in CommunicationArts and CommunicationBiography
Dr. Zeenat K. Mitha began her teaching career at The University of Houston-Downtown in 2010 as an Adjunct Lecturer. Within one year, she was promoted to Lecturer in Communication Studies. She has a B.A. from Southern Methodist University, an M.B.A. from the University of New Mexico, a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Houston Baptist University, and a Fellowship in Public Policy from Georgetown University. Dr. Mitha's doctoral research is on "Exploring the Value of Public Relations and Crisis Communication Training in Higher Educational Leadership". She is imbedded in assisting Leadership in this area to minimize, prevent, or avoid crisis. She has over 26 years of experience in the areas of Communication, Public Relations, Media, and Marketing, working with various organizations including IBM, The James A. Baker, III, Institute of Public Policy, and Asia Society Texas Center. She incorporates High Impact and Service Learning as well as A+CE in most of her courses to apply theory with practical experiences in her course work. Dr. Mitha was the Lead in the 2021-2022 UHD Teaching Circle for Service Learning and worked with faculty to bring best practices, knowledge, ideas, creativity, and 'how to' methods to incorporate Service Learning in their courses to enrich student learning. Her goal is to assist students in developing and practicing critical thinking skills, building and incorporating knowledge while working with the community, as well as taking challenges to a new level by integrating creative approaches to establish leadership roles.
Degrees Earned
Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Houston Baptist University
Master's degree: Master in Business Administration (M.B.A) in General Management University of New Mexico, 1993
Courses Taught
COMM 1302: Mass Media
COMM 2311: Principles of Public Relations
COMM 3301: Advanced Public Relations
COMM 3311: Advanced Media Studies
Experience Qualifications
Ms. Mitha earned a B.A. in Journalism, an MBA, and a Fellowship in Public Policy. She has extensive experience in public speaking; public relations; training and development; leadership; crisis management; organizational behavior, environment, and law; health systems organizations; healthcare information management; and managed healthcare. She also studied mass media, introduction to writing and reporting, writing for the media (websites, press releases, newsletters, radio and TV news, etc.), media and politics, communication and the law, and grant-writing. Ms. Mitha founded Sweetwater Specialty Consulting, L.L.C., focusing on Communication and Business Consulting for small to medium-sized companies, 2007-Present. She has served as Associate Director for External Affairs, Asia Society Texas Center from 2005-2007, doing PR, grant writing, and fund-raising. She also served as Special Assistant to the Director at The James A. Baker, III Institute of Public Policy at Rice University 2001-2005. She handled communication, PR, marketing, and administration for the Institute, former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, and the Institute’s director, Ambassador Djerejian. She worked in Business and Communication Development Consulting for ZKM Consulting 1997-2001, handling training, communication, PR, marketing, and business development for law firms and small businesses. She served as the Program Director for ITREB USA from 1993-1997, handling PR, business writing, press releases, online communication, and video training. She also worked for IBM's Field Television Network, handling all preparation for speakers, and wrote for their technical manual AIX from 1991-1993.
Professional Experience:
Ms. Mitha earned a B.A. in Journalism, an MBA, and a Fellowship in Public Policy. Her communication education and background included work in public speaking; public relations; training and development; leadership; crisis management; organizational behavior, environment, and law; health systems organizations; healthcare information management; and managed healthcare.
She also studied mass media, introduction to writing and reporting, writing for the media (websites, press releases, newsletters, radio and TV news, etc.), media and politics, communication and the law, and grant-writing.
Founded Sweetwater Specialty Consulting, L.L.C., focusing on Communication and Business Consulting for small to medium-sized companies, 2007-Present.
Associate Director for External Affairs, Asia Society Texas Center from 2005-2007, doing PR, grant writing, and fund-raising.
Special Assistant to the Director at The James A. Baker, III Institute of Public Policy at Rice University 2001-2005;
Handled communication, PR, marketing, and administration for the Institute, former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, and the Institute’s director, Ambassador Djerejian.
Business and Communication Development Consulting for ZKM Consulting 1997-2001, handling training, communication, PR, marketing, and business development for law firms and small businesses.
Program Director for ITREB USA from 1993-1997, handling PR, business writing, press releases, online communication, and video training.
Worked for IBM's Field Television Network, handling all preparation for speakers, and wrote for their technical manual AIX from 1991-1993.