Dr. Toni S. Whitfield (Dr. T) has been teaching at JMU since 2001 and is originally from Pensacola, Florida—the land of snowy white beaches. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre, a Master’s in Communication Studies and a Doctorate in Education--Curriculum and Instruction.

Her research interests are in instructional studies (how students communicate, service-learning, etc.) and in workforce preparation, experiential education and organizational culture.

She is a corporate trainer for various clients in the Shenandoah Valley.

In Organizational Communication, she has taught, Organizational Communication (SCOM 350), Business and Professional Communication (SCOM 358) and Communication Training (SCOM 449), Leadership (SCOM 425) and the capstone course for the concentration, Advanced Organizational Communication (SCOM 450). She also regularly teaches Business and Professional Communication (SCOM 358), Presentational Speaking (SCOM 242) and the Basic Communication Course (SCOM 123). In the graduate program, she has taught the Introduction to Teaching Fundamental Human Communication class (SCOM 502). In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is the assistant director of the School of Communication Studies and internship coordinator. Dr. Whitfield won the College of Arts and Letters Carl Harter Award for Distinguished Teaching for AY 2017-18. 

"Working closely with students within the community is one of the  reasons why I am in this profession. The satisfaction of seeing a student’s growth and understanding is immeasurable, and when we get to help the community—the impact [on the student] is even greater."

Dr. Whitfield and her husband Scott live in Harrisonburg with four terriers: Barclay Quinn, Hasten, Ciaran and Aidan. She spends her free time training and competing with her dogs in agility, barn hunt and other dog sports.