Bia Bernum received her BAA from Central Michigan University in Interpersonal and Public Communication and her MA from Penn State in Speech Communication. Prior to teaching, Ms. Bernum worked as an assistant director of residence life at University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, MI) and Creighton University (Omaha, NE). While at Creighton, she received the Rev. Thomas Lukaszewicz, S.J. Teaching for Tomorrow Award. 

Ms. Bernum began teaching at the University of Central Arkansas (Conway, AR) where she also served as coordinator of the basic oral communication course. Prior to coming to Mansfield, Ms. Bernum taught at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and coordinated the speaking-enhanced intiative at UPJ. 

Although her main responsibility at MU is teaching oral communication, Ms. Bernum has taught public speaking, gender communication, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication. At MU, she serves as the director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. She is also the web designer for several campus and off-campus organizations.

Ms. Bernum is the author of two instructor's manuals and has published several teaching activities in the National Communication Association's Communication Teacher, in Teaching Ideas for the Basic Course, and in various text books. Ms. Bernum has presented teaching activities and has taught a short course (with Dr. Sue Young) at the National Communication Association Convention.